TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is pleased to announce several significant updates to the 2024 Board of Directors.
Retired karate national team athlete Chris de Sousa Costa has been appointed the organization’s new secretary. de Sousa Costa, who has served as Treasurer for the last year, will maintain both officer positions on the 2024 executive on an interim basis, as AthletesCAN is launching a Call for Applications for its next Treasurer.
The treasurer will be responsible for making the necessary arrangements for:
- The keeping of such financial records, including books of account, as are necessary to comply with the Not-for-Profit Act
- The custody and control of the assets of the Corporation, including implementation of instructions of the Board as to investment of assets of the Corporation and the Corporation’s banking transactions
- Rendering of financial statements to the Directors, members and others when required
The full position can be viewed below. Applications should be submitted to [email protected] by April 7, 2024.
In addition to recruitment for a new treasurer, retired wheelchair basketball Paralympian and lawyer Jessica Vliegenthart has been appointed as the 10th member of the Board. AthletesCAN bylaws allow for the appointment of one additional Director for every three new Board members elected at the Annual General Meeting.
Vliegenthart represented Canada from 2007-12 and holds a bronze medal from the 2010 World Championships, and a pair of silver medals from the Parapan Am Games (2007 and 2011). She capped off her career competing at the London 2012 Paralympics.
In her comprehensive municipal law practice involving both litigation and solicitor work, Vliegenthart regularly advises clients on a wide range of topics, such as local government matters including governance and operations, conflicts of interest, council codes of conduct, municipal liability and risk management, freedom of information and privacy issues, regulatory authority, and judicial review.
Vliegenthart also maintains a sport law practice, advising sport organizations on matters of governance and operations, policy development, liability and risk management, privacy issues and safe sport. Having appeared at the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), Vliegenthart regularly works with both athletes and sport organizations to advance the development of sport in a safe and successful way.
Rounding out the 2024 executive, artistic swimming Olympian Erin Willson will continue to lead the organization as President, while rowing Olympian and Vice President Andrea Proske has been appointed President Elect of the organization.
About AthletesCAN
AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world. As the voice of over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships.
AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.
Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today.
For more information, please contact:
Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications and Sport Partnerships
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected]