Most Influential Women 2006

Stacey Allaster, Toronto, ON & St. Petersburg, FL
After 15 years with Tennis Canada, where she served as Vice-President of Tennis Canada and Tournament Director for the Women’s and Men’s Championships, Stacey Allaster began 2006 by joining the Sony Ericsson Women’s Tennis Association Tour as President. In her first year in this new role, she has been recognized for bringing more fan friendly innovations to professional tennis in one year, than in the previous history of the game. These innovations have enhanced the entertainment value of women’s tennis to both in-stadium and television viewers. As well, she is also responsible for developing and driving the Tour’s sales, marketing, television, New Media and promotional strategies. This year, sponsorships for the WTA reached close to $23 million (US), and the Sony Ericsson partnership is the largest sponsorship deal in the history of women’s sort and professional tennis. Additionally, she is responsible for overseeing the Tour’s season-ending tournament, as well as for tournament and player relations at the Tour. She was recognized as the Canadian Sports Executive of the Year by Sports Media Canada, and was the first woman to ever receive the honour and was also named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network.

Wendy Bedingfield, Wolfville, NS
The Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Acadia University, Dr. Wendy Bedingfield used research to make a significant impact on women’s sport in Canada this year. As Chair of the Coaching Association of Canada’s (CAC) coaching research committee, she facilitated opportunities for women to pursue significant research that can affect policy and decision-making. Her affinity for research breaks the stereotype of solitary laboratory work. She takes the approach that once the research is done, it is extremely important to disseminate the results to everyone. It is her goal to use research to make sport a more inclusive and healthy place for everyone who participates, especially women. She chaired the Coaching Research Symposium held in conjunction with the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership conference. Its objectives were to present current research on coaching and coach education, to create a network of Canadian researchers in this field, and to strengthen links between researchers and practitioners. In organizing this symposium she led the call for papers, read each submission, and organized the speakers and facilitators. In addition she is currently co-investigator on a current research initiative looking at the role of women as sport leaders in Nova Scotia, was the past president of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and chaired the Annapolis Valley 2011 Canada Games Bid Committee.

Cassie Campbell, Calgary, AB
Cassie Campbell began 2006 by winning an Olympic gold medal as the team captain of Canada’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team at the Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. By year’s end, she had become the first woman to do game analysis on a nationally televised NHL broadcast, when she was called up ‘from the bench’ in only her second assignment for the telecast of Hockey Night in Canada. A role model for females in sport across Canada since she played her first international game as a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team in 1994, Cassie is committed to the growth and promotion of female hockey, and is a spokesperson for Hockey Canada’s Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey program. She is passionate about promoting hockey and physical activity among youth, and runs the annual “Cassie Campbell Street Hockey Festival” in Calgary, which benefits Ronald McDonald House. After retiring from competitive hockey, she turned her passion for the game into a career as a TV analyst on TSN and CBC. She continues to be involved in promoting the game and the importance of teamwork, dedication and great leadership through speaking engagements across the country.

Slava Corn, Toronto, ON
For many years Slava Corn has been making a significant contribution to the sport of gymnastics from the grass roots to the Olympic level and in both a professional and volunteer role. Her influence can be seen in three main areas, at Sport Seneca School, and both nationally and internationally. In November 2006, Elyse Hoffner-Hibbs, a current athlete training at the Sport Seneca School, made history by winning the first-ever World Championship medal for a Canadian female gymnast. Sport Seneca, with Slava as the Organizing Chair, also hosted competitions including the 2006 Pan American Junior Championships and Women’s Artistic Elite Canada. Slava sits on the Board of Directors of Gymnastics Canada, and remains a key leader at the international level of gymnastics. She is currently the Chair of the FIG Media and Communication Program. She recently coordinated and implemented the FIG Age Group Development Program and the Coaching Education program called the FIG Academy program. These programs serve as valuable tools for developing countries which have no other or limited resources. In March 2006, she was the FIG Technical Delegate to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Photo credit: Robert Semeniuk

Melody Davidson, Calgary, AB
For the first time, Canada has a full-time national women’s iced hockey team coach. After many years of temporary assignments for a variety of excellent coaches, Melody Davidson was hired in 2006 to a four-year contract. She also will have the general manager’s title in this role that puts her in charge of the day-to-day operation of the women’s high-performance program. Melody was named head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Ice Hockey team for the 2004-2005 season as well as the 2005 World Championships and the 2006 Olympic team. She helped guide the team to its second consecutive women’s hockey gold medal at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy. Dedicated to the game of women’s hockey, Melody encourages the growth of athletes not only on the ice but off the ice as well. Many participants of the Shooting Star Hockey School in Stettler, AB, which she founded 12 years ago, are now instructors and role models in female hockey. She promotes and assists in the development of players and coaches across Canada. She resigned her position as head coach at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., to take the job with Hockey Canada.

