KL Hockey in Kawartha Lakes provides day and overnight activities for kids during the summer months with a commitment to offering top-notch experiences both on and off the ice, according to its official website.
However, over the past few weeks, a key instructor at the camp was a person who recently admitted to assaulting children in a court of law.
Bradley Gibbs, a member of the Durham Regional Police force, confessed in April to two counts of child assault. His legal counsel verified this information. Due to a court order, CBC News is restricted from disclosing further details.
Despite being labeled as “an active coach and mentor” on the camp’s website, Gibbs opted to step down from his position on a Wednesday afternoon, as communicated in an email sent to parents following inquiries by CBC News to both Gibbs and the camp.
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The camp officials mentioned in the email that they had stood by Gibbs during his personal legal challenges over the past year. Nevertheless, they did not clarify whether they were aware of his guilty pleas or why he was permitted to continue working despite them.
Presently, there is no specific Ontario law mandating summer camps to conduct background screenings on staff members who interact with children. These camps are not obligated to obtain criminal record checks or more thorough vulnerable sector checks on their employees.
After the publication of the story, the Premier’s office indicated that the government intends to make criminal background screenings compulsory for summer camps to prevent the employment of individuals with criminal backgrounds in roles involving children.
According to the statement by spokesperson Hannah Jensen, “The employment of a known criminal at a children’s camp is unacceptable and our government will be taking the action necessary to make it mandatory for summer camps to require criminal background checks.”
The Ontario Camps Association (OCA) mandates its 400-plus accredited members to screen staff with criminal record checks. However, membership in this non-profit organization is voluntary, leaving camps like KL Hockey Camp without standardized vetting procedures for staff.
In a statement, the camp’s director, Amanda Tayles, mentioned that Gibbs had taken public responsibility for his actions.
She emphasized that their primary focus remains on creating a safe and positive environment for camp participants.
Efforts to reach out to Gibbs for comments were unsuccessful before the deadline. He is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing in September.
Currently, Gibbs remains employed at Durham Regional Police Services but has been reassigned from frontline duties to an administrative position, according to a
