Director and interim chair of the Hockey Canada board of directors, Andrea Skinner, has resigned amid mounting backlash over the organization’s handling of alleged sexual assaults, according to a release by the Hockey Canada board of directors on Saturday.
“I joined the Hockey Canada Board of Directors as a volunteer in November 2020. It has been my strong commitment to making the game safer, more accessible, more inclusive and more welcoming,” Skinner said in a statement.
“Having thought about it, it’s clear to me from recent events that it no longer makes sense for me to continue volunteering my time as interim chair or as director of the organization.”
Skinner is resigning days after a parliamentary committee hearing on Tuesday in which she defended Hockey Canada’s handling of sexual assault allegations. She had served as interim chair for just about two months after former chief executive Michael Brind’Amour resigned on August 6.
Her resignation marks the organization’s second major step in recent months.
“I find it interesting to note that Andrea Skinner’s position was honorary, and it raises some interesting questions,” TSN’s Rick Westhead told CTV National News on Saturday.
Westhead notes that Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith was also under intense pressure to resign.
“His position is paid,” Westhead said. “The question now that Andrea Skinner is leaving, who could negotiate a severance package for Scott Smith and his leadership team?”
Hockey Canada has been under the national scrutiny since May when it was announced it had settled a dispute with a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight players from the 2018 junior national ice hockey team during a June gala event in London, Ontario . this year.
Other revelations that followed included Hockey Canada’s admission that it relied on small Hockey membership dues to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sex abuse claims.
Halifax Police have also been asked to investigate an alleged sexual assault by members of the 2003 junior national team.
The federal government has frozen Hockey Canada funding and the organization has lost sponsorship money, with brands including Nike, Canadian Tire, Scotiabank and Tim Hortons dropping support.
With files from The Canadian Press