Former employee launches discrimination complaint against Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER — A former member of the Vancouver Canucks’ coaching staff has launched a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, alleging she was fired because of her sex, mental illness and physical disability.

Rachel Doerrie, a former video analyst and assistant video coach for the team, posted a copy of the complaint to Twitter on Sunday, saying she has been “mentally and emotionally destroyed” and is “done hiding.”

The six-page document says Doerrie disclosed to the Canucks that she had a heart condition and post-traumatic stress disorder and believed the conditions would be “appropriately dealt with by the Canucks” before she was hired in January 2022.

The complaint, which was filed with the tribunal on Nov. 22, alleges the team’s assistant general manager Emilie Castonguay questioned Doerrie’s mental ability to do her job, treated her differently than the organization’s male employees, and that Doerrie’s sex, mental illness and physical disability played a role in her being fired on Sept. 27, 2022.

Castonguay said in a statement that the allegations are “absolutely not true” and that Doerrie was never “treated differently due to gender, a mental disability or a physical condition.”

“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,” Castonguay said.

Canucks Sports & Entertainment also issued a statement saying it disagrees with the allegations, which have not been tested in court.

“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,” the team said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2022.