Who We Are

Board Of Directors

The RCA Board of Directors’ role is to govern RCA by providing leadership and direction in the pursuit of its vision and mission. The Board is elected by the membership of RCA and is accountable to the membership for competent stewardship that will ensure the long-term viability of RCA. The Board of Directors’ first duty is to the legal entity CARA. In meeting this duty the Board must ensure that all legal requirements under the relevant Acts are met and that CARA is protected from harmful situations and circumstances in the interests of current and future stakeholders. For more information on the Board’s role, please see the RCA Governance Policy.

Meeting Minutes

• Carol Purcer

  President

  Carol Purcer is a volunteer who is passionate about growing the sport of rowing.  Her involvement spans twenty five years of volunteering as an RCA Umpire and as a member of a number of provincial and national committees. She has served as a leader on the RCA Board as Provincial Director as well as Vice President – Events for ROWONTARIO and as President of Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA). She was Chair of the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta for seven years and has also chaired the CSSRA Championship Regatta. 

  Carol has an educational background in sport, a Masters of Education in Organizational Studies and is a retired secondary school principal.  She has had opportunities over many years that have  allowed her to develop skills in communication, organization, planning and preparation, social skills, conflict resolution, as well as problem solving to continuously encourage change for improvement, all skills that will serve her well in the role of President of Rowing Canada Aviron.

  Carol’s vision as President is to use these skills to deeply understand the varied needs across the country and develop a plan to support our members to grow clubs and high school programs and in turn, grow our sport.  Her view is that one size doesn’t fit all and finding differentiated pathways to success will help participants at many different levels.

  

  Carol Purcer

  Carol Purcer

  President

  president@rowingcanada.org

• Carol Hermansen

  Provincial Director

  Prior to her appointment to the RCA Board as Provincial Director, Carol was a member of the RCA Board as President of the Alberta Rowing Association and the RCA Provincial Relations Advisory Council. Carol has also served as President of the Calgary Rowing Club and President of the Calgary Booster Club.

  

  Carol Hermansen

  Carol Hermansen

  Provincial Director

• Thomas Hawker

  Director - Treasurer

  Tom Hawker started rowing for recreation with his daughters  in 2002, and has gone on to compete in local and international regattas.

  Tom completed his economics degree at the University of Victoria, obtained his CA designation in 1983, and has been a partner with Field & Company since 1990 and works with family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

  In addition to his volunteer work with RCA, Tom gives his time to a number of community organizations and has been a long-serving member of the Camosun College Foundation Board of Directors.

  

  Thomas Hawker

  Thomas Hawker

  Director - Treasurer

• Jennifer Walinga

  Director

  Dr. Jennifer Walinga, a professor and consultant based in Victoria, BC, has enjoyed a successful and wide ranging career in sport and education. She began as a multi sport athlete and gradually focused on rowing under the fortunate tutelage of Carol Love.  A two-time Olympian in rowing, Walinga was a member of Canada’s Commonwealth (1986), World (1991), and Olympic champion fours and eights, and, in 2013, was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame along with her extraordinary crew.

  She has been an educator and consultant for 30 years in all areas of communication including digital communications, branding, organization and culture development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. She earned her PhD in Organizational Studies from the University of Victoria, where she developed an award-winning problem-solving intervention called Integrated Focus and now consults to organizations from a variety of realms including health, sport, media, education, government, and private industries.

  She holds a particular passion for the ideals of sport, believing strongly in the Olympic values and the positive power of sport to transform and inspire communities. The experience she gained training and competing at an elite level forms the basis for her research and practice which includes cultural development in organizations, optimal human and team performance, women in leadership, and promoting values through sport. She is a mother of three and, along with her husband Craig White, is an active member of the athletic and educational communities in Victoria, BC.

