The CEO of the 2014 North American Indigenous Games has been fired.
The decision to terminate Glen Pratt was made by the games’ board of directors after reviewing the results of an independent sexual harassment investigation by a Regina human resources company.
The chair of the board, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat, says because it is a personnel matter he is not at liberty to discuss the report but does confirm action has been taken.
“What I can tell you is that the CEO has been replaced and Mr. Pratt is no longer in the employ of NAIG 2014,” he says. “Mr. Ron Crowe has replaced Mr. Pratt as CEO of NAIG and we look forward to hosting the 3,500 athletes plus the coaches and staff who are coming and our board is focused on that.”
The investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against Pratt began in early February and lasted about six weeks.
It was based on complaints by three women who were employed by the games; two of them full time and one on contract.
Pratt was put on paid leave in early February when the investigation was launched.
Ron Crowe was appointed interim CEO of the games shortly after the investigation was launched.
Crowe has a long history with the games and was chair of the volunteer committee before taking on the CEO job.
Lerat says he is confident in Crowe’s abilities and with the personnel matter now a thing of the past, they can focus on the games which are just a few months away.
“We have less than a hundred days to the start of the games, so we are concentrated and we are focused. The staff are all focused and willing to work and we are looking forward to the day when we can host this momentous event.”
The North American Indigenous Games are a huge event bringing in about 3,500 young Aboriginal athletes from all over North America for a one-week competition in more than a dozen different sports.
It is also a major cultural event showcasing volunteerism and teamwork between First Nations, Métis and non-Indigenous communities.
The games will be held July 20-27 in Regina.
The event is expected to inject about $30 million into the local economy.
The theme for this year’s games is “Raising the Bar.”