Moira Lassen (Ottawa ON, formerly Whitehorse YT) – CHAIR
As an elected official, employee and volunteer, Moira has passionately worked within the Canadian and international sport systems for over seventeen years in a variety of administrative, management, coaching and officiating positions in both the multi-sport and sport specific realms. It is in the male dominated sport of Olympic Weightlifting where Moira has created the biggest impact. In the past, Moira has held the elected positions of Secretary General with the Canadian Weightlifting Federation and Secretary of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Scientific & Research Committee. Currently, Moira is a valued member of the IWF Technical Committee, as well as sits on the Constitution, Bylaw & Technical Commission and Doping Hearing Panel. Moira has completed over forty international officiating missions, including Olympic, Youth Olympic, Pan Am and Commonwealth Games, as well as globally facilitates technical official clinics. As a staff member, Moira worked at the London 2012 Olympic Games and is currently stationed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the Competition Manager for Wrestling. Moira continues her passionate commitment to sport by promoting gender equity within the sport system, effecting change wherever possible. From grassroots to high performance sport, Moira intrinsically knows the value of sport and is always willing to lend a hand in order for others to realize the same.
Jennifer Fenton (Richmond, BC) – CHAIR-ELECT
Jennifer Fenton has been a consultant in the physical activity and health education field for thirty years delivering and supporting healthy school initiatives across BC and highlights the unprecedented success of the development and implementation of the Action Schools! BC initiative and the longevity of the Premier’s Sport Awards Program (p.s.a.p.). Jennifer is the Past Chair for ProMOTION Plus- the BC Organization for Girls and Women in Physical Activity and Sport, and for the Orienteering Association of BC, and is the current Chair of the Active North Shore Committee and a CAAWS Board member for the last four years. She was instrumental in developing, delivering and now strategizing for CAAWS’ national On the Move initiative getting inactive girls and young women, active. She chaired the ProMOTION Plus 20th Anniversary Herstory Committee and produced a keepsake of stories about women leaders and 20 Years of Making a Difference. She integrates gender equity into her daily work in the education sector and still provides presentations to students in the health promotion field. Jennifer has a BA in Leisure Studies from UVic and a Masters from UBC examining grade four girls’ experiences in physical education in a low-income multicultural city. Jennifer has infused a love of active living into her two children, and is involved in coaching cross-country skiing, volleyball and field hockey.
Dru Marshall (Calgary, AB) – PAST CHAIR
One of Alberta’s most experienced academic leaders and administrators, Dru Marshall joined the University of Calgary in 2011 as provost and vice-president (academic). Prior to her appointment, she spent 30 years in a variety of influential roles at the University of Alberta. Dru is also highly regarded for her work in the area of women in sport and physical activity, particularly as it relates to coaching and research. Throughout her career, Dru has been involved at the highest level of amateur sport as a coach, trainer and physiologist. She was a successful coach, working within the national field hockey program for over 20 years, including being head coach of the national women’s field hockey team from 1996 to 2001. Dru has been well published as one of Canada’s most recognized and respected experts in the field of exercise physiology where she focused her research program on obesity in children. A scholar in issues related to women in coaching, she continues to make an outstanding contribution to the development of women’s sport in Canada through teaching and research, mentoring, and serving on numerous provincial and national advisory committees and/or boards. She has received “Coach of the Year’ distinctions at all levels, and has twice been recognized as one of the most influential women in sport by CAAWS.
Cynthia Menzies-Sabiston (Winnipeg, MB)
Cynthia Menzies-Sabiston specializes in adult education and recreation leadership through experiential learning and coordinates the delivery of blended learning events including webinars for First Nation, Inuit and Métis health service providers working in remote and isolated locations across Canada. This has included mentoring CAAWS’ facilitators. Cynthia supports meaningful partnerships between recreation, health and education partners on a community, provincial and national level. Cynthia has coordinated several award-winning initiatives in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities including: Girl’s Physical Activity Days, Sport Demonstration Tours, Mobile Diabetes Camps, Elder’s Sewing Circles, Aboriginal Youth Circus Camp, mobile physical activity programs, community garden initiatives and parent-child centered programs. Cynthia was presented with a provincial-wide Healthy Living Award for her work in promoting health and wellness with Manitoba First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. Cynthia was identified as a key informant on Aboriginal health and is a member of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Physical Activity Case Studies Advisory Group. She continues to share her experiences with communities across Canada utilizing an engaging and interactive approach as a public speaker, facilitator and actor (puppeteer and storyteller). Cynthia is enrolled in the Masters of Health and Leadership Studies program with the Faculty of Nursing Studies at Athabasca University. Cynthia is a competitive master’s athlete (triathlete and runner). Cynthia resides in Winnipeg and Spence Lake, Manitoba.
