Swimming Canada Adds Three to Board of Directors; Sue Owen Becomes President
Swimming Canada has added three members to its board of directors, announced on Wednesday after their elections in September. The organization will also have a new president, with Sue Owen stepping into the role.
Newly elected at the Sept. 28 general meeting in Calgary are Luc Bisaillon, Justina Di Fazio and Mark Fraser. Owen takes over the presidency vacated by Mary C. Lyne at the end of her term. Zack Chetrat steps into the role as vice president, while Dawn Wilson will continue as secretary.
“Welcome to the three new board members and congratulations to the executive,” Swimming Canada acting CEO Suzanne Paulins said in a press release. “I look forward to working with Sue and the entire board over the coming year to further the governance practices that make the Swimming Canada board best in class for national sport organizations.”
Owen swam for 14 years, from age-group through Masters, starting at Hamilton Aquatic Club and at the University of Waterloo. She has coached children and adults. Away from the pool, she’s the president and CEO of Canadian College of Health Leaders. Her professional experience includes leading Impreza Consulting, as well as senior positions at Phillips Canada and KPMG Canada.
“I feel honoured to be part of a great team of like-minded individuals who place their trust in my leadership,” Owen said. “No swimmer gets to the top without having a strong team – other swimmers, coaches, family – around them. The same is very true in life and leadership. None of us gets there alone.”
Board members Matt Dans, Migan Megardichian and Tehani Mott will continue in their roles. The new members replace outgoing Peter Szmidt, Meaghan Sharp and Lyne, who joined the board in 2018 and assumed the presidency in 2021.
“We appreciated how Mary stepped into the president role unexpectedly in September 2021 while the pandemic was still impacting our sport, our community, and the country,” Paulins said. “Through her leadership on the board, she led the work partnering with the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association to complete a limited review, resulting in concrete actions that are assisting both organizations to move forward collaboratively. Personally, I have appreciated Mary’s guidance and support over the past two and a half years. Her sage advice has always been thoughtful and has provided great direction to help me move forward.”
“My highlight is seeing the continued success of the athletes, the presence of Canada on the international stage and the continued relationships between Swimming Canada and all of its membership including provinces, clubs, volunteers and officials,” Lyne said. “I want to wish the organization all the best on its next quad leading towards LA 2028 and I hope to see people on the pool deck. I’ll be at competitions in future years as a spectator.”
Chetrat won a silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games for Canada and was a standout at the University of Toronto. A former Athletes Council member, he works in finance at EdgePoint Wealth Management.
Di Fazio swam at Oakville Aquatic Club and was an Academic All-American, team co-captain and NCAA qualifier at Princeton. A senior litigation associate at Woods LLP Montreal, her courtroom experience includes Safe Sport litigation and governance for national sport organizations.
Bisaillon has worked for decades in organization events and managing clubs, including as a key figure in helping Toronto host this year’s Canadian Olympic Trials after fire damage to the planned venue in Montreal. He spent 25 years with RBC, including serving as managing director and vice president.
Fraser is a lifelong swimmer who still competes in Masters competitions. An alum of Mount Allison University and Harvard Business School, he is the founder and principal of 440park, an independent advisory firm. He’s held senior management positions at a number of other companies, with experience on the boards of public and private sector organizations.