Canadian Skaters Group Alleges Abuse, Calls for Inquiry

[champ]

A few of the coaches there seem to be former students of hers - so they may be used to tolerating her or may think the behavior is normal. A lot of more junior coaches (and older coaches with a lesser resume) will also be in a position where they feel they have to tolerate it or lose their job/students.

very true and often victims do not know how to break free,,,, it is their normal...

 

[champ]

And those are the ones who made it to seniors. There have also been a number of skaters who made it to sectionals and nationals as novices or juniors (and pre-novice when there was a Canadian championship in that category) and then plateaued. Of course that happens at other rinks too, but maybe not at the same rate.

yes... the girls crumble due to the abuse.... she never has had a true top canadian women for any lengrh or time,,,, and really she has only ever had Kevin for a long period of time as an international competitor..... her golden boy.

 

[champ]

My experiences aren’t current so feel free to take my comments with a grain of salt. While it’s true there’s a clear and maybe somewhat incestuous relationship between the section and champs and Ted has been a Joanne fan for a long time, I’ve always had the impression that Champs is the Joanne McLeod show. Do I think Ted has a good idea what goes on in that rink? Absolutely, he’s a lot of things, not all positive, but he’s not an idiot, and a lot of the things alleged were pretty openly known even 20 years ago when I was skating. Does he have some responsibility? Sure, but it’s a much less direct connection. I don’t think if this is actually pursued, that Joanne gets out of this by dragging Ted into it. I do expect Ted will try and distance himself from Joanne.

I do really hope these allegations are thoroughly and properly investigated though I can’t say I’m particularly optimistic that will happen. I would personally love to see a few heads roll. And I’d love to be a fly on the wall at the section AGM

Ted was in on the whole thing. those kids were yelled at by him in his office, deprived of funding, threatened and insulted by Ted. I speak from experience. He was as much a part of it as Joanne. He stood at his window over the rink and watched everything

 

[champ]

Ted Barton hired McLeod and gave her a sweetheart deal that surprised everyone in CAS, none of whom seemed sorry to see her go.

Correct!! And threatened every good skater they must come to 8 rinks or there would be a price to pay....

 

[coppertop1]

Ted was always an Eteri/Russian cheerleader, so him turning a blind eye the abuse fits.

Figure skating is in dire need of a reckoningm

 

[made_in_canada]

Ted was in on the whole thing. those kids were yelled at by him in his office, deprived of funding, threatened and insulted by Ted. I speak from experience. He was as much a part of it as Joanne. He stood at his window over the rink and watched everything

Well, then I hope Joanne drags Ted down with her and they both experience appropriate consequences. I’m glad it’s getting more attention. And I hope this group inspires more people to come forward so that it can’t be ignored.

 

[Rubies]

Would someone please post the original tweet text (for those of us who deleted Twitter b/c of the chief twit)? Thank you!

 

[Sylvia]

Would someone please post the original tweet text (for those of us who deleted Twitter b/c of the chief twit)? Thank you!

You should be able to click on the link in post #1 and see the tweet without being logged in?

ETA link to their Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/figureskatingforchangecan/

 

[Yyzskater]

It is VERY encouraging to see so many fellow FSU members looking in this thread. It shows real concern for the issue and hopefully it will lead to real systemic change.

I am surprised at all the negativity around Ted as I only know him as a commentator. And in that respect, people general really like how he commentates and the general positive feedback he gives. Never would have guessed this other side.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I am surprised at all the negativity around Ted as I only know him as a commentator. And in that respect, people general really like how he commentates and the general positive feedback he gives.

I'm not sure anyone who knows what Barton's role is in the Skate Canada bureaucracy would expect that much of someone who could thrive in that environment, but I don't think it's so much that the feedback he gives is positive or even encouraging, because that could be vague or generic, but that he speaks constantly and specifically about how that skate is appropriate for age, experience, and development level, puts it in the context of the skater's other performances, and takes into consideration the opportunities for training and coaching in the skater's country. If he's screaming at Canadian skaters without all of the same context, that's pretty high on the hyprocrite scale.

 

[Aceon6]

@kwanfan1818 That sort of behavior isn’t all that unusual in Ted’s age group. Their public behavior can be beyond reproach while they eat their own in private.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Many of them appear generically nice, but not as specifically and keenly observant.

I don't think that's generational.

