KL Hockey in Kawartha Lakes provides day and overnight activities for kids during the summer months. Their goal is to offer a top-notch experience for campers both on and off the ice. However, a recent situation arose where one of their main instructors, Bradley Gibbs, a Durham Regional Police officer, had pleaded guilty to assaulting children earlier this year. Due to legal constraints, specific details are not available.
Although described as a coach and mentor on the camp’s website, Gibbs opted to resign following contact from CBC News. The camp indicated they stood by Gibbs during his legal challenges but did not disclose awareness of his guilty pleas or reasons for retaining him.
Presently, Ontario lacks laws mandating summer camps to screen their staff dealing with children, such as requiring criminal background checks. Nonetheless, following public concerns, Premier Doug Ford’s office announced plans to make such checks mandatory for summer camps.
Moreover, the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) mandates criminal record checks for its accredited members, though membership is voluntary. KL Hockey Camp, not part of the OCA, falls outside these standards. Camp director Amanda Tayles acknowledged Gibbs’ personal situation but emphasized the camp’s commitment to a safe environment.
Gibbs, still employed by Durham Regional Police, faces sentencing in September. The absence of regulated checks for camp staff is viewed as a significant loophole by legal experts. A victim of Gibbs expressed alarm, highlighting the need for enhanced vetting processes in summer camps.
Parents are advised to scrutinize camp staff vetting procedures. OCA standards, including background checks for staff, ensure a higher benchmark for accredited camps. However, the absence of legislation in this area limits parental recourse in case of concerns about staff members.