BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dru Marshall, Chair
Over the past three decades Dru Marshall has made significant contributions to sport as a player, a manager, a coach, and as an academic. She holds a doctoral degree in exercise physiology and is currently Deputy Provost at the University of Alberta. Dru 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. Winner of numerous Coach-of-the-Year awards at all levels, she continues to make an outstanding contribution to the development of women’s sport in Canada through teaching and research, mentoring coaches at all levels of the sport continuum, and serving on numerous provincial and national advisory committees. She is a scholar in issues of childhood obesity and children’s fitness and women in coaching. Although now retired as national coach herself, she continues to stay active as a mentor coach, a role which she believes is an enriching experience.

Guylaine Demers
Guylaine Demers, PhD, has been a Professor at the Department of Physical Education of Laval University since September 2001. She is the actual Director of the Undergraduate Competency-based coach education program, namely the Baccalaureate in Sport Intervention. Dr. Demers takes particular interest in issues of women in sport, coach education and competency-based training. She currently sits on the Coaching Association of Canada’s (CAC) Coaching Research Committee and on the Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching. This academic is currently leading an extensive research project into the early years of female coaches’ experience in coaching with the CAC We Are Coaches program. She was actively involved in the development and implementation of the new competency-based National Coaching Certification Program in Canada. 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. She was a coach for nearly 15 years and was also the technical director of the Quebec Basketball Federation. 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, she was named one of CAAWS’ Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity in Canada. Dr. Demers’ latest challenge is with the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee, where she is helping them develop a sport system for girls and women.

Moira Lassen
After twenty years of living in the North, Moira moved to Ottawa in order to continue her passionate commitment to sport both nationally and internationally. As an elected official, staff member, consultant and volunteer, Moira has worked within the sport system for over fifteen years, in a variety of administrative, management, coaching and officiating positions in both multi-sport and sport specific capacities. It is in the male dominated sport of Olympic Weightlifting where Moira has made the biggest impact. Moira held the position of Secretary General of the Canadian Weightlifting Federation for eight years and was Secretary on the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Scientific & Research Committee during the past quadrennial. Currently, Moira is a valued contributing member of the IWF Technical Committee as well as the Constitution, Bylaw & Technical Commission and member of the Doping Hearing Panel. Moira has completed over twenty-six international officiating missions, including the Olympic, Youth Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, as well as globally facilitates technical official clinics. Moira continually promotes gender equity within the sport system nationally and internationally, effecting change wherever possible. From grassroots to high performance sport, Moira intrinsically knows the value of sport and physical activity and is always willing to lend a hand in order for others to realize the same. Moira currently lives in Ottawa and is mother to Jeane (30, Olympian) and Erik (22).

Jennifer Fenton
Jennifer Fenton earned a Bachelor's degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Victoria, and a Master's Degree in Leisure and Sport Management from the University of British Columbia. Her Master’s examined the relationship between the experiences of girls within the schools’ physical education program and the school culture. Jennifer has served as Chair for the Orienteering Association of British Columbia and ProMOTION Plus, the BC Organization for Girls and Women in Physical Activity and Sport, and is currently a member of the Active North Shore Committee. She was instrumental in developing CAAWS' national On the Move initiative, and continues to deliver workshops on increasing the participation of inactive girls and women in physical activity and sport. Jennifer has infused a love of active living into her two children, and is involved in coaching her daughter in cross-country skiing and field hockey. Jennifer is involved in the development and management of the Premier's Sport Awards Program (p.s.a.p.) and a new 2010 Legacies’ Now initiative Action Schools! BC.

Larena Hoeber
As a change agent for gender equity in educational and research settings, Dr. Larena Hoeber is actively involved in promoting gender equity in sport and physical activity. As an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies at the University of Regina, Dr. Hoeber teaches students about the current state of men’s and women’s involvement in sport, the relationship between men and women in sport, and the impact of gender ideology on participation and involvement in sport. She has also supervised graduate student research examining the gender ideology associated with women coaching male athletes, girls’ understanding of physical activity and femininity, and work-life balance in the health care sector. As a researcher, she has focused on university athletics and Aboriginal volunteers, examining how key stakeholders understand gender equity and put it into practice. Dr. Hoeber has also lent her experience to various Boards and Committees at all levels, and currently serves on the Saskatchewan Parks & Recreation Association Research Committee, the North American Society of Sport Management Conference Task Force, the University of Regina Research Ethics Board, the Advisory Committee on the President’s Fund & SSHRC General Research Grant Fund, and the Flatlanders Roadrace Organizing Committee. Dr. Hoeber has published numerous articles and works on the above areas, and has made several presentations and lectures on gender issues.As a member of the CAAWS Board of Directors, Dr. Hoeber is looking forward to having the opportunity to further act as a change agent in a policy-advocacy setting at the national level - developing and endorsing policies and programs that promote gender equity in sport and physical activity, while also recognizing and celebrating the achievements of girls and women.