 

[puglover]

i am 100% supportive of any and all efforts to uncover abuse of any kind and fully acknowledge there is and has been so much that has gone on that has been greeted with a blind eye and degree of tolerance. What concerns me about this situation, as I understand it, is that step one seems to be put the accusations out publicly. Perhaps there are reasons for that - such as lack of faith in the powers that be at SC. It does strike me, though, as a dangerous precedence. I would guess there are few professionals who have been in any business for decades and do not have their detractors.

 

[made_in_canada]

i am 100% supportive of any and all efforts to uncover abuse of any kind and fully acknowledge there is and has been so much that has gone on that has been greeted with a blind eye and degree of tolerance. What concerns me about this situation, as I understand it, is that step one seems to be put the accusations out publicly. Perhaps there are reasons for that - such as lack of faith in the powers that be at SC. It does strike me, though, as a dangerous precedence. I would guess there are few professionals who have been in any business for decades and do not have their detractors.

I suspect that like “skater A” some or maybe even most of the group making accusations are involved in the sport in some way. In an ideal world, yeah, they’d report it, it would be properly investigated, and if the accusations have merit, consequences would be handed out. But it’s not an ideal world. Joanne (and Ted) are pretty powerful in the BC skating scene. Ted, even if he wasn’t/isn’t directly involved isn’t going to do anything about Joanne. At best, he’s supported/approved of any bad behaviour by watching what’s going on and doing nothing. And he is the BC section. I fully understand how making all of this public makes it more likely that this won’t be ignored. It’s probably a good strategy.

 

[troublesome]

I hope that there is a fair hearing on both sides. Not a Joanne fan but there are disgruntled skaters and previous skaters who have the ability to blame others for their lack of success in the sport.

 

[overedge]

I hope that there is a fair hearing on both sides. Not a Joanne fan but there are disgruntled skaters and previous skaters who have the ability to blame others for their lack of success in the sport.

Even if the skaters were not successful in the sport, by whatever metric "success" is measured, there is no excuse for that kind of alleged behaviour by coaches. None.

 

[overedge]

i am 100% supportive of any and all efforts to uncover abuse of any kind and fully acknowledge there is and has been so much that has gone on that has been greeted with a blind eye and degree of tolerance. What concerns me about this situation, as I understand it, is that step one seems to be put the accusations out publicly. Perhaps there are reasons for that - such as lack of faith in the powers that be at SC. It does strike me, though, as a dangerous precedence.

Look at what happened to Asher Hill when he tried to complain to SC privately about racism in the sport. He ended up going public when his complaints weren't treated appropriately. I don't think anyone who is familiar with how SC operates would have much confidence, if any, in SC's complaint resolution processes.

 

[troublesome]

Even if the skaters were not successful in the sport, by whatever metric "success" is measured, there is no excuse for that kind of alleged behaviour by coaches. None.

Not saying there is any excuse for any kind of abuse. Abuse should not be tolerated at all. We do need to look at both sides. If Skater A is who some of us think they are, they have an agenda all of their own and has been known to manipulate and gaslight very well themselves. Apologies to Skater A if you are not this person and sympathies if you did suffer and are suffering and you get the justice you seek. If skater A is who we think they are “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.

 

[overedge]

Not saying there is any excuse for any kind of abuse. Abuse should not be tolerated at all. We do need to look at both sides. If Skater A is who some of us think they are, they have an agenda all of their own and has been known to manipulate and gaslight very well themselves. Apologies to Skater A if you are not this person and sympathies if you did suffer and are suffering and you get the justice you seek. If skater A is who we think they are “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.

Did you read the letter that is linked in the first post in this thread? Skater A is not the only complainant who is alleging they were abused.

 

[troublesome]

Even if the skaters were not successful in the sport, by whatever metric "success" is measured, there is no excuse for that kind of alleged behaviour by coaches. None.

Agee - if the abuse occurred, may it be thoroughly be investigated and dealt with.
If another agenda is being played out here……..as some suspect there may be.
There are two sides and may the truth come out

 

[coppertop1]

The tea

I hope that there is a fair hearing on both sides. Not a Joanne fan but there are disgruntled skaters and previous skaters who have the ability to blame others for their lack of success in the sport.

