Most of Influential Women 2000Among the suggested women are two nominees who died within the last year. Early in March 2000, Canada lost one of her finest athletes and a wonderful person, Sandra Schmirler. And early in February 2001 Canada and the Olympic Movement lost leader and friend, Carol Anne Letheren. To honour Sandra and Carol Anne, they lead the list.
When she died of cancer on March 2, 2000 at age 37, her achievements had already been recognized by the induction of her team into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and countless tributes. Her home community, Biggar, dedicated a splendid park to her and her teammates in June. The Schmirler team was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in the fall. "I thought she represented the best of Canadiana," longtime friend and team associate Pat Reid said. "She was just a warm, clean-cut, vibrant young woman who had a passion for a sport and turned that into three world championships and an Olympic gold medal, all the while being the girl next door--someone who loved her kids and loved being a wife and a mother and worked part-time. She could have been anybody, in that sense." (Sandra Schmirler Queen of Curling, Perry Lefko, 2000, p.4)
Carol Anne had been a board member, president of the COA, and at the time of her death was the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the association. In 1988 Carol Anne was Canada's first female Olympic Chef de Mission. She served on the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education, and the Coordination Commissions for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and 2004 Olympic Games. Carol Anne was a strong proponent and supporter of the bid to bring the 2008 Olympic Games to Toronto, and served on the Bid Committee's Board of Directors. Her friend and colleague Richard W. Pound posthumously presented the Olympic Order to Carol Anne. She will be greatly missed.
Phyllis spent her vacation performing that task. She is an employee of the Toronto Bid Committee, and was one of a small collective charged with putting together the three volume Bid Book for 2008. She directed and co-ordinated this extensive project that included obtaining guarantees from business and all levels of government.Throughout 2000 Phyllis repeatedly demonstrated her commitment to gender equity in presentations to many groups.
Elected first to the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission at the 1996 Olympics where she carried Canada's flag into the stadium, Charmaine has continued an active involvement in the IOC's Ethics Commission and Commission for Culture and Olympic Education and was re-elected to the IOC Athlete's Commission. On the domestic scene, Charmaine is a volunteer Executive Committee member of the COA, and a Board member of Athletes CAN and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.
In addition, Leslie is solidifying sponsorships, looking for new sponsors and has built bridges with the NBA, media and corporate community. Leslie believed that both the women's and men's teams could qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games if they had good coaching, adequate training camps, and opportunity to play challenging opponents. She kept the 2000 Olympic goal in everyone's sight. Not only did both teams compete in the 2000 Olympics the women's team placed 10th and men's team placed 7th. Leslie is president of the Commission for Women's Basketball for COPABA (the Americas organization for basketball), a position she earned because of her knowledge of the sport and her ability to lead. Transformation takes time, networking, money and leadership. Leslie is leading Basketball Canada's transformation.
During 2000 Lori was involved in several federal government initiatives. She was vital to the government's decision to increase funding to athletes and coaches in March 2000. She worked on anti-drug initiatives for the Minister, and she assisted planning the Regional Conferences for developing national sport policy. Lori provided on-going liaison between the federal government and Athletes CAN, and was involved in the Federal Government's participation in the 2000 Olympic Games. Lori continues to work on the up-coming National Conference on Sport (April 2001). One nominator said that Lori is "tireless in her efforts to improve sport in our country." She definitely is making a difference.
As the first Canadian woman to win a Women's Golf Pro Tour Title, Lori Kane established herself as Canada's premier woman golfer. Not only did Lori win three tournaments in the space of ten weeks, she was in the top ten eight times, and was fifth over-all in LPGA earnings in 2000. "She represents her sport and her country with pride," said a nominator. One look at her putting out on the 18th green confirms that!
Judy led the association as its first female president and as the first female Commonwealth Games Chef de Mission to Kuala Lumpur in 1994. Now past president of the CGAC and currently a member of the Commonwealth Games Federation Sports Committee, Judy is well-respected by her colleagues. She has played a leading role with the International Working Group on Women and Sport since its first gathering in Brighton 1994, and was part of the group of Canadian women that invited the Working Group to Montreal for their 3rd Conference to be held in May 2002. Judy exhibits a "zeal and desire to make Canadian sport better," commented one of her nominators. "It is a joy to work with her." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A three-time Olympian (1972,1976, 1980) Diane knows both what it takes to be the best in one's sport and what the temptations and challenges are. She is unequivocal in her support for drug-free sport and fair play.Diane serves on the volunteer Board of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and as an Executive Committee member and Director of the Canadian Olympic Association.