Jasmine Northcott
A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Jasmine Northcott holds a Bachelor degree in Leisure Studies and a Masters degree in Sports Administration & Marketing from the University of British Columbia (UBC). She was a Varsity Rower with the University of Ottawa and continued to compete with the Vancouver Rowing Club while studying at UBC. She is currently the Executive Director of AthletesCAN and works with AthletesCAN key stakeholders, including directly with Canadian National Team athletes, Sport Canada and partners from National and Multi-Sport Organizations.

Nancy Lee
For over twenty years, Nancy Lee has been a leader within Canadian media and international sport. As Executive Director for CBC Television Sports & Chef de Mission for CBC Radio Canada from 2000-2006, Nancy 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. During the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralymic Games, Nancy was responsible for the overall planning and implementation of the host broadcaster coverage and logistical operations for 2,700 staff. 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 Head at ten Winter and Summer Olympic Games, three Pan American Games and three Commonwealth Games and was 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 the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sports and Physical Activity.

Emilea Saadeh
Emilea personally understands the barriers to physical activity, such as poverty and parental apathy, having experienced them herself. Despite these obstacles, Emilea managed to follow her passion for physical activity through alternative, low-cost and self-driven sporting opportunities. This passion led her to a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education from the University of Alberta in 2006. Emilea’s career in sport and health includes the following positions: Recreation Coordinator for the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation; Recreation Technician for Edmonton Community Services; and since 2007, Health Coordinator for Alberta’s Native Friendship Centres Association. Emilea is also a trained Aboriginal On the Move and Aboriginal Women and Leadership facilitator, and since her training, she has shared her skills and learnings with Alberta’s twenty Friendship Centres. In addition to being a trained presenter and facilitator, Emilea is also a skilled writer with her article, “Reframing Physical Activity Programs for Aboriginal Communities” recently published by the Alberta Centre for Active Living. Emilea is an active board member with the InMotion Network, the Aboriginal School Health Taskforce, the Alberta Centre for Healthy Living, and the Indigenous Sports Council of Alberta. As an urban Aboriginal woman, Emilea feels she would bring a unique perspective and experience to CAAWS’s Board of Directors, and believes through a board position she could meaningfully give back to the many in-need Aboriginal communities across Canada.

Nicole Smith
Based in Fredericton, NB, Nicole Smith is currently pursuing her Education degree at St. Thomas University. During the previous two years she was the Executive Director for the Community Non-Profit Organizations Secretariat. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Sport New Brunswick, a position she held for almost 6 years. She has also been Executive Director for two of New Brunswick’s Sports Organizations, Alpine Ski New Brunswick and Velo NB. In addition to her strong background in sports, she has experience in the active living field, serving as a consultant with Sport, Recreation and Active Living in the Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport. She has extensive experience serving on volunteer boards, and is a trained facilitator for the CAAWS Women and Leadership Program. She has also been very active in a wide range of community activities, from the Dragon Boat Festival to school committees. Nicole majored in Recreation Administration at the University of New Brunswick, graduating with a Bachelor in Physical Education and Recreation. She also holds a Masters Degree in Leisure Studies from Pennsylvania State University.

Karin Lofstrom
Karin Lofstrom has been with CAAWS since 1997, originally in the position of Operations Manager and now as the Executive Director. A native of Saskatchewan, Karin has had a life-long involvement with sports. Prior to working with CAAWS, Karin was the National Team Coordinator for Skate Canada, responsible for the coordination of all details for Canadian skaters competing at international events including the Olympics. She has also worked with the men's national team at Basketball Canada, Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and Sport Canada. As a volunteer with Field Hockey Canada, she served as Vice President for the Women’s Field Hockey High Performance Committee and then Chair of the International Excellence Committee and has volunteered at many Canadian Women's National Ice Hockey Team Training Camps and organized many International Women’s Hockey events. She continues to enjoy participating in a variety of activities including golf, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and working out.