After 40 years in the Canadian sport system, Squash Canada Executive Director Dan Wolfenden has announced his retirement later this year. Over the next six months, he will help during the transition period, with the recruitment process to be launched shortly with the benefit of the services of Sport Law.
Wolfenden will leave Squash Canada in a very sound financial and organizational position, having grown its assets and operational budgets twofold. The organization benefits from his work to bring strategic direction, greater alignment with a family of Pan Canadian governance policies adopted at the national and provincial levels, a uniform national platform for membership, competition and rankings management, and growth in its major events.
“Dan has played a critical role in the development and success of Squash Canada, and we wish him all the best as he leaves us to enjoy a well-deserved retirement,” stated Squash Canada President Sandra Thompson. “We want to thank him for his years of dedicated service in building squash in Canada. His thoughtful and sound direction has produced a stronger organization that enjoys an excellent relationship with its stakeholders and partners. As well, Dan has assembled and developed an excellent team that delivers a high level of service that helps to grow our sport.”
We are pleased to confirm that Dan will be staying on to work with his replacement on a seamless transition. We wish him a very happy and healthy retirement! We have been most fortunate to benefit from his deep knowledge of sport and enthusiasm for squash over the past seven years.”
Wolfenden came to Squash Canada in October 2015 after a two-year tenure with the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee, where he oversaw a team that managed 15 sports on the program. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada and Lawn Bowls Canada. Prior to that Dan was the High Performance Director of Skate Canada.
“It’s been a terrific seven years with Squash Canada,” said Wolfenden. “It has been an honour to serve the organization, and to come to know and work with so many great people. Squash is a wonderful sport. I truly appreciate and respect the great athleticism that our highest performers exhibit, the healthy lifestyle that is its virtue, and the social and community building that is at its core. I see joy in squash every day.
I will miss the people of squash, and indeed of the broader Canadian sport system. I would wish upon other sectors the dedication, passion, and resiliency of leaders that have helped drive Canadian sport.”