She is co-chair of the BC Games Committee, a former CAAWS Board member, a Canadian Olympic Association member and a member of WomenSport International. "She does so many things, not seeking personal profile or gain," said another nominator. A third nominator commented, "Marion's warm, kind, encouraging and inspiring personality shines relentlessly." Perhaps this comment sums it up best: Marion is an "advocate for women in sports and passionate about integrating the sport system so that it benefits all."
Her commitment to broadening television sports programming was evident shortly after her appointment as Deputy Head of TV Network Sports. Nancy is willing to "challenge the way it always was done" as one nominator put it, and lead the CBC into new sport programming of interest to both men and women. "Nancy takes a stand on important issues," said a nominator.
In February, Marg became the first woman Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union after resigning from her long-held position as executive director of CAAWS. Marg presented a paper at the V111 World Sport for All Conference, May 2000. The theme of the paper reflects her personal commitment to collaboration and partnerships. Marg regularly commutes to McGill University as she works toward an MBA.
Pat's activity as a sport volunteer includes both synchronized swimming and Olympic organizations. She is an NCCP Level 3 Master Course Conductor (synchronized swimming), and is active in several informal roles with Synchro Canada. Pat is a member of the Canadian Olympic Association's Executive Committee, chairs its Education Committee, and is a member of the association's Strategic Planning Committee, Awards Committee, and the Women in Sport Task Force. Pat's dedication and expertise contribute to the efforts of the board of TO-2008, the Toronto Olympic Bid Committee. Pat's dedication, innovation and example are inspirational.
In 1999 Danièle became the first female coach of a Major Junior Hockey Team, the Montreal Rockets, in the Quebec League. She was appointed head coach of the national team in early 2000. An RCMP Officer by profession, Danièle is building the talent-laden team for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City at the National Training Centre in Calgary. Considering the incredible growth of girls' and women's hockey in Canada, Danièle has a great challenge ahead of her in choosing team members. Her experience and expertise will stand her in good stead. She is up to the challenge! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The dream to one day compete in both the Paralympics and the Olympics is definitely something to think about," said Sloan, who plans to compete in the Canadian national championship for able-bodied swimmers in 2001. Though her performance at the 2000 Paralympic dazzled Canadians and Australians alike, Sloan's experience in Sydney with the rest of the Canadian team had a profound personal impact. "Right now I'm the one that's being inspired," she said. "This whole team has done so well." Disabled athletes must build on the strengths they have to make up for what their bodies lack, she said. "It's all about adaptation," she said. "It's not a matter of having all four limbs. You can adapt to anything, do anything with what you've got." Sloan graduated from high school last year, and plans to attend the University of Calgary, studying business and perhaps taking art courses.
The pride of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, Hayley goes out of her way to tour small towns and big cities for both her sports, giving clinics and encouraging young girls to get on the ball diamonds and to lace on those skates! She always has something special to say to her fans. A student at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby BC, Hayley has established "Hayley 1 on 1," an opportunity for youngsters to meet and chat with her. Hayley placed fourth in balloting in 2000 for the Bobby Rosenfeld Award given to Canada's top female athlete. 2000 was a good year for Hayley; watch for her in the years to come!
About the author: |
Sandra
Schmirler was the pride of Biggar Saskatchewan, the province of
Saskatchewan, and her country. Sandra's curling team won three World
Championships (1993, 1994, 1997) and the first gold medal in women's
curling at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano in 1998. 
The
unexpected, sudden death of Carol Anne Letheren perhaps overshadows
her many accomplishments. An enthusiastic artistic gymnastics official,
a dedicated runner, a long-time Canadian Olympic Association (COA)
and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, a friend, a colleague,
a leader, an advisor, a parent, a wife, a daughter…..the words
used to describe her are as varied as the people who speak of her.
Phyllis
Berck, feminist and advocate for women, is a founder and long time
member of CAAWS and its chair-elect. Phyllis represented CAAWS at
the V111 World Sport for All Conference, Montreal, May 2000.Her
experiences with Calgary '88, the unsuccessful 1996 Toronto bid
for the Olympics, and her long-time involvement in the Olympic Movement
are some of the reasons she was invited to be a member of the Sydney
Olympic Games observer team. Its task was to prepare the Games Report
to the International Olympic Committee. 
