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The national governing body for skating in Canada, Skate Canada, is not allowing any of its national and international level events to take place in Alberta, due to the province’s law that prohibits biological male transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
“Skate Canada considers a variety of criteria when selecting host sites for its national events. After a careful assessment of the Alberta Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, Skate Canada has determined that we are not able to host events in the province while maintaining our national standards for safe and inclusive sport,” the organization told PK Press Club Digital.
“This decision only applies to national and international level events and does not affect the ability of Alberta skaters to participate in Skate Canada programs and competitions. We will continue to monitor the evolution of legislation in the province and re-evaluate shelter options as circumstances evolve.
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Protesters gather in Churchill Square in support of trans youth in Alberta following the “Sing With Love” concert at McDougall United Church. The gathering took place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on February 11, 2024. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Alberta was not scheduled to host any upcoming national or international events. The province last hosted the Skate Canada Challenge last month and the national championships in January 2024.
Alberta’s Fair and Safe Sport Act “requires applicable organizations to create and implement athlete eligibility policies that align with the requirements set out in the regulation, including limiting eligibility in women’s-only divisions to biologically female athletes.” »
Skate Canada’s decision to sanction the province drew sharp criticism from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who condemned the organization in a statement on X.
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“Women and girls have the right to participate in competitive sports in a safe and fair environment against other biological females. This view is shared by a large majority of Albertans and Canadians. It is also common sense and decency. Skate Canada’s refusal to hold events in Alberta because we choose to protect women and girls in sport is shameful,” Smith wrote.
“We hope they will apologize and adjust their policies once they realize that they are not only compromising the fairness and safety of their athletes, but are also out of touch with the international community, including the International Olympic Committee, which is moving in the same direction as Alberta.”
The issue of trans athletes in women’s sports has been a controversial topic in Canada, as it has in the United States, over the past year.
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The topic was the source of a feud between two Canadian women’s university basketball teams last season; Vancouver Island University, which enrolled a trans player on its women’s team, and Columbia Bible College, which was sanctioned after allegations of abuse against the trans player.
Meanwhile, the president of a group organizing Canada’s Pride festival resigned in November amid immense backlash over comments questioning the fairness of transgender athletes in women’s sport during a radio interview.
