Criminal Record Checks .

NEW FOR 2011 - 2012 (Updated on Oct 13th, 20110)

Every rostered team official, director of the VTMHA and any appointed Board position aged 18 and over and dealing regularly with children must have on file with the VTMHA a current criminal record check and vulnerable sector search.

Once a criminal record check is on file with the VTMHA, it is considered current for 3 years.  Thus, for the 2011-2012 season, the VTMHA will not require a new criminal record check for a volunteer if it has a record check on file from the calendar years 2009, 2010 or 2011.

A vulnerable sector search is an additional, secondary search of the criminal record databases that encompasses convictions for pardoned sex offences that have subsequently been pardoned.  [Pardoned offences are not typically included in a criminal record check.]  Vulnerable sector searches are only available to individuals who are identified as working with an organization responsible for the well-being of children under the age of 18 – the VTMHA is such an organization.  Given the lengthy time required before a pardon can be obtained, the VTMHA considers a vulnerable sector search to be current for a period of 6 years.

Criminal records checks that include vulnerable sector searches can only be obtained by attending in person at the police detachment where you live.  Those who live in the City of Vancouver should attend at the Vancouver Police Department, as set out below.  Those who live on the UBC campus should attend at the RCMP detachment there, also as set out below.  Those who live elsewhere should attend at their local police department.

Those who have a current vulnerable sector search on file with the VTMHA but who require an updated basic criminal record check can obtain one either (a) by attending in person at the police department where you live (as with a vulnerable sector search), or (b) on-line through a private company known as Backcheck.

Attending at Police Departments

Regardless of which police department you attend, you must take with you a letter from VTMHA indicating that we require you to complete this criminal record check.  To obtain the required letter CLICK HERE

If you live in the City of Vancouver, you must attend the Police Station at 2120 Cambie Street  (just south of the Cambie bridge) between the hours of  8:00am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday.  In addition to the letter set out above, you will need to take with you a completed form: CLICK HERE. You can obtain further information on obtaining your criminal record check, including identification requirements, from the Vancouver Police Department web site CLICK HERE. The Vancouver Police Department will send the criminal record check results to you, once completed, by mail.  You must then submit the original report to the VTMHA.

At the City of Vancouver, there is a $25.00 fee for volunteers.  This fee will be refunded to you if you submit your original receipt and the Original Results by mail to our P.O. Box at 170 - 4438 W. 10th Ave., Vancouver, BC V6R 4R8 with your name and team along with your original CRC Results.

If you live on UBC campus, you can attend the RCMP detachment there and complete their required form.

Please note that the time required to obtain a vulnerable sector search may vary significantly.  If you have submitted a request and not received a response within 3-4 weeks, you may be asked as an interim measure to obtain a criminal record check through Backcheck.

Criminal Record Checks through Backcheck

Backcheck is a private company that provides criminal record checks on-line.  In order to verify identification, they will generally require applicants, after completing the on-line forms, to attend at their local Canada Post outlet in order to have their identity verified.  Please note that, due to RCMP regulations, third party providers like Backcheck are not able to complete vulnerable sector searches.  As a result, any volunteer who does not have a current vulnerable sector search on file with the VTMHA should not use Backcheck but rather obtain a criminal record search through their local police department as outlined above.

In order to complete a criminal record check through Backcheck, please email your division manager (or, for rep teams, the VP Rep) and request the special web link for VTMHA volunteers.  Complete the information on-line and, when prompted, print off the ID verification form.  Take the ID verification form to the nearest Canada Post location along with the required 2 pieces of identification where it can be verified by a Canada Post employee and submitted by Canada Post directly to Backcheck. 

There is no cost to the volunteer for using the Backcheck system.  The cost of the criminal record check will be paid directly by the VTMHA.

Criminal Record Checks Obtained for Other Organizations

VTMHA will accept criminal record checks or vulnerable sector searches obtained through other organizations as follows:

(a)        if a volunteer meets the above requirements to provide a criminal record check through Backcheck, and the volunteer has completed an on-line criminal record check through Backcheck within the last 6 months, then the results can be “shared” through Backcheck;

(b)        if a volunteer has obtained a criminal record check or vulnerable sector search within the previous six months, and is able to provide the original of that criminal record check or vulnerable sector search report to the VTMHA.

Thanks for your cooperation.