Canadian Mission Staffs announced for 2013 Universiades

OTTAWA – Canadian Interuniversity Sport, as the Canadian representative of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), announced Friday July 6^th, the Team Canada mission staffs for the 2013 Summer and Winter Universiades.

As announced in May, Theresa Hanson from the University of British Columbia will be Canada’s chef de mission at the 27^th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia (July 6 to 17), while Gord Grace from the University of Windsor will lead the red and white delegation at the 26^th Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy (December 11 to 21).

Mary MacDonald, CIS manager of sport and international programs, will be assistant chef de mission at both events.

Joining Hanson and MacDonald for the biennial summer games are managers Michel Bélanger from CIS (communications), Mike Havey from the University of Windsor (transportation), Martine LeBlanc from Université de Moncton (administration), Greg Ryan from the University of Alberta – Augustana (technical) and Danika Smith from the University of Ottawa (accreditation), as well as chief medical officer Dory Boyer from the University of British Columbia and chief therapist Dinah Hampson from the University of Toronto.

Rounding out the medical staff are physicians Jessica Butler (Carleton University), Véronique Godbout (University of Montreal), Jack Ceaser (Northern Ontario School of Medicine), Mike Nicholls (University of Saskatchewan) and Devin Nielsen. The team of therapists is comprised of Jacques Lavergne (Laval University), Laura Lundquist (Dalhousie University), Lois Pohlod (University of Alberta), Tanya Rank (Simon Fraser University), Rhonda Shishkin (University of Saskatchewan), Kurt Stevenson (Saint Mary’s University), Kristy Wiltshire and Victoria Wiltshire (Queen’s University). Nicole Betker (University of Saskatchewan), Jill Clark (University of Toronto), Mathieu Dauphinais (University of Montreal) and Jennifer Elliott (University of Ottawa) were selected as communications officers. 

A few additional positions will be filled in the coming months for the Kazan Games (clinic manager, photographer, intern).

At the Winter Universiade in Trentino, Grace and MacDonald will be joined by communications manager Mary Beth Challoner from the University of Toronto.

The physicians and therapists for the winter games will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled with the mission staffs we have assembled for the 2013 Universiades,” said Mary MacDonald. “Thanks to their support and expertise, we are confident that Canadian student-athletes will enjoy a memorable experience and will achieve great success in Kazan and Trentino.”

Many more Team Canada announcements will follow over the next 18 months, including rosters and coaching staffs. Canada is expected to send its largest delegation ever at both the Summer and Winter Universiades in 2013.

In 2011, Canada sent a delegation of 141 – including 102 athletes – to the winter games in Erzurum, Turkey, and a contingent of 349 – including 246 athletes – to the summer competition in Shenzhen, China.

Canadian student-athletes captured five medals in Turkey (one gold, three silver, one bronze) and reached the podium eight times in China (0-5-3).

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