Sylvie Fréchette, Montreal, QC
After only one year with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Sylvie Fréchette’s passion and dedication is already having a major impact on the organization. In the newly created position of Manager, Athlete Programs, Sylvie provides leadership to the COC’s athlete funding programs, including Rona’s Growing With Our Athletes program, Hbc’s Run for Canada program and Petro-Canada’s Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence program. She also oversees Olympic Voice, the Performance Recognition Support Program and the Olympians Canada alumni program. A two-time Olympic medallist in synchronized swimming, Sylvie captured a gold medal in the individual event at the 1992 Olympic Games before adding a silver medal in the team discipline four years later. She then spent several years as a performer, choreographer, coach and designer with Cirque du Soleil. She also developed an extensive background in the field of athlete and corporate relations during her seven-year partnership with the National Bank of Canada. She is bringing her corporate and athletic experience together to work with corporations and plan initiatives that support and fund Canadian athletes.

Clara Hughes, Glen Sutton, QC
Immediately following her Gold Medal win in the 5000 meter long-track speed skating event at the Torino Winter Olympic Games, Clara Hughes announced she was donating the $10,000 in her bank account to Right to Play. And she challenged other Canadians to get involved with supporting the Toronto-based organization that provides sports equipment and sports opportunities for children in poor and war-torn countries. An outstanding athlete, who also won two Olympic bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Clara’s willingness to donate her own funds was indeed an inspiration to people across Canada. Her challenge, issued in February, has resulted in over $430,000 being donated to the charity by the end of the year. Clara, who also won a silver medal in the women’s team pursuit, also followed up her donation by travelling to Ethiopia, and meeting some of the children involved with Right to Play. She described the experience as “true inspiration I hope to bring back into my world and share with others … This is far more important than any gold medal - even an Olympic gold medal.”

Cindy Klassen, Winnipeg, MB
The impact of Cindy Klassen’s athletic accomplishments in 2006 may not truly be known for many years. How many young Canadian girls have been inspired to follow in her skate blades is unknown. She had the outstanding athletic performance of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, winning five Olympic medals, more than any other athlete. Her remarkable performance covered four distances, with a gold in the 1500, silver in the 1000 and the team pursuit, and bronze in both the 3000 and the 5000 meter distances. When added to the bronze medal from the 3000 meters at the 2002 Winter Games, Cindy became the face of sport at events around the country and she was invested in the Order of Manitoba. Outside of skating, she devotes her time to the Mennonite Central Committee, a development and peace agency for which she travelled to Africa this past summer and is a spokesperson on issues related to people living with HIV. She also received the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canadian female athlete of the year from The Canadian Press and Broadcast News. Her accomplishments were acknowledged as the outstanding sports achievement of the year, as she was awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete of 2006, beating out several male professional athletes.

Moira Lassen, Whitehorse, YK
Moira Lassen has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Sport of Weightlifting for many years. This year, she succeeded in winning the right for the Yukon to host the 2008 Junior World Weightlifting Championships. Moira, who works for Sport Yukon, is the Secretary General of the Canadian Weightlifting Federation. She participated in the successful bid presentation to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) in Busan Korea. The championships will bring together more than 500 athletes from 72 countries. to participate. In addition, she sits on the IWF Scientific and Research Committee, which works to improve the sport, involve youth, and continue educating coaches through clinics and seminars. She originally got involved in the sport because her daughter was competing internationally. She is now a Level I International Referee, and the first female IWF Technical Controller in fifteen years. She is currently training for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008, in the hopes to be the first female Technical Controller to work an Olympic Games.

Silken Laumann, Victoria, BC
Although it has been several years since she competed at an Olympic Games, Silken Laumann continues to be an influential figure in Canadian sport. She wants to see that the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Canada, inspire kids to play. Silken, who now heads the health promotion group Silken’s Active Kids, sees the upcoming Vancouver-Whistler Olympics as an opportunity to reverse the troubling decline in the health and fitness of Canadian children. A tireless advocate on behalf of healthy and active children, she took that message to the House of Commons this year and told the all-party standing committee on health that Canada should be the first country ever to harness the power of the Olympic Games to change a nation’s health. Her book, Child's Play -Re-discovering the joy of play in our families and our communities became a national bestseller when released last April. Child's Play is a book of simple ideas for parents, educators and caregivers wishing to raise more active and healthy kids.