  

  Jennifer Walinga

  Jennifer Walinga

  Director

• Dana Thorne - Sunaxwumaat

  Director

  Dana Thorne – Sunaxwumaat was born and raised on Vancouver Island and is a member of the Cowichan Tribes. She is currently completing her MBA through Royal Roads University, with a specialization in management consulting. Dana provides expertise in developing strategies for increasing customer value by analyzing gaps in service delivery, organizational risks, sustainability, labour skills, team dynamics, capacity, and systemic barriers. Growing up as an Indigenous female, Dana understands the barriers related to systemic racism, gender inequities, and cultural insensitivities. She approaches these topics with compassion and respectful engagement. 

  Dana volunteers on multiple boards with a focus on sports or economic development. She has a husband and two daughters active in the sports community through basketball, soccer, and horseback riding. She believes that sports offer an avenue for growth and development as they help teach discipline, hard work, focus, perseverance, working independently and working as part of a team.

  

  Dana Thorne - Sunaxwumaat

  Dana Thorne - Sunaxwumaat

  Director

• Jane Thornton

  Director

  Dr. Jane Thornton is a Sport Medicine Physician and Canada Research Chair in Injury Prevention and Physical Activity for Health at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. She is also an Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine. Her research focuses on long-term athlete health, female athlete health, and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. As a physician, she cares for athletes and active individuals of all ages and abilities.

  Jane treasures her involvement in rowing at every level, from Learn to Row to the Olympic Games, coaching juniors and masters and mentoring a new generation of developing and national team athletes. She is a 2006 World Champion in the women’s pair with Darcy Marquardt and 2008 Olympian in the women’s eight.

  Jane’s vision as Director at Large is to help expand the sport of rowing to reflect the diversity of our Canadian communities and develop the concept of rowing for long term health and performance. She believes that Rowing Canada Aviron’s Vision 2025 has the potential to transform our sport in ways that will see rowing thrive in Canada and Canadians thrive through rowing for generations to come.

  

  Jane Thornton

  Jane Thornton

  Director

We want to hear from you! 

• Terry Dillon

  Chief Executive Officer

  Terry is responsible for the operations of RCA and the fulfilment of RCA’s operational and strategic priorities. As CEO, he has responsibility for administration, planning, financial management, communications, partner relations, and all programs of RCA. He works closely with the Board of Directors in fulfilling their governance role, as well as standing committees, operating committees, staff and key volunteers to achieve Rowing Canada Aviron’s goals.  

  tdillon@rowingcanada.org

• Jennifer Fitzpatrick

  Director of Partnerships and Sport Development

  Jennifer is responsible for developing and executing the strategic planning and implementation of domestic operations. This includes providing direction for the implementation of Coach, Umpire, Member Services and Engagement initiatives. Jennifer also oversees the Marketing and Communications strategy for the promotion of rowing in Canada. Jennifer works with government, corporate and community partners, member clubs and associations to increase inclusiveness, develop awareness of and increase participation in rowing across Canada.  

  jfitzpatrick@rowingcanada.org

• Adam Parfitt

  Director, Coach and Athlete Pathways

  Adam is responsible for the effective alignment, development and delivery of the coach and athlete high performance pathway through RCA’s NextGen strategy. He works within RCA High Performance Program overseeing NextGen staff, and their relationships with HUB partners and Provincial Rowing Associations to ensure collaboration and engagement around a common strategy of plans and activities. In Adam’s role he oversees the NextGen Strategy, including Talent ID programs, NextGen HUBs and Provincial Rowing Association engagement strategies.  

  parfitt@rowingcanada.org

• Kim Bell

  Manager, Finance and Human Resources

  Kim is responsible for implementing, evaluating and maintaining systems and processes of financial management and human resources and works in close collaboration with the Treasurer. Kim is responsible for developing financial, budget and investment controls and reporting; directing effective and efficient office, human resource and administrative procedures and standards; managing benefit and insurance programs and contracts/leases of the organization and, ensuring adherence to all applicable regulatory requirements.   