Agee - if the abuse occurred, may it be thoroughly be investigated and dealt with.
If another agenda is being played out here……..as some suspect there may be.
There are two sides and may the truth come out

Two sides to abuse? Ever wonder why victims forward? This is why.

 

[troublesome]

Did you read the letter that is linked in the first post in this thread? Skater A is not the only complainant who is alleging they were abused.

As I have said, many can and have been manipulated and we only have that person’s word that there are others. I can pretend that I am a group too under anonymity.

 

[overedge]

Agee - if the abuse occurred, may it be thoroughly be investigated and dealt with.
If another agenda is being played out here……..as some suspect there may be.
There are two sides and may the truth come out

"If the abuse occurred"? So you think the group of skaters who made allegations of many kinds of abuse over a long period of time made all of that up?
Whatever you and "some of us" think of Skater A and their actions, you're ignoring a lot of other information. Including that Figure Skaters For Change has been active online for several months, after athletes in other Canadian sports (e.g. gymnastics, canoeing, wrestling, soccer) have come forward with their own stories of abuse. It's clearly not just Skater A.

 

[troublesome]

The tea


Two sides to abuse? Ever wonder why victims forward? This is why.

You are missing the point, people can lie. And no not all victims are liars but the odd one can. Hence the need to investigate. I sympathize with all victims and this should be investigated.

 

[overedge]

You are missing the point, people can lie. And no not all victims are liars but the odd one can. Hence the need to investigate. I sympathize with all victims and this should be investigated.

If you sympathize with all victims, then don't call someone who alleges abuse a liar.

 

[champ]

Ted was always an Eteri/Russian cheerleader, so him turning a blind eye the abuse fits.

Figure skating is in dire need of a reckoningm

He abused along side Joanne. In many ways he was worse. He contolled provinial funding via his board. He alled in skaters and draged them through the mud, he threatened repercussions with the judges he contolled like Janice Hunter etc..... it goes on and on,,, He contolled the purse strings and had the power.

I'm not sure anyone who knows what Barton's role is in the Skate Canada bureaucracy would expect that much of someone who could thrive in that environment, but I don't think it's so much that the feedback he gives is positive or even encouraging, because that could be vague or generic, but that he speaks constantly and specifically about how that skate is appropriate for age, experience, and development level, puts it in the context of the skater's other performances, and takes into consideration the opportunities for training and coaching in the skater's country. If he's screaming at Canadian skaters without all of the same context, that's pretty high on the hyprocrite scale.

He has a fake public persona.... Ted is all about image...... He wants to be in front of the camera inpower with everyone talking about him..... I have had the unfortunate experience of having to deal with him as a parent of very high level skaters and he was an absolute nightmare to my family( children) and coach... way worse than Joanne.... major egomaniac

 

[griffen]

If you sympathize with all victims, then don't call someone who alleges abuse a liar.

Troublesome is not calling anyone a liar. I agree with Troublesome, under anonymity, we don't know how many other skaters support the public letter. In other sports, athletes have disclosed their names. I realize current skaters may not want to disclose their name but why are athletes from the past not disclosing their name(s). However, it does seem all is not well at 8 Rinks and this has been known for a long time. Very unfortunate that those who have witnessed questionable behaviour have not reported the behaviour and/or sought an investigation. In time, the truth will prevail.

 

[Prancer]

Hence the need to investigate. I sympathize with all victims and this should be investigated.

Isn't that what a call for inquiry is?

I'm not sure what your point here is, other than we don't know much, which I think all of us already know.

 

[overedge]

Troublesome is not calling anyone a liar. I agree with Troublesome, under anonymity, we don't know how many other skaters support the public letter. In other sports, athletes have disclosed their names. I realize current skaters may not want to disclose their name but why are athletes from the past not disclosing their name(s). However, it does seem all is not well at 8 Rinks and this has been known for a long time. Very unfortunate that those who have witnessed questionable behaviour have not reported the behaviour and/or sought an investigation. In time, the truth will prevail.

Troublesome is indeed calling Skater A a liar (see e.g. post #55 above).

If you read the CTV news story linked earlier in the thread, it says that Skater A is now a coach. Given how powerful Barton and McLeod are in BC and in Skate Canada, this person would have a very good reason to fear retaliation for themselves, their club, and their skaters if they used their name at this point.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

They’re sure are a lot of, ahem, new members on this thread. So which one is Joanne and which one is Ted?