VANCOUVER, July 17, 2009 - The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), today announced the creation of a panel on post-2010 high performance sport in Canada. The "2010 and Beyond" Panel will make recommendations that will build on the positive momentum being achieved in Canadian sport today.
"Our Canadian athletes will own the podium at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, and I am committed to ensuring that we have the best possible leadership strategy in place so that we can build on that success," said Minister of State Lunn. "It is vitally important to make the right choices in moving forward for our athletes, and with the creation of this panel, we will have the right advice on the best course of action for 2010 and beyond."
Canada's high-performance sport system is at a pivotal point in its evolution, and new goals will need to be set in order to keep the momentum going. Minister of State Lunn has been approached by the sport community to develop a clear post-Games plan that would build on the success to date and provide concrete recommendations for the future. In response to this, he is inviting sport leaders and organizations to bring to the panel their views and advice to guide future decisions.
The mandate of the Panel will be to analyze the progress of Own the Podium and other related high-performance initiatives and make recommendations that will carry forward the innovation and positive momentum in Canadian sport today. The Panel will conduct its review while taking into consideration the current design, structure, and leadership of high-performance initiatives, the relationship between funding partners, sources of funding, accountability, governance, service delivery and performance targets beyond 2010.
The Panel will begin its work on July 20, 2009, and will deliver its recommendations by fall 2009. The members of the Panel include David Zussman, Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management, University of Ottawa, who will serve as Chair; Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc; George Heller, former President and CEO of the Victoria Commonwealth Games; former Olympian Cathy Priestner Allinger; and Karen O'Neill, former COO of the Rick Hansen Foundation.
Terms of Reference of the Panel are attached.
For more information, please visit the Canadian Heritage website at www.pch.gc.ca under news releases/statements.
Information:
Michelle Yao
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gary Lunn, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
819-934-1131
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
Terms of Reference
"2010 and Beyond Panel"
Introduction: The Government of Canada recognizes the significant efforts made in Canada over the last few years to ensure that our high performance system takes full advantage of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver in 2010. To this end, innovative partner based programs such as Own the Podium have been developed to help Canada achieve its goal to be the number one nation at the Winter Olympics and top three nations in the Paralympics. The sport community and Canadians in general appreciate the success to date of our high performance athletes and look forward to best ever performances in Vancouver.
Canada's high performance system is at a pivotal time in its evolution, and new goals will need to be set in order to keep the momentum. The Minister has been approached by the sport community to develop a clear post-Games plan that would build on our success to date and provide concrete recommendations for the future. In response to this, the Minister is inviting sport leaders and organizations to bring forward their views and advice that will guide future decisions.
The 2010 and Beyond Panel will analyze the progress we have made to date and explore options for the continuation of targeted high performance programs for the future. This panel will be drawn from Canadian leaders from the sport, private and public sectors.
Mandate and scope of the review:
The 2010 and Beyond Panel will analyze the progress of Own the Podium and other related High Performance initiatives and make recommendations that will build on the positive momentum that is felt in Canadian sport today.
The Panel is asked to conduct its review while taking into consideration the following elements:
-design, structure and leadership of high performance initiatives
-relationship of funding partners
-sources of funding
-accountability
-governance and service delivery
-performance targets beyond 2010 Panel Composition: The Panel will be comprised of the following individuals:
David Zussman (Chair)
Chantal Petitclerc
George Heller
Cathy Priestner
Karen O'Neill Consultation process:
The Panel will conduct roundtable meetings where individuals and organizations can come forward to present their views and suggestions. The panel will also invite written submissions.
Report timeframe:
Final report- by early fall 2009
BIOGRAPHY
Chantal Petitclerc
- A talented Canadian athlete who has gained international acclaim for her achievements in the sport of wheelchair racing and a seasoned competitor who has set numerous records and won many awards and medals in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships, and many major marathons.
- At both the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games she earned five gold medals and broke three world records.
- Participated in five Paralympic Games and won a total of 21 medals.
- Selected as Canadian Female Athlete of the Year at the Canadian Sports Awards in March 2005.
- Voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Canadian Press in December 2008, the first time a Paralympian has received this honour.
- Born in Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, Quebec. An accident at age 13 left her a parapalegic. She discovered sport after a high school physical education teacher encouraged her to take up swimming. At 18, she tried wheelchair racing and became passionate about the sport. Determined to become a top athlete, she began training with dreams of becoming the best in the world. This great Canadian athlete is highly-respected for her determination and perseverance.
BIOGRAPHY
Karen O'Neill
- Former COO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, CEO of Commonwealth Games Canada from 1996 to 2004, and past Chair of the Canadian Paralympic Committee Games Committee.
- Current member of the Board of the True Sport Foundation and Sport BC.
- Founding member of Sport Matters.
BIOGRAPHY
Cathy Priestner Allinger
- Silver medalist in long-track speed skating at the 1976 Winter Olympic Games and participant in the 1972 Winter Olympic Games. Olympic Order recipient and inductee in the Canadian Hall of Fame and Olympic Hall of Fame.
- Former coach, administrator, volunteer, and television broadcaster who has been involved in every aspect of sport and sport management.
- Currently Executive Vice President of Sport, Paralympic Games and Venue Management for VANOC. Her scope of responsibility includes sport, venue management, medical services, anti-doping control, the Paralympic Games, and the actual running of the 82 medal events at the 2010 Olympic Games.
- Prior to joining VANOC, the Managing Director of Games Operations for the Turin 2006 Winter Games and Managing Director of Sport for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games.
- Lead author of the September 2004 “Own the Podium 2010”report, which led to the establishment of the Own the Podium 2010 project.
- As proud as she is of her accomplishments in the sport arena, she considers being a mom and raising three children her greatest achievement. She also enjoys cycling, working out, and trying to play basketball with her 6′5″son.
BIOGRAPHY
George Heller
- Former President and CEO of the Hudson’s Bay Company who held senior positions in Canadian and international retailing for more than 30 years. An inductee into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame.
- Now retired, he is a Senior Director of Hbc, Chair of the Advisory Board of Ryerson University’s School of Retail Management, a member of the International Association of Department Stores, and a senior fellow of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
- President and CEO of the 1994 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Victoria. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Citation by the Government of Canada in recognition of his leadership of the Games and his service to Canada.
- Current President of the Commonwealth Games Foundation of Canada and member of the Sport BC Board of Directors.
BIOGRAPHY
David Zussman
- Presently holds the Stephen Jarislowsky Chair for Public Sector Management in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa.
- Part-time Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Canada (2003–2010).
- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, EKOS Research Associates Inc. (2003–2005).
- Adjunct Professor of Public Policy and Management, University of Ottawa.
- President of the Association of Programs in Public Administration of Canada (2007–2009)
- President of the Public Policy Forum (1996–2003).
- Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Machinery of Government and Program Review for the Privy Council Office (1994).
- Responsible for the transition process of the newly elected government in 1993 and 1997.
- Author and co-author of publications including Alternate Service Delivery: Sharing Governance in Canada and The Vertical Solitude: Managing in the Public Service.
- Dean of the School of Management at the University of Ottawa (1988–1992)
- Public Service Citation Award from the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (2003)
- Columnist, Canadian Government Executive (2006)
- Columnist, Ottawa Citizen since 2002
