ViaSport welcomes new voices to the sport leadership table

Three new teams ready to make an impact on sport in BC

viaSport is excited to announce the members of three new leadership groups selected to support and advise viaSport in building our presence and priorities for sport in BC: Sport Leadership Committee, Coaches Advisory Group and Girls & Women in Sport Advisory Group. Yesterday afternoon, the groups came together – along with the viaSport board of directors and staff – for an inaugural sport leadership retreat at the Vancouver Rowing Club.

Recognized for their knowledge and expertise in current areas of priority for viaSport, the retreat provided group members the opportunity to share their individual passions for sport, discuss where they see the sector moving in the future, and to ensure our visions were aligned in doing so. Groups will soon begin meeting on a regular basis to continue the momentum in bringing increased focus to building a more inclusive, unified sport sector. We will be sending out a formal announcement next week that will include individual photos and bios.

More on the Sport Leadership Committee: 

The Sport Leadership Committee is a group of influential sport leaders chosen to represent Provincial and Multi-Sport Organizations, disability sport organizations, athletes, coaches, officials and the Sport Branch. The Sport Leadership Committee will advise the viaSport Board of Directors on a wide range of sport development issues and provide input and feedback on the process of sport delivery in BC. Please join us in welcoming the following members:

From left to right:

•  Lauren Woolstencroft – viaSport Board Member
•  Roger Soane – President and CEO, Whistler Sport Legacies
•  Clint Hamilton – Director of Athletics & Recreation at the University of Victoria
•  Robert Bettauer – CEO, Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence (PISE)
•  Lawrie Johns – Executive Director, Basketball BC
•  Byron McCorkell – Director of Kamloops Parks, Recreation & Culture
•  Fannie Smith – High Performance Manager, BC Adaptive Snowsports

Note: One representative from both the Coaches and Girls & Women Advisory Groups will have a seat on the Sport Leadership Committee.

More on the Coaches Advisory Group:

The Coaches Advisory Group is a team of sport leaders experienced and knowledgeable about coaching in BC that will act in a consultative capacity to provide advice and recommendations to viaSport. This group will help shape and inform program strategies to ensure that all BC coaches receive the best in development, certification, support and education. They will also discuss and work to implement new ways to recruit and certify more coaches in BC, and ensure all sport participants have access to the highest quality coaching services. Please join us in welcoming the following members:

From left to right:

• Norman Olenick – Badminton
• Andrew Lambert – Alpine Skiing
• Jennifer Schutz – Athletics
• Allison McNeill – Basketball
• Bill Woodley – Baseball, Softball, Hockey and Ringette

Missing:

• Christopher Dahl – Volleyball
• Jim Dixon – Rugby and Adaptive Snowsports

More on the Girls & Women in Sport Advisory Group: 

The Girls & Women Advisory Group is a team of passionate female sport advocates that will provide advice and recommendations to viaSport on strategy development, best practices, and program delivery, ultimately providing insights, guidance and recommendations on achieving gender equity in sport and physical activity for girls and women in BC. The Girls and Women Advisory Group will also develop, monitor and evaluate a comprehensive policy on gender equity in sport and physical activity for girls and young women and the related strategic plan. Please join us in welcoming the following team members:

From left to right:

• Sue Griffin –  Executive Director, Tennis BC
• Bryna Kopelow – Manager with Action Schools !BC
• Kristina MacDonald – Sport Camp Programmer, Richmond Olympic Oval
• Shannon Pederson – Chair of BC Soccer’s Diversity Working Group
• Dominque Falls – Board VP of North Vancouver Girls Soccer Club and Board Member with the Vancouver Street Soccer League

Missing:

• Joan Wharf-Higgins, Ph.D – Professor & Canada Research Chair (Health & Society) in the School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education at the University of Victoria
• Jaci Edgeworth – North American Area Manager for ivivva athletica

Unifying our voice and vision across BC

Moving forward, the viaSport Board of Directors and staff will be working closely with these leadership groups in building an active, healthy British Columbia where sport inspires a field of possibilities for all. As our goals and priorities evolve, viaSport will continue expanding our provincial leadership representation and create new leadership groups to support them.