Wren Elected President; Three New Members Join Squash Canada’s Board of Directors

During Squash Canada’s 2018 Annual General Meeting, Steve Wren (Gatineau, QC) was elected as the new president of Squash Canada. 

 

Mr. Wren takes over from long-time Squash Canada President Lolly Gillen and begins his three-year term as the head of Squash Canada’s Board of Directors (BOD).  He had previously served on the BOD for four years in the roles of Vice President – Player Development, Vice President – Technical and most recently as a Director at Large.  

 

He will be joined on the Board by the newly elected Alan Fern (Director at Large) of Regina, SK, Keith Flavell (Director at Large) of Montreal, QC, and Stephanie Edmison (Athlete Director) of Toronto, ON.

 

Wren, a well-known figure in the Canadian and international squash scene has an extensive background both in business and in the sport of squash. Born in New Zealand, Wren settled in Toronto in 1986 while visiting and competing in the North American squash circuit before moving to Gatineau where he presently resides with his family. As the current Senior Account Executive of the National Capital & Atlantic Region with DATA Communications Management (DATA CM), based out of the Ottawa Office, Wren is an effective leader with extensive experience in senior management and strategic development.  He has coached several Canadian team members (including the former world #1 squash player Jonathan Power, plus Graham Ryding & Shahier Razik). He has served on several committees such as the Quebec Masters Squash Committee, the Canadian Masters Squash Committee, and as the Chairperson of the Ottawa & District Junior Squash Committee. 

 

A highly accomplished player, Wren has created a very prolific masters career for himself capturing titles in several Canadian, New Zealand and US Masters age-groups including a “triple crown” of Masters titles winning the Men’s 50+ at the Canadian, British and US Masters Open Championships in a twelve month period. Wren brings knowledge of how Squash Canada operates on a day-to-day basis to the position after having served as interim Executive Director for Squash Canada during a 6-month staff vacancy.

 

Alongside Wren, the Squash Canada membership elected two Directors at Large and an Athlete Director.

 

Alan Fern joins Squash Canada’s BOD as Director at Large. Fern, Senior Legal Counsel for Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan possesses strategic, governance and policy experience and sits on several boards in this capacity. Growing up in Saskatchewan, Alan won several junior championships, competed for the provincial men’s team for many years, and was a coach at the Canada Winter Games in 1991. He still plays regularly and competes for the Provincial Men’s Team, though now at the Masters level.  He will hold the position for a three-year term (2018-2021).

 

Keith Flavell is currently a commercial, corporate and securities lawyer with the Montreal firm Delegatus Legal Services Inc. He has previously worked as general counsel at two Canadian public companies, as well as with a national Canadian law firm. A provincially-ranked tennis and nationally-ranked squash player as a junior, and later the captain of the 1988 Yale University squash team, he has remained actively involved in squash, particularly in national doubles events, ever since. In 2014, Keith served as captain of the Canadian Lapham Grant team in Philadelphia and will act as Chairman of the 2019 event to be held in Montreal. First elected as a Jester in 1999, he has been Chairman of the Quebec Jesters since 2015 and Secretary of the Canadian Jesters since 2016. Fluent in English and French, Keith has also served on numerous other non-profit boards and committees.  He will serve as Director at Large for a two-year term (2018-2020).

 

Stephanie Edmison, a former professional squash player, was elected Athlete Director by the National Team Athletes. As Former World #67, Junior Pan American gold medalist and former Junior Under-19 Canadian Champion, Edmison brings the valuable athlete-perspective to the table ensuring the voice of the athletes is heard and represented at the leadership level. She will hold the position for a three-year term (2018-2021).

 

They complete the seven member Board, joining Shaun Thorson (Vice President – Finance) of Gatineau, QC who is CEO of Skills/Compétences Canada, Sandra Thompson (Director at Large) of Vancouver, BC, a former Negotiator and Manager with Commercial Real Estate Richard Ellis – Hong Kong, and Carol Stewart (Director at Large) of Toronto, ON who is the President of Kellogg Canada Inc..

 

Outgoing President, Lolly Gillen, has also been appointed as Squash Canada’s representative to the World Squash Federation and Federacion Panamericana de Squash (Pan American Squash Federation), to carry on with the leadership and relationship building she has meticulously developed over the years with these international organizations and other national squash associations.

 

“It is an honour to be elected President of Squash Canada” said Wren. “The leadership group Squash Canada has had for the past 5 years under the helm of the incomparable Lolly Gillen has been tremendous. The growth we have seen in recent years – from a major governance restructuring to successful international hosting, to growth and advancements in key program areas like national championships, high performance, junior development, officiating and so much more – is fantastic, but we are not done.  There is plenty of work ahead to continue to build upon and I am confident that we will achieve great success. I am excited to be a part of this new amazing group who, together will shape the future of Canadian squash with Passion, Pride and Performance”.

 

The members of the Squash Canada’s Board of Directors come from all walks of life, with complimentary skills sets and from all corners of this country, yet they all have one thing in common: they want nothing more than for the game and organization to prosper. 

Founded in 1915, Squash Canada is a non-profit, national sport governing body responsible for the development of athletes, coaches and officials and sets the standards for Canadian squash. Squash Canada is a proud member of the Pan-American and World Squash Federations and participates in the Pan-American Championships, Commonwealth & Pan-Am Games as well as World Championships at the junior and senior level. Each year Squash Canada hosts nine national championships across the country and works with its provincial and territorial partners to promote the growth and development of squash across the country.  For more information, visit www.squash.ca.  Join the conversation, get social with squash – follow Squash Canada on Facebook and Twitter.