Rachel Doerrie has filed a discrimination suit with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal against the Canucks organization and assistant GM Emilie Castonguay.
Rachel Doerrie, a former member of the Vancouver Canucks coaching staff, is alleging discrimination in her September firing from the hockey club.
Rachel Doerrie has filed a discrimination suit last week with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal against the Vancouver Canucks organization and assistant general manager Emilie Castonguay. Doerrie shared the complaint on social media on Sunday.
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She alleges that she was fired on a “flimsy pretext” of speaking to a member of the media and then sharing an article about her recent promotion on social media.
The complaint alleges “compound discrimination, as a result of the combined disadvantaging effect of a number of prohibited grounds, in this case, her sex and physical and mental disabilities.”
Castonguay released a statement, calling the allegations “false and inaccurate.”
“I take a lot of pride in my work with the Vancouver Canucks, being a good leader, a person of high moral character, and always respecting and putting my co-workers first,” she said. “These allegations by Ms. Doerrie are absolutely not true and her allegations of what I said to her are false and inaccurate. At no time was Ms. Doerrie treated differently due to gender, a mental disability or a physical condition.
The Canucks also denied the allegations.
Doerrie joined the Canucks as an analyst in January 2022 and was promoted in August to analyst/assistant to the video coach.
The complaint said Doerrie was diagnosed in 2018 with PTSD and has panic and anxiety attacks and depression connected to a heart condition.
Doerrie said she was upfront about her mental and physical disability during the interview process and received assurances that she would be provided with a safe and healthy work environment that took her disabilities into account.
Doerrie said the only reason provide for her termination was that she spoke with Postmedia reporter Patrick Johnston about the announcement of her promotion and then shared his article via social media.
Johnston, a friend of Doerrie’s, had texted her statements Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau made about her promotion to the Canucks coaching staff at an event on Sept. 19.
“It was clear that Mr.Johnston was not seeking a story or quote from Ms. Doerrie, but was simply conveying compliments that she had received from Mr. Boudreau, as one would between friends,” said the complaint.
The next day, Castonguay expressed concern with Doerrie speaking to media and reposting the article.
When Doerrie explained what happened, Castonguay allegedly replied saying “you’re not important enough to be cared about” and “no one in the media is your friend.”
Doerrie alleges Castonguay ignored and stopped acknowledging her presence during training camp in Whistler following that incident, which resulted in her feeling isolated and alienated.
Doerrie’s employment was terminated on Sept. 27.
In a statement, the Canucks said: “We strongly disagree with the allegations brought forth by Ms. Doerrie. Our organization provided Ms. Doerrie with all the necessary resources, support and opportunities to succeed in her role. We acted in good faith and abided by our contractual obligations, both during and after Ms. Doerrie’s employment with the organization.
“As this is a legal matter, we will respond accordingly at the proper time.”
More to come…
chchan@postmedia.com
twitter.com/cherylchan
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