MONTREAL – A former figure skater from Edmonton has started a petition to support Hayleigh Abbott, a young figure skater from Montreal who was kicked out of her elite Sports-étude program after she reported bullying.
Hayleigh’s family claims she was forced to leave her figure skating program after about being bullied on the ice.
READ MORE: 12-year-old’s figure skating future ends after she reports bullying
She has also allegedly become the target of cyber-bullying from coaches and other skaters.
The woman who started the petition, Abby Carrothers, is a representative of the Leduc Figure Skating Club in Edmonton.
She told Global News that she launched the petition because she was couldn’t believe what happened to Hayleigh.
- Life in the forest: How Stanley Park’s longest resident survived a changing landscape
- ‘They knew’: Victims of sexual abuse by Ontario youth leader sue Anglican Church
- Carbon rebate labelling in bank deposits fuelling confusion, minister says
- Buzz kill? Gen Z less interested in coffee than older Canadians, survey shows
READ MORE: Your Sunday Say: Bullying on ice
“We want her to know that there are clubs out there like ours that teach skaters how to be strong, confident and gain self esteem in a positive environment,” Carrothers told Global News.
READ MORE: Young figure skater still off the ice 3 months after reporting bullying
The club is hoping to gather enough signatures to pressure Skate Canada to implement new anti-bullying programs.
“It is my hope that by putting up this petition Skate Canada will do the right thing and allow this 12 year old to go back to a sport she loves,” said Carrothers.
Comments