Nancy Lee (Toronto, ON)
For over twenty years, Nancy Lee has been a leader within Canadian media and international sport. As Executive Director for CBC Television Sports and Chef de Mission for CBC Radio Canada from 2000-2006, she managed the largest Canadian over-the-air sports broadcasting department with a production staff of 150 producing over 1000 hours of annual television. In 2006, Nancy became the Chief Operating Officer for the Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver. In that role, she was responsible for the overall planning and implementation of the host broadcaster coverage and logistical operations for a staff of 2,700 people that managed the operations and infrastructure for 20 broadcast venues throughout Vancouver and Whistler. The Olympic Broadcasting Services produced the most hours of live coverage (900+) for a Winter Olympic Games. At an international level, Nancy has worked as a reporter, producer and management executive at 10 Olympic Games, 3 Pan American Games and 5 Commonwealth Games. She was also invited to be a presenter at the 2009 IOC Congress in Copenhagen. Nancy’s approachable communication and management styles enable her to easily develop rapport and work with diverse groups. These skills, along with her ability to motivate staff and create industry-leading program innovations have made Nancy leader she is today. Over the course of her career, Nancy has been honoured for her work by the Canadian Women in Film and Television, the Canadian Ethics in Sports Foundation and CAAWS.
Karin Lofstrom (Ottawa, ON)
For more than 25 years, Karin has been an active participant, volunteer, leader, mentor and advocate for girls and women in sport and physical activity, both in Canada and internationally. Prior to working with CAAWS, Karin held a number of positions as coach, national team coordinator, chef de mission, administrator and manager across a range of sports and major international events. In 1997, she joined CAAWS in the role of Operations Manager; in 2002, she became Executive Director. Karin’s commitment to achieving gender equity in the Canadian sport system is shared through her collaborative approach. At the national level, she contributes her experience in the sport sector and expertise on gender equity to a number of committees and working groups, sharing resources and knowledge to ensure the needs of girls and women are considered and integrated from the beginning into resulting programs and initiatives. At the national policy level, Karin regularly contributes to and encourages policy development and implementation to improve the status of girls and women in sport. Highly respected internationally, Karin has delivered several presentations abroad and has participated in numerous panel discussions. Karin is currently an Executive Board Member, and the key contact for the 2013 International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW): Physical Education and Sport – Promoting Gender Equity Conference. She was recently enshrined in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (June, 2012).
Lindsay Hugenholtz (Ottawa, ON)
Lindsay Hugenholtz is the Vice President, Teaming & Partnering with MD Physician Services. Formerly, Lindsay was the Deputy CEO for a highly successful edition of the 2011 Halifax Canada Winter Games. She also held the title of the Director of Sport and oversaw the Games Secretariat for the Province of Nova Scotia. She moved to Nova Scotia from Ottawa in 2005 after working for Sport Canada as a senior policy advisor. Lindsay began her career in sport working for the Canadian Amateur Diving Association and the Canadian Yachting Association. She has been to the World University Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Pan American Games and the Summer Olympics as the team manager for Diving. She also attended the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and the 2012 London Paralympic Games as part of Team Canada’s Mission Staff. Lindsay is Chair of the Board of Motivate Canada and was recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Sport for 2010 and 2011 by CAAWS. She has an Executive MBA from Saint Mary’s University, is a certified Project Management Professional, and has her designation as a Canadian Risk Manager. Lindsay also offers consulting services through Hillwood & Associates in business plan development and strategic planning, risk management, policy and process development, and project management.
Guylaine Demers (Québec, QC)
Guylaine Demers, PhD, is a professor at Laval University. She takes particular interest in issues of women in sport, coach education and homophobia in sport. She is the chair elect of the Coaching Association of Canada’s (CAC) Coaching Research Committee and sits on the Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching. This academic is currently leading an extensive research project on the experiences of LGBT athletes and coaches in the canadian sport system. Dr. Guylaine Demers is actively involved in promoting gender equity and coach education in sport within her home province of Québec. She currently serves as Chair of Égale-Action, Quebec’s Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity. She is also a member of the Quebec Council of Sport Leaders, who serves as the Orientation Committee on coaches’ development in Quebec. Her work and achievements have been recognized both provincially and nationally. Dr.Demers was named recipient of the 2009 YWCA’s Women in Sport Award for her accomplishments in Québec for the advancement of women in leadership position. In 2007 and 2010, she was named one of CAAWS’ Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity in Canada.
Farida Gabbani (Truro, NS)
Farida Gabbani recently retired as Senior Director, Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, where she tackled the issue of inactivity and focused on healthy lifestyles in the province. Farida has experience at the local, provincial and national levels, working in a wide range of aspects of education, health, sport, recreation and physical activity. Over the years, she has been both a member of and lead various committees as well as served on various boards of directors discussing policy issues, including Sport Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation, Truro Sport Heritage Society and CAHPERD (presently PHE Canada). Well known across Canada, Farida’s influence has spread well beyond our shores where she has delivered high quality workshops and developed various teaching strategies and curriculum with local teachers in both the Eastern Caribbean and Africa. Over the course of her career, she has been a tireless champion for equity and diversity including issues related to women and gender equity; she was the co-author of 3 gender equity teachers resources and served as CAHPERD’s representative at the 2002 International and National Women in Sport Conferences. She was educated at the I.M. Marsh College of Physical Education in England and completed both a Master of Education and Master of Arts at St. Mary’s University, Halifax, where she was awarded the Gold Medal for academic achievement.