  kimbell@rowingcanada.org

• Lindsey Brown

  NextGen Program Coordinator

  Lindsey provides coordination, administrative and relationship support to the NextGen initiative. In her role Lindsey is also responsible for RCA’s outfitting of National Team Programs and she works closely with the High Performance Coordinator in the development of event specific plans for National Team events and camps.  

  lbrown@rowingcanada.org

• Colleen Coderre

  Communications Lead

  Colleen is responsible for planning and execution of the Marketing and Communications strategy for the promotion of rowing in Canada and the promotion of our National Teams. Colleen is responsible for leveraging communication activities to enhance the growing presence of the sport in the media and the rowing community.  

  coderre@rowingcanada.org

• Matt Draper

  National Events Manager

  Matt is responsible for the oversight, planning, coordination and delivery of multiple aspects of RCA national events, including the delivery of RCA’s ‘National Events Strategy’ that incorporates flat-water rowing, coastal rowing, indoor rowing and Masters rowing.

  mdraper@rowingcanada.org

• Liz Hardy

  Member Services Manager

  Liz is responsible for overseeing the delivery of RCA member services and programming and providing support to initiatives designed to increase the number of Canadian rowers and enhance their experience.

  lhardy@rowingcanada.org

• Laura Isherwood

  NextGen Program Assistant

  Laura provides coordination, logistics and administration support, and relationship management to the RCA NextGen program. She works closely with the High Performance team to establish and execute daily operations and implementation of targeted National Team NextGen programming.

  lisherwood@rowingcanada.org

• Chuck McDiarmid

  NextGen Program Lead Coach

  Chuck is responsible for the development and implementation of RCA’s NextGen strategy. Chuck works collaboratively with RCA’s Director of Coach and Athlete Pathways, corporate and government partners, member clubs and associations, and other RCA staff, to identify and support athletes with potential to represent Canada internationally.  

  cmcdiarmid@rowingcanada.org

• Colleen Miller

  Manager of Coach Education and Development

  Colleen is responsible for the development and delivery of the NCCP coach education and certification programs and the implementation of RCA’s mentoring and professional development programs. Colleen works collaboratively with RCA’s Coach Education Development Committee (CEDC), Director of Partnerships and Sport Development, Director Coach and Athlete Pathways, High Performance Director, and the Provincial Rowing Associations (PRA’s).

  colleenmiller@rowingcanada.org

• Liz Montroy

  Communications and Events Coordinator

  Liz is responsible for supporting communications operations in addition to providing support for development initiatives and events. Working closely with the RCA Communications Lead, Liz coordinates content on the RCA digital platforms, supports the execution of press releases, and assists with the development of promotional materials and reports. Liz also supports the planning and delivery of events and campaigns.

  lmontroy@rowingcanada.org

• Sid Murdoch

  Secretary

  Sid’s duties include general office administration, web registration system administration including assisting participants and clubs with accounts, programs and reports. Members should contact Sid with general questions regarding insurance and insurance incidents. He also provides support to a number of committees including the Provincial Advisory Council and the RCA Board of Directors and he organizes the Annual and Semi-Annual Meetings.

  rca@rowingcanada.org

• Sukhraj Saraow

  Finance and Administration Coordinator

  Working closely with RCA staff, Sukhraj supports all bookkeeping functions of the organization including all areas of accounts payable and accounts receivable. Sukhraj also oversees all areas of RCA’s office administration including telephone inquiries, office supply procurement, incoming and outgoing deliveries, and RCA staff and volunteer board travel arrangements.

  ssaraow@rowingcanada.org

• Jeremy Ivey

  Senior National Team Men's Program Assistant Coach

  Jeremy has coached extensively with both the Canadian and American national teams. Jeremy helped coach Canada’s men’s pair to a fourth place finish at the 2018 World Championships and in 2016, he coached the lightweight men’s quad to a fourth place finish at the World U23 Championships. Prior to joining RCA, Jeremy was an Assistant National Team Coach for USRowing, and coached the US women’s double to silver medals at the 2014 and 2015 World Cup II regattas. At the 2011 Pan American Games, he coached the American men’s pair to a gold medal, the women’s pair to a silver, and the lightweight women’s double to a bronze. Jeremy was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He graduated from Smith College with a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Studies and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Mercyhurst University.

