Support Program
For immediate mental health or mental performance support needs:
Confidential Support Resources
For any emergency, call 911 or go to the emergency room. The services listed below are not emergency services.
At the QMJHL:
- Jean-Baptiste Bertrand, Support Program Lead & Mental Health Practitioner
Phone: 438.392.9709 / 1.866.803.1969
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
External resources:
- Sport’Aide: online chat using the link
Phone: 1.833.245.4357
Text: 1.833.211.2433 - Kids Help Phone: online chat using the link
Phone: 1.800.668.6868
(service available for 18y/o+ as well)
League Policies and Programs
The league has various policies and programs to best support the practice of elite hockey in a healthy and safe environment:
- Anti-Discrimination Policy
- Anti-Doping Policy
- Code of Conduct
- Education Policy
- Harassment and Violence Prevention and Management Policy
- Integrity Policy
- Social Media Policy
Several prevention and awareness initiatives are also in place:
- Annual rookie onboarding day
- Presentation of psychological support resources and the importance of using them when needed
- Various workshops on time management, communication, consent, social media, etc.
- Annual workshop for each team on mental health and suicide prevention
- Training offered by the CHL on sports betting and the importance of respect in sport
Process for Reporting Inappropriate Behavior or Filing a Complaint
Whether you are a player, parent, official, staff member, volunteer, or spectator, you have two options if you witness or are a victim of inappropriate behavior, including any act of physical or psychological violence:
- Report this behavior to an independent third party, the “Protecteur de l’intégrité en loisir et en sport”:
- Report this behavior to the QMJHL leaders:
- Either by contacting the Director of the Support Program: [email protected] or 1.866.803.1969
- Or by submitting a written application to the “Respect Hockey Culture Center,” which will contact the League:
RHCC : https://www.respecthockey.com/
In both cases, your testimony will be treated confidentially and with your protection as a priority. Initially, you can even report a situation anonymously, thus not disclosing any personal information. Subsequently, the person reporting a situation will often have to identify themselves if a formal complaint is filed.
It should also be noted that the QMJHL can therefore receive a report confidentially and even intervene while protecting the complainant’s identity. However, to avoid any conflict of interest, the League will not investigate in any way. Instead, it will refer the person to an independent third party, the “Protecteur de l’intégrité en loisir et en sport”.
External Consultation Committee
Since 2020, the QMJHL has established a consultation committee to support and provide recommendations to league authorities. The committee’s main objective is to develop new tools and strategies for players and staff.
The Commissioner’s Office also continues to work closely with various experts to improve the preventive measures offered by the league to its players and staff and encourage responsible behavior.
Finally, awareness has its benefits, but it also has its limitations. This is the main reason why the QMJHL is focusing more on prevention to ensure players and staff adopt appropriate behaviors. The key to success is for prevention to be carried out continuously throughout the season. The external committee responsible for advising and supporting the Commissioner’s Office is composed of:
- François Bernier, retired SPVM police officer
- François Boisvert, specialized educator, Syna-Psy Clinic
- Sophie Brassard, guidance counselor and head of student-athlete services at the ALÉO Foundation
- Sylvain Croteau, Executive Director of Sport’Aide
- Simon Gagné, former QMJHL player and lawyer at LAVERY, DE BILLY, LLP