January 13/15 13:32 pm - CAAWS Releases Most Influential Women List

Posted by Editoress on 01/13/15
 

The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) has released its annual Most Influential Women List, featuring remarkable individuals who are senior leaders and influencers in Canadian sport and physical activity. The women on the CAAWS Most Influential Women List are role models and have made a significant impact that reaches beyond their sport or area of expertise.

Included on the list are former Canadian cycling national team member Clara Hughes and former Cycling Canada CEO (now Coaching Canada CEO) Lorraine Lafrenière.

"The women named to the CAAWS Most Influential Women List have contributed to building sport and physical activity in our country and around the world. Their message of leadership and participation is overwhelmingly positive," said CAAWS Executive Director Karin Lofstrom (Ottawa, Ontario). "I am proud that CAAWS is starting off this year, officially recognized as 2015 Year of Sport in Canada, with such a positive celebration of excellence. It is important to highlight women who have accomplished great things and who inspire other women and girls, indeed all Canadians."

The CAAWS Most Influential Women List for2014 (in alphabetical order):

• Brenda Andress, Commissioner, Canadian Women's Hockey League; Official (Newmarket, Ontario)
• Caroline Assalian, Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Eugenie Bouchard, WTA's 2014 Most Improved Player; Wimbledon Finalist (Westmount, Quebec)
• Justine, Chloé and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, Olympians and Ambassadors (Montreal, Quebec)
• Maureen Hagan, VP of Operations and Head of Fitness Training, Goodlife Fitness Clubs Inc. (London, Ontario)
• Waneek Horn-Miller, IndigenACTION Ambassador; Pan Am Games Asst. Chef de Mission (Kahnawake, Quebec)
• Clara Hughes, Mental health advocate; Bell Let's Talk Campaign (Winnipeg, Manitoba / Glenn Sutton, Quebec)
• Kaillie Humphries, Role model and Olympian (Calgary, Alberta)
• Jennifer Jones Rink and coach Janet Arnott, Olympic Gold Medalist and their coach (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO, Coaching Association of Canada (Kanata, Ontario)
• Rachel Lewis, COO, Vancouver Whitecaps (Vancouver, British Columbia)
• Debbie Low, President & CEO, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (Toronto, Ontario)
• Anne Merklinger, CEO, Own the Podium (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Karen O'Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee; Board Member, TrueSport Foundation (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Chantal Petitclerc, Chef de Mission, 2014 Commonwealth Games (Montreal, Quebec)
• Beckie Scott, Member, WADA Executive Committee; Chair, WADA Athlete Committee (Vermillion, Alberta)
• Christine Sinclair, Captain, Canada's Women's National Soccer Team (Burnaby, British Columbia)
• France St-Louis, Coach; Assistant Chef de Mission, Sochi Olympic Games (Montreal, Quebec)
• Sarah Storey, President Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton; Director of Legal Affairs, SportAccord (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Hayley Wickenheiser, Member, IOC Athletes' Commission; Olympian (Shaunavon, Saskatchewan)

In addition to publishing its Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity List, CAAWS also highlights emerging leaders as Ones to Watch. These young game-changers are making a difference in sport and physical activity in their community or sport. There are more great things to come from these strong individuals.

The Ones to Watch of 2014 are Justine Colley (Halifax Nova Scotia), a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) all-time scorer in basketball who is also an official; rising rugby star Magali Harvey (Quebec City, Quebec); Kristina Kiss (Ottawa, Ontario), one of the few female soccer technical directors at the club level in Canada; Sam Sendel (Aurora, Ontario), trampoline athlete and an advocate for the You Can Play campaign who came out to inspire other LGBT athletes.

The final CAAWS Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity List of 2014 was compiled by a CAAWS, selection panel, from both public nominations and contributions from knowledgeable sport and physical activity leaders. The panel reviews the submissions and bases its decision on accomplishments and scope of activities in the 2014 calendar year. This is the 13th edition of the CAAWS Most Influential Women List. Previous lists can be found Here.

The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable sport and physical activity system in which girls and women are actively engaged as participants and leaders. CAAWS provides a number of services, programs and resources to a variety of clients, including sport and physical activity organizations, teachers, coaches, athletes, volunteers, health professionals and recreation leaders. Since 1981, CAAWS has worked in close cooperation with government and non-government organizations on activities and initiatives that advocate for positive change for girls and women in sport and physical activity.