These marquee roles exist for you to believe in your legacy and contribute to the Team’s Games experience in a positive, relevant way.
Chef de Mission
The Chef de Mission is responsible for providing overall leadership for Team Canada, by creating a positive and supportive environment conducive to achieving optimal performance for all team members. They will serve as the spokesperson and cheerleader for Team Canada leading up to and during the Olympic Games. The Chef de Mission reinforces the vision of one aligned, unified team!
“This adventure flowed naturally from my own Olympic journey,” said Isabelle Charest while acting as the Chef de Mission for the 2016 Youth team in Lillehammer. “(This is) a way to stoke that flame that has been burning bright inside me since the very beginning, 22 years ago!”
Charest took that experience and went on to act as the Assistant Chef for our Rio 2016 team and most recently the Chef de Mission for the PyeongChang 2018 Games.
Marnie McBean, the Chef de Mission for the Tokyo 2020 Games, says one of her main objectives will be to create a safe and welcoming environment for Team Canada to speak openly about their passions outside sport.
“It is our role as the Mission Team to do everything we can so that when an athlete’s Olympic competition begins they are in peak condition. Athletes shouldn’t arrive to their field of play exhausted and stressed from trying to negotiate social and cultural barriers. Our team is going to be a safe and open space for self-expression and dialogue. We make ourselves stronger when we include everyone, consider all perspectives and weigh critical feedback.”
Athlete Mentor
The Athlete Mentors are responsible for working closely with the Canadian Olympic Team athletes competing at the Games. Each will act as a mentor, advisor, and help prepare athletes with the challenge of performing at the highest level. They will assist with delivery of the Athlete Lounges in the Village and Olympic Performance at Games.
“It was extremely helpful knowing that I had someone to talk to when I was competing,” said Catriona Le May Doan, Athlete Mentor for PyeongChang 2018. “So, the thought of giving back and becoming an athlete mentor has been on my mind since the day I retired.”
There’s no question, these Games-time volunteer opportunities are about more than just being involved. They will empower you to activate the wisdom, experience and compassion that come with being a Team Canada Olympian in real-time, with real influence in a real way.
The applications for both Chef de Mission and Athlete Mentors will remain open until September 11, 2020.
