The ‘Community at Large’ Board of Directors for the 2019 Canada Winter Games has been officially chosen and announced to the community.
The 10 board members bring a vast array of skills from experience on Olympic Games boards, to project management, experience in the Francophone community to a variety of leadership roles.
The members are Hugh McPherson, Russ Wlad, Deb Beck, Guy Pelletier, Ron Woodward, Gail Surkan, Allan Ferchuk, Nicole Lorrain, Ron Lariviere and Marty Vellner.
“Our community has a once in a lifetime opportunity over the next four years in the lead up to these to plan an event so that we can host a Games that our country will be proud of. Our bid committee did an outstanding job in terms of selling Red Deer as the ideal host community. Now, the work begins in a new and real way. We have an absolutely outstanding board with a great depth and breadth of experience who I am confident will serve Red Deerians well, and give us many more reasons to be proud,” said Mayor Tara Veer.
The 2019 Canada Winter Games Transition Team will now be able to work with this board of directors to complete the transition plans, develop policies and eventually work with and oversee the Host Society.
A total of 51 applicants reached out for the positions on the board of directors and were chosen through a rigorous criteria that assessed volunteer experience, circles of influence, skills and other assets that would prove valuable on the team.
“What we wanted, in a general sense, was to have a group that not only represented the depth and breadth of the community in different levels of experience running organizations of this magnitude, but also to have a group that could reach into our community and surrounding area,” said Scott Robinson, chair of the nominations working group and member of the Transition team for the Canada Winter Games Host Society.
“We wanted people who brought leadership skills and other things to the table that we will need to deliver the best Games that the country has ever seen.”
Lyn Radford is the Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society. She said she feels confident in the decision of the appointed members and she feels she has a strong team to lead.
“When you look at all the names on the ‘Community-at-Large’ committee, it’s hard to imagine trying to lead all of those names. But, that’s the neat part about building a team. The key to success is not just what I bring to the table – it’s about what my team brings to the table, and I think I have a really strong team.
“I’ve referred to them as the dream team, because they really are. When you go through the skills matrix, looking at circles of influence and skill sets that are needed, these people on the committee are the right people. I am thrilled about it,” she said.
Radford said she is looking forward to the 2015 Winter Games in Prince George as it will give herself and her team some much-needed experience in organizing and hosting Red Deer’s Winter Games.
Updates regarding the 2019 Canada Winter Games can be found on the ‘Red Deer is Ready’ facebook page.
kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com