Marielle Ledoux, Montreal, QC
Marielle Ledoux has been encouraging people to understand the link between good nutrition and sport performance for many years. She holds a Doctorate in Nutrition from McGill University, and is also a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montreal. Marielle frequently gives nutrition workshops to coaches, emphasizing the need to fuel the body appropriately, based on the sport, and the training and competition cycles. She is a widely respected author and regularly contributes to a variety of publications, and during this year’s Winter Olympics, she provided a daily nutrition tip on CBC’s Olympic website, with a wide variety of information for athletes. As well in 2006, she collaborated on a book with Nathalie Lacombe and Geneviève St-Martin that created a guide for athletes to follow. Nutrition, sport et performance has been very well received by the sports community as an excellent guide for parents, coaches and athletes.

Nancy Lee , Toronto, ON
Throughout her many years at CBC, Nancy Lee made her mark in Canadian Television. The first woman to run the most important sports production and broadcasting operation in Canada, she had an unmatched commitment to amateur sport and its coverage in the media. She has consistently been a leader in promoting women in sport, doing it quietly, and without fanfare. She increased CBC Sports’ programming of both sports involving women and of sports that traditionally appeal to women. She actively promotes the development of women both on the air and behind-the-scenes at CBC Sports. Through her achievements, she has changed corporate culture to foster the advancement and recognition of women in the traditionally male-dominated worlds of sport and sports broadcasting. In 2006 she made the difficult decision to end her 20-year career at the CBC and move to a new challenge, as the chief operating officer of the host broadcast team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Nancy will head up Olympic Broadcast Services Vancouver, and for the next several years, will focus on the delivery of the international broadcast feeds for the 2010 Olympic Games.

TA Loeffler, St. John’s, Newfoundland
Described by CBC Radio Host Anne Budgell as “One of Newfoundland's Most Adventurous Women", professor, hockey player and outdoor educator, TA Loeffler has been inspiring and supporting students, team-mates, players, and friends in their personal pursuits of sport and physical activity for many years. TA has always been a leader, quietly and supportively encouraging people, and especially women and young people, to try new things and take on new challenges, whether that be doing an Eskimo roll in a sea kayak, backpacking for eight days in the Grand Canyon, or learning to play ice hockey as an adult. She leads by example, showing great strength and determination in whatever she tackles, but also by sharing her own fears and vulnerability in taking on new challenges. In 2006, she presented messages of hope, dreams, physical activity, and mountain exploration to over 4000 children and 600 women. She also launched Everest-007, an initiative to inspire the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador to become more physically active. She was named a "Class Act" by the Globe and Mail in their University Report Card and received the 2006 Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teacher Award.

Allison McNeill, South Surrey, BC
Allison McNeill’s national and international accomplishments as a coach are a matter of record. Lesser known is her passion for teaching and working with young people. Her work with the coaches of youth players and the players themselves has been a highlight of the very successful Steve Nash Youth Basketball program now in 50 British Columbia communities involving 9000 youngsters and over 2000 coaches. She regularly consults, provides input and advice and a wealth of knowledge to the continued development of the program in British Columbia and throughout Canada. In 2006, as Head Coach of Canada’s National Women’s Basketball team, she led Canada to qualify for World Championships for the first time in 12 years, and then led the team to a 10th place finish in September. She also led clinics for over 400 volunteer coaches to allow youth basketball participants to be coached by trained coaches. She also participated in 15 clinics where youngsters under age 13 were coached and taught by the National Head Coach – a wonderful experience to motivate and excite them.

Kathy Newman, Vancouver, BC
Sport has always been a part of Kathy Newman’s life, providing many opportunities for personal growth and for sharingher passion for sport with others. Kathy Newman continues to “think big” when it comes to running her provincial organization, as Executive Director of BC Wheelchair Sports Association. During her 24 years with the organization, she has never been content to work within small parameters. She continues to bid for and host international events that increase the awareness of athletes with a disability world wide. Her ability to work at the provincial level, and to also see the possibilities that international events hold for Canadian athletes, both in hosting and in participating is remarkable. Her 2006 schedule included co-chairing the Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion Vancouver Event, travelling to the 2006 World Wheelchair Championships with Canada’s Wheelchair Rugby Team and was a key leader in organizing the 2006 CANADA CUP, the International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament which featured eight of the top wheelchair rugby teams in the world.

