Canadian Sport Event Hosting Strategy Working Group Announced
OTTAWA, April 4, 2003 -- Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) Paul DeVillers today announced the creation of a special working group that will develop a strategic framework for hosting major sport events in Canada. Mr. DeVillers made the announcement at the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance annual meeting."Hosting major events in Canada benefits athletes, the Canadian sport system and communities," said Mr. DeVillers. "Major sport events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games leave a lasting legacy, from new or upgraded facilities to improved sports programming for youth and others, and from coaching development to a broad base of skilled and qualified officials and volunteers. Hosting is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to support athletes in their pursuit of excellence."
The working group will set out a strategic framework for hosting major sport events in Canada. The working group will submit a final report to the Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) by late August 2003.
Capacity-building is one of the main objectives of the Canadian Sport Policy. A strategic framework for hosting major sport events will ensure that all regions of Canada benefit from hosting major international events such as the Commonwealth Games, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and World Championships.
"Canada has many gifted athletes, but in order to maintain and nurture our athletes, we must offer them the programming, facilities and competitive opportunities that come with hosting sport events in Canada," said Mr. DeVillers.
Information:
Mario Tremblay
Press Secretary
Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)
(819) 953-7329
MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN SPORT EVENT HOSTING STRATEGY WORKING GROUP
Jean-Pierre Blais was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, at Canadian Heritage in December, 2002. Prior to the appointment he was the Executive Director of Broadcasting at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), where he was responsible for the development of all policies and regulations affecting the Commission's broadcasting mandate. In 1998, Mr. Blais was General Counsel, Broadcasting, at the CRTC. Mr. Blais joined the CRTC in 1994 as a member of the Legal Directorate and has practised in the areas of broadcasting and telecommunications. He is a member of both the Quebec Bar (1985) and the Law Society of Upper Canada (1994).
Guy Thibault, Ph.D. (Exercise Physiology) is research advisor for the Sport and Physical Activity Branch of the Leisure and Sport Secretariat, Government of Quebec, where he is responsible for scientific support in sport and physical activity, international cooperation, policy development, and program assessment. He was a member of the Canadian Sport Policy writing group.
Brian MacPherson, Director General of the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), is responsible for managing all aspects of Canada's participation in both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. In addition, Brian is responsible for managing the CPC, which offers numerous programs and services to promote the paralympic movement. He is an active volunteer with a variety of sport organizations such as the Canada Games Council and Special Olympics Canada.
Rick Traer is Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA), a tourism-industry-driven organization whose mission is to increase Canadian capacity to attract and host sort tourism events. Mr. Traer joined the CSTA after managing a portfolio of corporate clients for the Marketing Sponsorship Division of the National Capital Commission (NCC), in Ottawa. Prior to his involvement with the NCC, he spent approximately 15 years as Executive Director of Basketball Canada, where he led successful bids for three international basketball events.
Ron Wight is the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Minister of the Government of Saskatchewan's Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation. The Department enhances the province's cultural, artistic, recreational, and social life by working cooperatively with diverse groups and communities. The Department administers the legislative and regulatory framework to determine how the portion of lottery proceeds and casino profits earmarked for sport is used, managed and distributed.
Louie DiPalma, Director of Special Projects at the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, is responsible for managing the Sport and Recreation Policy and the Recreation Program Development Unit, and the Recreation Development Fund. He also leads the review of the Ontario Sport and Recreation Policy. He provides the lead in stakeholder management, SuperBuild Sport, the Culture and Tourism Partnerships (SCTP) initiative, and he established the SCTP Secretariat.
Eric Savard is Executive Director of the Sherbrooke 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics, which is the third largest event of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) by number of participants and countries. He is responsible for the overall management of the event. Mr. Savard was the Vice President of Operations for the Edmonton 2001 World Championships in Athletics in Edmonton. He, in conjunction with the President and Chief Executive Officer, was responsible for the overall management of this event. Prior to his involvement with the World Championships, Mr. Savard was the Event Management Officer for the IAAF.
Mark Lowry, Executive Director for Sport and Programs, Canadian Olympic Committee, is responsible for the facilitation and direction of Canada's Games Missions, athlete and coach programming, support to National Sport Federations (NSF), international relations, and Government liaison. Mark has been instrumental in developing and promoting the Vision for Sport initiative, which calls for a sport system that allows Canadian athletes to achieve results at the highest level of international competition. As such, Mark is currently leading the development and implementation of a new funding model, the Canadian Olympic Excellence Fund designed to redirect resources based on a sports experts review to support athletes, coaches and NSFs who demonstrate a high probability for success at Olympic Games.
Stacey Allaster, Tournament Director & Vice-president of Sales and Marketing for Tennis Canada, is responsible for the overall management of the Toronto Canadian Open, currently known as the Rogers AT&T; Cup/Tennis Masters Series. Stacey is also responsible for Tennis Canada's strategic planning, international relations, team management, sales and marketing, television, and financial management. Her portfolio includes both Toronto and Montreal major tennis tournaments.
Graham McKay is Manager of Sport and Physical Activity, Sport and Physical Activity Branch, at the British Columbia's Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. Mr. McKay was the principle designer of Canada's first performance audit for sport organizations, Sport Discovery, which quantified "organizational performance" leading to a ranking of sport organizations and a direct linking of performance to provincial funding. Mr. McKay was also responsible for developing the concept of WorldHost, an international sport event bid and host support program administered by LegaciesNow in British Columbia.
Paul Hardy, Management Consultant, is currently directing the competition of the 2003 World Youth Track & Field Championship in Sherbrooke, Quebec. He is also Marketing Director of the 2004 FIRS World Inline Hockey Championship, in London, Ontario. Former Deputy Chief Officer for the Canadian Soccer Association, Mr. Hardy managed the operational planning and implementation of all national soccer team events and was Tournament Director of the 2001 FIFA U-19 Women's World Soccer Championship, in Edmonton, Alberta.
Peter Montopoli, Chief Executive Officer for The Skating Events Trust, oversees the revenue growth of Skate Canada. By implementing professional structures for event management, event television sales strategies, and sponsorship revenue, he has increased marketing revenues for Skate Canada. Mr. Montopoli has been instrumental in all key marketing activities for Skate Canada events, including the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships, in Vancouver, BC.
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