Canada appoints Chefs de Mission for 2013 Universiades

OTTAWA – Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) announced the appointment of Canada’s chefs de mission for the 2013 Universiades.

Theresa Hanson, Associate Director, Intercollegiate & High Performance Sport at the Universityof British Columbia, will lead Team Canada at the 27^th Summer Universiade in Kazan,Russia, from July 6 to 17.

Gord Grace, Director of Athletics at the Universityof Windsor, will head the red and white delegation at the 26^th Winter Universiade inTrentino,Italy, from December 11 to 21.

“We are thrilled to have Theresa and Gord lead and represent the Canadian delegation in 2013,” said Mary MacDonald, CIS Manager of Sports and International Programs. “Under their leadership, there is no doubt our student-athletes will enjoy tremendous success and experiences that will last a lifetime.”

Hanson and Grace both had their first taste of the Universiade in the summer of 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia, where they served as Team Canada administration manager and transportation manager, respectively.

“I am truly honoured to have been selected as Canada’s chef de mission for the 2013 Summer Universiade. It is an incredible privilege to lead our amazing group of Canadian student-athletes and coaches into Kazan,” Hanson said. “Together with Team Canada’s mission staff, our focus will be on the athletes to help support, inspire and build team morale in order for them to not only perform at their best, but to have a rewarding and memorable experience. I would like to thank CIS for the opportunity to represent Canada and I am looking forward to an outstanding experience.”

“The Universiade is a great opportunity for our Canadian student-athletes to participate and showcase their talents in a world-class sporting event, and it is an honour to be a part of the team that will support these athletes,” said Grace. “Having previously been a Team Canada staff member in 2009 inBelgrade, I know the time and dedication put in by all the student-athletes, coaches and support staff, and I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with them inItaly, as they strive for excellence on the international stage.”

Hanson joined UBC in 2005, following an 11-year stint as Director, Athletics and Intramurals at Langara College in Vancouver. A member of the Canada West Sports Committee since 2005, she is a former BCCAA president and CCAA vice president. She is also vice president (treasurer) of the Vancouver Olympic Club since 2009.

Since her arrival on the Point Grey campus, UBC has hosted no less than 17 Canada West or CIS championships. Over the same period, the Thunderbirds have been one of the most successful programs in the country claiming 21 national titles and 27 conference banners.

Hanson is herself a former basketball star (Selkirk College, Lewis Clark State College) and coach (Simon Fraser University) at the college and university levels. Her husband, Kevin, is the long-time men’s basketball head coach at UBC and guided the Canadian team at the 2003, 2005 and 2011 Summer Universiades.

Grace has been at the helm at Windsor since 2002. He previously occupied various positions at Mount Allison University, including director of development and head football coach, at theUniversity of Michigan, as athletic development coordinator, and atWilfrid Laurier University, as assistant football coach. 

Over the past few years, he has been actively involved with a number of OUA and CIS committees and is currently president of OUA and a member of the CIS board of directors. Under his guidance, the Lancers have enjoyed tremendous success at the provincial and national levels, capturing 24 OUA and 15 CIS titles, while also playing host to 13 conference or Canadian championships.

A former football player at the University of Waterloo, Grace has also held positions at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics (athlete services), the 2008 Canadian track and field championships and Olympic trials, as well as the 2005 Pan Am junior track and field championships.

Canada sent a delegation of 349 at the 2011 summer games in Shenzhen, China, including 246 student-athletes and 103 coaches, medical and administration staff. A delegation of 141 – including 103 student-athletes – represented Canada at the 2011 winter games in Erzurum,Turkey.

(Source: Michel Bélanger, CIS Manager, Communications & Media Relations)