Our voluntary Pan Canadian Board of Directors provides leadership and vision to KidSport™ Canada. The Board concerns itself with policy direction and decisions, ensuring sound financial planning, and supporting fundraising efforts geared toward making sure that ALL Kids Can Play. KidSport™ Canada sincerely thanks the following individuals for their time and commitment.
In 2004, Leila Bell Irving incorporated Bell Irving Grauer Enterprise Corp., a service based company, for the purpose of delivering revenue driven partnerships to her client organizations in infrastructure projects, conventions centres, and professional sports industries.
Leila started her career in marketing world class events and facilities over two decades ago in 1983 marketing for EXPO 86. She has held progressively senior positions in the field of revenue generation and special project management since that time.
Leila has represented the interests of both private and public organizations including: Corporate Sponsorship, the XV Olympic Winter Games (Calgary) Organizing Committee; Business Development, the Jim Pattison Publishing Group; Sales and Sponsorship, BC Pavilion Corporation; Vice President, Marketing, Northwest Arena Corporation; Vice President, Business Development, Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment; and President, Regional Health Enterprises, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.
Leila’s most recent volunteer involvement has included board positions on the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Rod McCloy is currently Associate Counsel with Shapiro Hankinson & Knutson Law Corporation, Barristers and Solicitors in Vancouver.
He was a Director with Sport BC from 1998 to 2006, including one year in the role of Vice Chair. In his sporting volunteer life, Rod has been a minor baseball coach, a minor hockey team manager and President of the Arbutus Club Minor Hockey Association. In addition, he was been involved in a variety of other roles related to minor hockey.
Rod has been extensively involved in his community in a variety of volunteer capacities including President of the Vancouver Naval Museum & Heritage Society, past president of the Terminal City Club, past president of the Canadian Club of Vancouver, past president of the Naval Officers Association of BC and past president of the Vancouver Business Development Club.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. MLSE is a global leader in sports and entertainment and is the parent company of the Leafs, the Raptors, the Marlies and Toronto FC. As COO, Tom Anselmi is responsible for all business operations including sales and marketing, content, ticket sales and service, corporate partnership and media sales, publishing, communications, community relations and human resources for all MLSE teams, as well as team operations for Toronto FC.
He was born in Toronto, where he earned a degree from Ryerson prior to receiving an engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a registered professional engineer, and member of the Board of Governors of Major League Soccer, the Team Up foundation, Get Active Toronto, and various other business and trade organizations.
Christy Clark studied political science at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby BC, Religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and at the Université de la Sorbonne in Paris.
In 1996 she was elected to the British Columbia legislature as an opposition MLA. When the BC Liberals formed government in 2001, she was appointed Minister of Education and Deputy Premier.
In 2004 Christy was appointed Minister of Children and Family Development where she delivered increased funding for childcare, and advocated tax credits for parents who enroll their children in sports, recreation and the arts.
Christy now writes a column for the Vancouver Province newspaper, and recently launched Christy Clark Show on CKNW, BC’s most listened to radio station. She is also a consultant with Burrard Communications, offering crown agencies and private sector companies strategic and government relations advice.
Rachel Lewis is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Whitecaps Football Club, after serving as the organization’s Director of Stadium Development and Event Management from 2003 through 2006. She was with the Air Canada Championship PGA Tour from 2000 to 2003, as Tournament Manager and then Tournament Director.
Rachel is a current board member of the Gastown Business Improvement Society. She has also served on the board of Sport BC for six years and the Steering Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. She served as a Trustee for the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame from 2002 to 2004.
Rachel received a BA in Sociology from the University of Victoria, and an MBA from the University of British Columbia.
A native of Richmond, BC, Rachel currently lives in Vancouver with her husband Jeff and their son.
Ferio Pugliese, WestJet's Executive Vice-President of People, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the airline's people (human resource) programs for the company's more than 7,300 WestJetters. Prior to joining WestJet, he was Vice-President of Human Resources at Catalyst Paper Corporation in Vancouver, Director of Human Resources Development at Windsor Casino Ltd., and Director of Human Resources Development at Casino Rama, Carnival Resorts and Casinos.
A certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), Ferio holds a Master of Arts degree from Central Michigan University, an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Windsor. Ferio is a member of the Conference Board of Canada's National Human Resources Executive council and has worked in various senior leadership roles. His experience includes facilitating organizational effectiveness and business transformation as well as implementing positive employee relations, talent management and compensation programs that recognize and leverage talent at all organizational levels.
In 2007, Ferio was recognized by Caldwell Partners as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40. Ferio believes in always pushing your comfort zone and believing in yourself and the people around you, so that together you can reach new heights. Originally from Northern Ontario, Ferio loves the great game of hockey. His wife Pam and three children Nicholas, Nathan and Natalya are enjoying life in Western Canada.
In a distinguished ten-year National Hockey League career, Mike McPhee won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame and is very active in his community, particularly in the area of charity volunteerism.
Mike earned a BSc at the prestigious Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute prior to his NHL career. Following his hockey career he went on to obtain an MBA and is currently working in the financial services industry as an Investment Advisor with National Bank Financial.
Mike was a member of the Board of Directors of Sport Nova Scotia from 1998 through 2005.
Daniel Richardson joined BTM Lawyers in March 2010 having previously worked in personal injury and insurance defence and as the in-house General Counsel to one of Canada's leading real estate developers. Daniel is a member of the Trial Lawyers Association of BC.
He has been a volunteer Big Brother with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver for the past seven years. An avid sports participant, Daniel was a member of the UBC Varsity Men's Rowing Crew, a two-time bronze medal winner at the Canada Summer Games (rowing), and the Canadian Junior Windsurfing Champion.
Daniel enjoys a wide variety of recreational sports, including surfing, snowboard, triathlon, volleyball, basketball and golf.
Mr. Russell’s has extensive work experience in private sector business and as an education administrator at the provincial, national and international levels. He has considerable volunteer experience with not-for-profit associations, particularly sport organizations, at the provincial, national and international levels.
Wayne has been the chairperson and member of several boards, councils, committees, task forces and study groups; including Treasurer of the Canadian Olympic Committee and chair of the Chelsea Foundation; Coordinator of the Scholarship and Academic Grants Program for the Johnson Family Foundation; and Chair of the Board for Hockeyland, the International Hockey Heritage Centre to be established in Windsor, Nova Scotia. He was also a member of the Executive Council of Hockey Canada (1995-2003) and Chair of the Board (1999-2001); as well as the Founding Chair of the Canadian Hockey Foundation.
Wayne has received many awards including becoming an Honourary Life Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Association as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association. He has also been inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame.