Charmaine
co-ordinates a busy schedule from her home in Vancouver BC. It includes
commitment to speaking to a wide variety of audiences about two
things she knows a lot about: perseverance and passionate living.
She is a three-time Olympian and the only Canadian woman to break
two minutes in the 800m athletics event.
Leslie
Dal Cin Basketball Canada is undergoing a transformation. Leading
this transformation from grassroots through to the elite levels
is Executive Director Leslie Dal Cin. In the short space of two
years, Leslie has overseen an office move to Toronto to be closer
to sponsors and media, and a staff increase to five full-time employees.
When Basketball Canada made what some saw as controversial decisions,
it was Leslie, composed and assertive, who fronted the Association,
explained the decisions and fielded difficult questions. 
Five
years ago, while racquetball's National Doubles Champion, Lori Johnstone
couldn't have imagined herself working in the office of the Federal
Government's Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) as one of his Special
Advisors. But that's where she is today.Lori is also the past Chairperson
of Athletes CAN, a Canadian not-for-profit run by and for athletes
and committed to their issues. Lori is dedicated to harmonizing
relationships between Athletes CAN, Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic
Association and other leading national sport organizations. 
It
should be no surprise that Lori Kane was voted Female Athlete of
the Year by the Canadian Press. Lori won the Bobby Rosenfeld Award
last year and in 1997, and was runner-up in 1998. Winner of three
professional golf tournaments in 2000, Charlottetown's most famous
athlete made Canadian sport history when she won the Michelob Light
Classic in St Louis in early August.
Nominators
of Judy Kent describe her as progressive, a forward thinker, a trailblazer,
and a person who demonstrates "a new style of leadership."
One needs only to have observed the Commonwealth Games Association
of Canada (CGAC) during her tenure as president to know that. The
CGAC web site reveals Judy's influence. The association's mission,
values, operating principles and norms of behaviour are prominent,
permitting people to understand how the association operates. 
Diane
has lent her name, her energies, and her outstanding speaking and
persuasive skills to promoting Canadian athletes, drug-free sport,
athletic excellence and fair play in sport. As Chef de Mission of
the Canadian Team at the 2000 Olympic Games, Diane was an acknowledged
leader and supporter of every athlete. 
"Ms.
everything in sport" is the way one of Marion Lay's nominators
described her. Marion chairs the Vancouver Whistler 2010 Bid Corporation,
the organization committed to bringing the Olympic Winter Games
to the Vancouver Whistler area, and is founder and chair of the
National Sport Centre-Greater Vancouver. Marion is one of the chairs
of the PacificSport Group, a network of BC National and Regional
Sport Centres. 
News
of Nancy Lee's January 2000 appointment as Executive Director of
CBC Sports was enthusiastically received in the sport community.CBC
listeners remember her as the first full-time female national sports
reporter in 1987, then as Producer of the 'Inside Track' on CBC
radio in 1990, and as head of CBC Radio Sports from 1994-1996. 
"Hoops,"
hockey and family are the diversions of choice for Canada's Chef
de Mission to the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.
A resident of Ottawa, Marg serves as a member at large for the Commonwealth
Games Association of Canada. 
Pat's
interests in athletes and sport administration are natural extensions
of her professional duties as Director of Sport and Recreation at
York University, a position she has held for almost 30 years.Her
peers in the NACDA, an international association of professional
athletic directors recognized Pat in 2000, as the International
Region's Athletic Director of the Year. 
Canadian
coaches know that there will be many twists and turns in their careers.
Hockey coach Danièle Sauvageau is no exception.She coached
national champions for three years, and the national team at the
World Cup, Three Nations Cup and World Championships. She was the
assistant coach of the women's hockey team at the 1998 Olympic Winter
Games.
The
17-year-old Calgary swimmer won six gold medals in the 2000 Paralympic
Games. With each gold, she set a world record. She took gold in
the 100-metre and 50-metre freestyle, the 100-metre breaststroke,
the 200-metre individual medley and the medley and freestyle relays.She
plans to continue to train possibly with an eye toward the 2004
Olympics for the able-bodied.
Hayley
Wickenheiser is a very special athlete. She's one of only two Canadian
athletes--male or female--who have competed in two Olympic sports.At
the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Hayley was a member of the women's
softball team, playing third base and batting clean-up. She won
a silver medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games with the hockey
team and before that, three gold medals at the World Hockey Championships.
Canadian Association for the Advancement
of Women and Sport
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Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Phone: 613-562-5667
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Email: caaws@caaws.ca