• Phil Marshall

  Senior National Team Women's Program Assistant Coach

  Phil has extensive experience coaching with the Canadian National Team. He helped lead Canada’s women’s eight to a silver medal at the 2018 World Championships and coached the Olympic heavyweight women’s team in Rio. Phil also worked as Head Coach for the Canadian U23 men’s lightweight program from 2013 to 2015. He has played an integral role in fostering a high performance daily training environment for NextGen athletes. Phil has over 30 years of experience in high performance rowing, including time spent as Head Coach of the Varsity Rowing Team at Queen’s University.

• John Wetzstein

  National Para Rowing Team Coach

  John has led Canada’s Para rowing program since October 2015. At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, he coached the PR3 Mix4+ to a bronze, Canada’s first ever medal in Para rowing. Prior to joining the RCA team, John’s coaching experiences included serving as the provincial head coach in his home province of Saskatchewan, assisting with programs at the St. Catharines Rowing Club, Brock University and Washington University, and serving as a junior head coach for the St. Louis Rowing Club.

• Carol Love

  NextGen Coach – HUB Lead Coach

  Carol is responsible for providing direction, mentorship and oversight to NextGen coaches in their HUB relationships, as well as facilitating talent identification and NextGen athlete and coaching support. Carol provides leadership in support integration and engagement with the Canadian Sport Institute and Provincial Sport Organizations. On a daily basis, she provides on water coaching support within the Peterborough/Trent University HUB.

• Jordan Clarke

  NextGen SSSM Lead – Rowing

  Jordan is responsible for coordinating sport science and medicine support through the NextGen Hub Strategy in alignment with the best practices of the Senior National Team. Working closely with the Director, Coach and Athlete Pathways, NextGen Program Lead, and NextGen HUB Coaches, Jordan works to provide support to NextGen rowers throughout the Athlete Development Pathway.

• Sam Heron

  NextGen Coach – UVIC HUB

  Sam is a University of Victoria (UVIC) HUB NextGen coach and is responsible for the implementation and execution of talent identification and talent development systems within the Victoria NextGen stream. Sam works with junior, university and club programs on Vancouver Island to develop rowers aspiring to make the National Team.

• Maksym Kepskyy

  NextGen Coach – UBC HUB

  Maksym is RCA’s University of British Columbia (UBC) HUB NextGen Coach. He works closely with UBC and club coaches to create a coaching environment dedicated to developing athletes to reach a level of excellence. Maksym earned a Master of Science in Sport Biomechanics from the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine. In addition, Maksym has a Master in Sport Physiology and Coaching Science from UBC and a rowing coach degree from the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine.

• Dane Lawson

  NextGen Coach – Western HUB

  Dane is responsible for the oversight of the Western HUB as part of the RCA NextGen Development Strategy, which involves assisting in identification, intake, and development of athletes working towards the National Team. His main focus is enhanced training for identified athletes through additional training volumes, competitive environments, and coordination of services in the areas of nutrition, biomechanics, sports psychology, and strength and conditioning.

• Greg Szybka

  NextGen Coach – Brock Niagara HUB

  As the NextGen Coach for the Brock Niagara HUB, Greg is responsible for talent identification and the development of athletes aspiring to compete for the Canadian National Team. Greg’s past coaching experiences include working with athletes at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, St. Catharines Rowing Club, Brock University, Ottawa Rowing Club, and St. George’s School. He served as a Team BC Coach at the 2017 Canada Summer Games and is a former Brock University rower.