Young Canadians Making a Difference, and Becoming Different, Through the International Sport Intern Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Young Canadians Making a Difference, and Becoming Different, Through the International Sport Intern Program
OTTAWA, February 6, 2012 — Eight young Canadians are to share their enthusiasm, knowledge and experience with Commonwealth sports organisations on three continents as Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) kick off the fourth year of their successful International Sport Intern Program, formerly the Capacity Support Program.
The program sends young people with sport administration backgrounds to work with developing Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around the world. The aim is to provide practical, hands-on assistance, new ideas and a lasting legacy to smaller sports organisations, so they are better able to support their athletes and their national ambitions. As well as making a difference to the sport management capabilities of these groups, the exposure to new cultures and the opportunity to develop new skills means the interns become different themselves.
These talented young Canadians, who will be placed in Swaziland, Sri Lanka, Barbados, St. Lucia, Tonga, Scotland and the Cayman Islands, include four new recruits and three returning interns. New to the program are Laura Dowling and Keyva Lashley of Ottawa, Ellen Kim of Vancouver, and Mike Kwiatkowski of Calgary. Returning are Ella Mawdsley of Fort Smith, N.W.T., Colin Whitmee of Antigonish, N.S. and Jessica Wolfenden, also of Ottawa. All seven share a passionate belief in the transformative power of sport, and together represent a diverse array of sports, including track and field, football, volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics, field hockey, biathlon and skeleton. Meanwhile, Chantelle Grant, who grew up in Mississauga, Ont., will take on additional regional responsibilities for the Caribbean. Grant has been working with the Bermuda National Olympic Committee since the program launched in 2009. (Please see bios and placement details that follow.)
“We are thrilled that the International Sport Intern Program is entering its fourth year with such a diverse and accomplished group of young Canadians. The international experience they gain from this program will be invaluable to them as they go on to build their careers,” says Brian MacPherson, CGC CEO.
“Since the program began these young people have made a big difference to our fellow CGAs and NOCs, particularly helping them prepare for major Games, improve their efficiency and the support systems which administer all the background work that goes with sports today – such as accreditation, data management, doping control and project planning,” says Mike Hooper, CGF CEO.
About Commonwealth Games Canada
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of Commonwealth Games Canada is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth, by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool.
About Commonwealth Games Federation
The Commonwealth Games is a unique, world-class multi-sports games held once every four years. It is the world’s third-largest sports event featuring nations and territories representing one-third of the world’s population and some sports – such as netball, lawn bowls, squash and rugby 7s – particular to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Games Federation is responsible for the direction and support of ‘The Friendly Games’ and the Commonwealth Youth Games, and promotes the development of sport throughout the Commonwealth. The next Commonwealth Games will be in Glasgow in 2014 and Gold Coast in 2018, the next Commonwealth Youth Games will be in Samoa in 2015 and St Lucia in 2017.
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CGC and CGF International Sport Intern Program 2012-2013
Participant Biographies and Placement Details
• Laura Dowling(Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association — 6 months): A carded member of Canada’s National Field Hockey Team from 2002 to 2010, Laura has been immersed in sport for much of her life. After completing her B.A. in Sociology at the University of British Columbia—where she was a member of the Women’s Field Hockey Team—Laura went on to the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, from which she graduated in 2011 with a Master’s of Science in Physical Activity and Population Health. While overseas, she coached field hockey at high schools in Canterbury, England and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Last summer, she served as Hockey Head Coach at the Language and High Performance Hockey Camps in Timmendorf, Germany. Since 2010, Laura has also acted as an Ambassador for Ottawa-based KidSport.
• Chantelle Grant(Regional Capacity Support Officer — Caribbean): Chantelle grew up in Mississauga, Ont., and holds a Bachelor of Sport Management degree from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. A former competitive gymnast, Chantelle first travelled to Bermuda to work with its National Olympic Committee in 2009 in the first year of the Capacity Support Program.
• Ellen Kim(Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka — 12 months): Ellen graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2011 with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics. As both an excellent student and inspiring leader, Ellen became both Valedictorian and Class President in her graduating year, in addition to winning multiple awards—among them the UBC Outstanding Student Award for her volunteer contributions to the University. A long-time athlete and fitness buff, Ellen has competed in Rhythmic Gymnastics and coached the sport at the recreational, competitive and National Team levels from 2003 to 2010. Since September 2011, she has worked as a Community Engagement and Special Events Representative for UNICEF Canada.
• Mike Kwiatkowski(Barbados Olympic Association — 3 months): The first Canadian to be selected directly by the International Olympic Academy to participate in an Olympic Masters program in Olympia, Greece, Mike has an extensive and varied background in sport. While studying for his Bachelor’s degree in Leisure Studies and Political Science at the University of Ottawa from 1999 to 2004, he was part of the Football team that won the 2000 Vanier Cup. Mike later joined the Alberta Skeleton Association as a coach, official and athlete, and, as a board member of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, helped lead Canada’s sliding teams into and out of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He has also competed in five Calgary Stampedes as a member of the Bensmiller Chuckwagon Racing team. In the summer of 2011, Mike travelled to Talinn, Estonia, where he worked as a coach for the Talinn Storm American Football program.
• Keyva Lashley(St Lucia Olympic Committee — 12 months): Keyva holds a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on International Development from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. For the last three years, she has worked in Toronto as a Program and Volunteer Coordinator with Junior Achievement of Central Ontario, where she co-ordinated more than 20 events a year involving over 7,000 students and 200 volunteers. While there, she developed and executed a strategic marketing plan for the organization that saw school-board participation increase by 15%. Prior to that, Keyva worked with several different organizations in Ottawa, including Pinecrest Queensway Health and Community Services, where, as an After School Recreation Worker, she managed activities and led healthy-living workshops for youth living in at-risk neighbourhoods. She has also coached little league soccer and track & field at the elementary-school level.
• Ella Mawdsley(Tonga Commonwealth Games Association — 3 months): A former competitive biathlete, Mawdsley worked with the Lesotho National Olympic Committee in the second year of the Capacity Support Program and first travelled to Tonga in April 2011 as part of CSP Team 3. Mawdsley, who grew up in Fort Smith, N.W.T., holds a Bachelor of Management (Marketing) degree from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta and previously worked as an Account Manager for the Outcrop Communications Group, which has offices across northern Canada.
• Colin Whitmee(Commonwealth Games Scotland — 3 months; Singapore National Olympic Council — 3 months): Whitmee, who hails from Antigonish, N.S., is close to completing a year-long placement with the Bahamas National Olympic Committee as part of CSP Team 3. He has worked and volunteered for a variety of sport organizations, including Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada and the Ottawa Senators. Colin holds a graduate certificate in Sport Business Management from Algonquin College in Ottawa as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B.
•Jessica Wolfenden (the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee — 3 months): A native of Ottawa, Wolfenden began work as a CSO in April 2011 as part of CSP Team 3. In 2009, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine in Orono, where she won a full athletic scholarship to play NCAA Division 1 volleyball. More recently, she worked as a teacher with the Play House Learning Centre in Ottawa, as well as a beach volleyball instructor and official with the City of Ottawa’s Parks and Recreation department.
