Postponed: Board of Directors Deadline for Expressions of Interest

Update to Election Timeline:

Canadian Women & Sport is postponing the Board election from Fall 2020 until early 2021. Our intention in taking this step is to ensure our organization remains stable through the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure that individuals who wish to put their names forward have opportunity do so in a less challenging period of time. We will publicize the opportunity again when we re-start the process in Fall 2020. In the meantime, individuals may express their interest at any time by emailing submissions@womenandsport.ca. We will follow up with all interested individuals when the process launches again.


Canadian Women & Sport, formerly the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), is looking for dynamic and skilled leaders to join our Board of Directors. Canadian Women & Sport is seeking nominations for individuals to fill six positions to be elected to the Canadian Women & Sport Board of Directors in 2021.  

Canadian Women & Sport is a Multisport Service Organization that partners with sport organizations, governments, and leaders to build better sport through gender equity. We’re experts on systemic change and strive to build a stronger, more equitable sport system for girls and women and for all Canadians. 

Canadian Women & Sport champions women and girls in every arena, from the field of play to the boardroom. By challenging the status quo, we’re dedicated to working towards a sport system that creates the conditions for girls and women to thrive as leaders in sport and in their communities. 

The current Canadian Women & Sport Board consists of:  

Nathalie Cook, Chair  

Tanya Mruck, Vice-Chair  

Althea Arsenault, Director-at-Large  

Bill Cooper, Director-at-Large  

Deidra Dionne, Director-at-Large  

Rochelle Grayson, Director-at-Large  

Leanne Nicolle, Director-at-Large  

Rebecca Shanks, Director-at-Large  

Camille Wallace, Director-at-Large  

The following terms expire as of 2021:  

  1. Chair, Nathalie Cook
  2. Director-at-Large, Althea Arsenault 
  3. Director-at-Large, Bill Cooper
  4. Director-at-Large, Deidra Dionne
  5. Director-at-Large, Rochelle Grayson
  6. Director-at-Large, Leanne Nicolle

The Nominations Committee is seeking candidates for six Director at Large positions with any combination of the following competencies:  

  • Sport systems knowledge, with preference for Provincial/Territorial and/or local sport leadership experience including grassroots club and Usport  
  • Finance / Risk Management experience  
  • Government Relations experience in Ottawa  
  • Revenue Generation experience  
  • Digital marketing experience  
  • National corporate or NPO experience  

Additional preferences:  

  • Bilingual (French – English)
  • Geographical representation across Canada, with particular interest in Quebec, the Prairies, and Northern Canada (Territories).  
  • Reflecting our commitment to equity and diversity, we encourage individuals belonging to the following groups to self-declare when submitting your statement of interest:
    •    Indigenous peoples (First Nations – includes Status, Treaty or Non-Status, Metis and Inuit)  
    • Visible minorities (includes people (other than Indigenous) who are non-white regardless of place of birth)  
    • Individuals with a disability
    • LGBTQI2S+ individuals 
  • Individuals who identify as men are encouraged to apply

Term Limits and Responsibilities:  

Board terms are for two years with a maximum of three consecutive terms. Meetings are held quarterly including one to two face-to-face meetings (1 day) in Toronto and two to three conference calls (2 hours), typically during working hours.  

Board member responsibilities include:  

  • guidance and leadership to the CEO and staff as they implement the strategic and operational plans;  
  • participation in committees such as the revenue generation, marketing and communications, and finance committees;  
  • reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings;  
  • approving annual budget and audit reports;  
  • contributing to the CEO annual evaluation;  
  • representing Canadian Women & Sport to stakeholders and acting as an ambassador to the organization.  

Eligibility:  

Individuals of any gender who are 18 years of age or older, have the power under law to contract, who are not an employee or paid contractor of Canadian Women & Sport, and have an interest/passion for creating participation and leadership opportunities for girls and women in sport and physical activity may be nominated.  

Timelines:  

Canadian Women & Sport is postponing the Board election from Fall 2020 until early 2021. We will publicize the opportunity again when we re-start the process in Fall 2020. We will follow up with all interested individuals when the process launches again.

Inquiries for additional information about the Canadian Women & Sport Board of Directors should be directed to Allison Sandmeyer-Graves at allison.sandmeyer-graves@womenandsport.ca.  

For more information, please visit the following pages: