Being a Team Canada Olympian is a lifelong opportunity to make a difference.
The World Olympians Association offers OLY status to any Olympian – providing recognition of your years of hard work, dedication and promotion of the Olympic values. Much like a PhD, MD and other post nominals, OLY can be used on business cards, CVs, social media, in fact anywhere you use your name. OLY status creates remarkable proof of the legacy you carry with you – always.
The Oxford Dictionary defines an Olympian as: “A competitor in the Olympic Games.” Meaning, you represented your country, in action, on the field of play. Not your coach. Not your family or friends. You. Regardless of how you identify with the Olympic Movement, your participation in the Games embodies its values.
The strength of this unity is something Team Canada will never take for granted. It is how the team identifies as a group — over the course of history. By continuing to pass on this Canadian quality, and sharing in its strength, Team Canada Olympians contribute to every version of the Team’s success, as well as the success of Canadian society.
When you make this Canadian Olympic Team, you define it. You make us who we are. Olympian status in Canada is elevated beyond international participation. It holds a responsibility to both our culture and society. This is both a source of pride and comfort.
OLY CANADA COMMISSION – Who is representing the OLY Canada community?
The Commission, composed of Olympians retired from competition, will be fully supported and in partnership with the COC and will represent the voices of Legacy Olympians across Canada while serving as Canada’s representation within the World Olympians Association.
The OLY Canada Commission includes:
- Claire Carver-Dias OLY (elected Chair with voting rights)
- David Calder OLY (elected vice-chair with voting rights)
- Christine Nesbitt OLY (elected member with voting rights)
- Bruny Surin OLY (appointed member with voting rights)
- Mercedes Nicoll OLY (appointed member with voting rights)
- Sandra Sassine OLY (appointed member with no voting rights)
- Maxime Dufour-Lapointe (Newly elected member)
- Jennifer Walinga (Newly elected member)
RECOGNITION
OLY Canada Commission and the COC would like to recognize the work and time of three past members:
“For years, Charmaine Crooks OLY and Chris Farstad OLY, have worked tirelessly to build the Canadian Olympians’ network. They have dedicated their ideas and time to these efforts, from the very first reunions to the formalization of the commission in 2019. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these two trailblazers for everything they’ve done to lay the foundation for a successful OLY Canada Commission.” Claire Carver-Dias OLY, Chair, OLY Canada Commision
A special thank you to OLY CANADA identity creators – 2008 Olympians Olya Ovtchinnikova OLY (past member of the OLY Canada Commission and former COC Staff) & Marie-Eve Marleau OLY (former COC Staff)
The full Terms of Reference can be found here.
