A former Bluewater Gymnastics coach was fired from Gymnastics Canada in 2019, according to a report from TSN.
Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead reported Monday that Alex Bard's exit from Gymnastics Canada was a result of both formal and informal complaints. At the time, the organization said that Bard was resigning “for personal reasons.”
In the summer of 2019, after Bard's dismissal, he was hired by Bluewater Gymnastics on a temporary sub-contract arrangement while the club was simultaneously recruiting a full time Head Coach for its competitive program.
In an email to SarniaNewsToday.ca, Board President Rob Dawson said "prior to Alex Bard assisting the club, the Executive Director at that time conducted reference checks regionally and nationally while also completing a vulnerable sector check."
Dawson said Bluewater Gymnastics "was not made aware of any infractions as it relates to SafeSport policies during recruitment and sub contract negotiations" of Bard. Dawson added that "SafeSport policies and procedures were in place the entire time Alex Bard was at Bluewater Gymnastics Club."
Bard was with Bluewater Gymnastics for a few months in 2019.