Manitoba high school's handling of hazing allegations questioned after accused player gets athletic awards
CBC
A high school in rural Manitoba hasn't taken hazing allegations seriously enough, a community member says after a teen charged in connection with the alleged incidents on a hockey team was named the recipient of two high school athletic awards last month.
The awards were revoked the next day, the community member who spoke to CBC said, but they're concerned about the message the awards presentation sends to other students and the victims of the alleged crimes.
"To me it just sends the message that what happened was not a big deal," said the person, whom CBC has agreed not to name over fears of backlash for coming forward.
"I think there needs to be some changes made, because if things like that happen, other kids are going to see that, other hockey players are going to see that, and think, 'Well, if the school doesn't think it's a big deal, why is it a big deal?'"
The community member said the teen who received the awards is one of three arrested earlier this year following an investigation into incidents of hazing on a high school hockey team.
The team is made up of players from three school divisions. The school that initially awarded the student is in the south-central Manitoba Prairie Spirit School Division, according to the community member.
CBC is not naming the team or the school involved to protect the identity of the young people involved in this case.
In April, RCMP said three teens, all age 17 at the time, "were arrested in relation to hazing incidents on a hockey team."
Two of the teenage boys were arrested for sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault and forcible confinement, while one of the teens was arrested for sexual assault and assault, according to an RCMP news release.
RCMP confirmed all three of the teens have since been officially charged.
At the time of the arrests, RCMP said the incidents were first reported to police on Feb. 20, 2024. Two incidents are alleged to have taken place in November 2023 and January 2024 at a hotel, while a high school hockey team from the Pembina Valley area was in Winnipeg for tournaments, they said.
According to RCMP, there were five victims, all of whom were rookies on the team.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
The community member who spoke with CBC said along with rescinding the awards in June, the school division apologized, saying a mistake had been made by the athletics department. No students were named in the apology.
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