Chantal Petitclerc, Montreal, QC
Already one of Canada’s most celebrated athletes, Chantal Peticlerc began 2006 by carrying the Canadian flag into the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Australia. A few days later, she continued her dominance in wheelchair racing, winning the gold medal in the 800 meter race at the Games. Later in the year, she set two games records at the World track and field championships for athletes with a disability. While continuing to train, and to compete at the highest levels, Chantal has become increasingly more involved in all levels of sport. Throughout her career, she has constantly pushed the barriers for athletes with a disability and she is a proud ambassador of the Paralympic Movement. In 2006, she was named to the position of Athlete Representative on Commonwealth Games Canada Board of Directors, where she can continue to capably represent the athlete perspective at the decision-making level. An outstanding motivational speaker, she uses her story to inspire others, and to illustrate the importance of perseverance, ambitious goals, vision, and, especially, dreams.

Carla Qualtrough, Vancouver, BC
A human rights lawyer and a Paralympic athlete, Carla Qualtrough brings passion and dedication to everything she does. During her athletic career, she won medals in swimming at two Paralympic Games, and she has remained active in the sports world. In 2006 she was elected President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the first woman to hold this position, and is a member of the Legal Committee of the International Paralympic Committee. Carla regularly conducts workshops and makes presentations in the areas of governance, equity and inclusion, and effective decision-making. She volunteers in a number of capacities within the Canadian and international sport systems, including the Canadian Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Canada. Now working at 2010 Legacies Now as Director, Sport Tourism and Inclusion Initiatives, Carla is responsible for developing a strategy for making the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games a true celebration of diversity and inclusion. Her focus will be on leveraging the opportunity provided by hosting the 2010 Games to address inequity and advance social policy objectives, particularly as they relate to traditionally marginalized and disadvantaged groups.

Beckie Scott, Vermillion, AB
Recognized for both her superb athletic ability, and her outspoken stand on anti-doping and drug-free competition, Beckie Scott concluded her athletic career by winning a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. She brought the same determination that led her to become the 1st North American to win a gold Olympic medal in cross country skiing in 2002 to her courageous stand on anti-doping. Now retired from her sport, she continues her influential leadership by serving in many significant positions both nationally and internationally. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Anti-Doping Agency and of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Beckie was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games elections and has been subsequently appointed to the IOC delegation assessing the three bids for the 2014 Winter Olympics, and she is also a member of the Board of Directors for VANOC, the organizing committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Torino. Her influence on sport at the highest levels of decision-making will be felt for many years to come.

Xiuli Wang, Calgary, AB
Her athletes have been excelling with world-class results on the World Cup circuit for the past several years, and in 2006, they were among the many stars for Canada at the Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. Xiuli Wang coached four of the medalists at the 2006 Olympic Games, including speed skating stars Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves. Although this native of Harbin, China competed in long track speed skating for China for 17 years, and was a World Champion in the 1500 metres in 1990, she is now respected worldwide for her coaching capabilities. This year Coaches of Canada received a record 12 different nominations, submitting her name for the Jack Donohue “Coach of the Year” award. When she received the award in November, she was described as a coach who “raises her athletes’ performances to a higher level but also inspires them with her integrity, ethics and commitment.”

“One to Watch”

Holly Micuda, Oakville, ON
A young 11-year old elementary student took a simple idea, and has now raised several thousand dollars to help Canadian Olympic athletes. Holly Micuda has now sold more than 17,000 of the $3 wristbands with the proceeds going to Canadian Athletes Now, a non-profit organization that raises funds to support Canadian athletes’ training, coaching and living expenses in preparation for international competition. She came up with the idea as she was watching the Torino Olympics. She had a class assignment about whether athletes deserved more funding and she decided to take her assignment a bit further into action. Her original goal was to raise $2000, and she started by taking the idea to her own school principal, and selling them at her school. She then sold them at the Ottawa marathon race weekend, and at other events. The red and white wristbands are inscribed with Canadian Athletes Now on the outside and a slogan Holly created “Don’t just hope they’ll win, help them win” on the inside. With her fund raising efforts at over $35,000, Holly has certainly made a difference to help Canadian athletes win.