The 2023 Renfrew Timberwolves U15 Pirie Insulation team celebrate their gold medal finish the division's A Finals. (Photo Credit: Renfrew Minor Hockey Association)
The Renfrew Minor Hockey Association is hoping an early response to a new problem is enough to keep a region-wide issue at bay.
RMHA President Jon Pole explains that Hockey Eastern Ontario, the governing body for minor hockey in the Ottawa Valley, now requires anyone involved in a local program who works with children to undergo a vulnerable sector check, a decision that has left many organizations scrambling to get the process done ahead of game time.
Pole has been active over the summer, rallying the RMHA’s many volunteers to get the process started and hopefully beat a mounting backlog, which has caused major delays that have affected even him, as his own application from back in June is just now moving towards completion.
HEO has put some leeway in place, allowing volunteers who still need their first or a renewed vulnerable sector check to still take part as long as they can prove that the process is underway.
While Pole feels that somewhat defeats the purpose of the new rules, he’s confident that Renfrew’s close-knit community will take the edge off of any local concerns.
Vulnerable sector checks are valid for three years. HEO requires new and returning volunteers to submit their background checks to their online portal.
(written by Kasey Egan)
