Police Vulnerable Sector Check
All volunteers are required to obtain and submit a Police VS check.
As per Hamilton Police Services:
A Vulnerable Sector Check is intended for applicants seeking employment and/or volunteering in a position of authority or trust relative to vulnerable persons in Canada only.
In the context of Ancaster Minor Hockey, this includes, but is not limited to:
- Team officials (including but not limited to head coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, managers and at large team officials);
- On-ice officials; and
- Anyone else, included but not limited to on-ice volunteer, skills coaches, third party skills coaches and dressing room supervisors, through their duties on behalf of the OHF, a Member, a hockey Club or Association
At Ancaster Minor Hockey we aim to have all certifications and paperwork for our coaches, trainers, and other volunteers completed by mid-September. Any delays in completing the requirements could lead to delays in getting teams set up so please do you best to get ahead of the process.
New for the 2024-25 Season
Beginning with the upcoming 2024-25 season, the collection of Police VS checks will be centralized and conducted by the OHF (Ontario Hockey Federation). In the past it was up to the individual Minor Hockey Associations to collect and manage the Police checks, but by centralizing the process, the OHF can ensure this is being done consistently across all organizations.
What do I need to do?
The OHF has provided an instructional video on how to upload the documents.
A quick summary:
- Complete the OHF Screening Declaration Form
- Set "Member" to: OMHA
- Set "Association/Clinic Location" to: Glancaster
- Obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector check from Hamilton Police Services. The OHF is accepting VS checks that are dated 2022 or newer.
- Upload the documents to the OHF Screening Submission Portal.
How do I get a Police VS Check?
As mentioned above, Police Vulnerable Sector check is obtained through the Hamilton Police Services. From our experience, you can begin the process online but then are often asked to complete the process in person at the Central Station at 155 King William Street.
Occasionally, Hamilton Police Services have asked applicants for a "Volunteer Letter" which describes the role you are volunteering for. If one is required, please reach out to our Registrar, Heather Bar to provide one.
Obtaining the VS check can take up to 30 days from application to receipt so best to complete this over the summer to avoid any last minute scramble.
Does the fee get reimbursed?
The current fee for obtaining a Police VS check for a Volunteer is $25. A VS check belongs to a person and can be used for other volunteer work outside of Ancaster Minor Hockey.
As such, the fee is not reimbursed by Ancaster Minor Hockey.
Questions?
For any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Registrar, Heather Bar.