The role of an Independent Third Party (ITP) for Rowing in Canada is a key component to the success of our Harmonized Pan-Canadian Safe Sport Program. RCA knows how important it can be to provide a safe and secure way of reporting issues impacting an individual directly or indirectly.

Effective March 1, 2025, Gord Hopper will be the Independent Third Party (ITP) for Rowing in Canada. We thank Lise McLean for her many years of service as the ITP for the rowing community and wish her success in her future endeavours. Lise’s last day as the ITP will be February 28, 2025.

Gord Hopper can be contacted at itpcomplaints@gmail.com.

Member Organizations must remove any reference to Lise as the ITP from their resources or online platforms effective March 1, 2025. Please direct all of your members to the File A Complaint section of the RCA website:

https://rowingcanada.org/safe-sport/#file-a-complaint

About Gord Hopper

Gord Hopper has been a sport leader for over 30 years. Originally, he was a coach, an international level judge, and learning facilitator in gymnastics. He has been The Technical Director with Gymnastics BC (1994-2003), the National Team Director with Canadian Freestyle Ski Association 2004-2007, and the Director of Athlete Performance with UBC Varsity Athletics (2014-2022). Each of the roles have included elements of risk management, complaints and investigations, and safe sport. In these roles, he has worked with eighteen different sports including both teams and individuals. From 2009-2012 he was President of the BC Coaches Association. He has been providing ITP services since 2023 and is also consulting with several University sport programs to support prevention, education and policy development related to safe sport.