KL Hockey in Kawartha Lakes provides both day and overnight activities for kids during the summer months, with a commitment to deliver top-notch experiences for campers every day, both on and off the ice. However, the camp faced scrutiny this summer when it was revealed that one of its main instructors, Bradley Gibbs, a Durham Regional Police officer, had recently pleaded guilty to charges related to assaulting children.
Gibbs, who admitted guilt to two counts of assaulting children he knew, had been actively involved in coaching and mentoring young individuals in the Kawartha Lakes area. Following inquiries from CBC News, Gibbs chose to resign from his position at the camp, as communicated to parents in an email.
The camp’s leadership informed parents that they had stood by Gibbs during a personal legal issue over the past year but did not confirm whether they were aware of his guilty pleas or why he was allowed to continue working at the camp despite them. Interestingly, there is currently no specific Ontario law mandating summer camps to conduct thorough background checks on their staff, including criminal record checks or more detailed vulnerable sector checks.
While the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) mandates its accredited members to vet staff through criminal record checks, membership in the organization is voluntary. This means that camps outside the OCA, like KL Hockey Camp, are not obligated to adhere to any particular standards for screening staff members.
Amanda Tayles, the camp director, mentioned that Gibbs had taken responsibility for his actions publicly and emphasized the camp’s commitment to maintaining a safe and positive environment for all camp participants. Despite attempts to reach out to Gibbs for comment, he did not respond before the deadline, and his sentencing is scheduled for September.
Regarding the regulatory gap in Ontario’s legislation for summer camps, legal experts have pointed out the need for legislation requiring camps to conduct vulnerable sector checks on employees working with vulnerable groups, such as children. These checks provide additional information beyond regular criminal record checks, including details on unresolved charges and warrants.
The lack of mandated staff vetting requirements raises concerns, especially when camps are entrusted with children’s care. While the Ministry of Education mandates child-care licenses and vulnerable sector checks for day camps catering to children under four, oversight for camps serving older children remains unclear.
As the situation unfolds, parents are advised to inquire about how camps vet their staff to ensure the safety of their children. While some standards are in place for accredited camps, the absence of specific laws in this area limits parents’ options if they have concerns about staff members.