Sail Canada welcomes new directors

Oct 28, 2021

Sail Canada introduced its Board of Directors for 2021-2022 following the Annual General Meeting held virtually on Friday, October 22.

President Hugh McGugan (ON) has been re-elected by acclamation and will start his second two-year term as head of the National Sport Organization.

Director at Large Zac Baum (ON) will continue to serve on Sail Canada’s Board of Directors for a second three-year term, while Kelly Lyon (ON) will begin her first term as Director at Large.

Hugh McGugan has spent the past eight years on the Sail Canada Board including the last two as Chair.

Zac Baum is a former international athlete who is presently a PhD Candidate in medical imaging, studying novel methods for using artificial intelligence in the field of medical imaging. In his first term, he was part of the Finance, Governance and Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity committees.

Kelly Lyon is a grassroots sailor, with extensive racing experience regionally and on the national stage, for more than 20 years. She is currently working on her certification as a Club Race Officer. In the past, she has been a Rear Commodore, Projects Director for the Britannia Yacht Club and Chairperson for numerous regional and national Canadian regattas. Kelly also has extensive experience in project management and planning large-scale government information technology development projects, and is currently working as a Quality Assurance/Technical Project Specialist for the federal government (finance).

Sail Canada’s other Directors at Large Barbara Pike (NS), John O’Dwyer (ON), Kate MacLennan (AB) and Valérie Lavigne (QC), as well as Athlete Directors Rob Hemming (ON) and Mariah Millen (ON), complete the list of members on the Board of Directors.

“First of all, I would like to welcome back Zac Baum as well as welcome Kelly Lyon to the Board,” said Sail Canada President Hugh McGugan. “Their experience combined with their passion for the sport are definitely huge assets to our organization moving forward with our new 2021-2024 Strategic Plan.”

“I would also like to thank Torstein Braaten and Ian Wooden for their interest in being part of Sail Canada’s Board of Directors and I hope they will continue with their extensive and valued engagements in the sailing community in the future.”

“Finally, a big thank you to Bob Greenhalgh for his involvement on our Board of Directors over the past six years, especially as the Chair of both our Fundraising and Finance Committees,” added Hugh McGugan.

Also during the AGM Friday, Sail Canada had an Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Panel Discussion titled “Exploring the Intersection of Safe Sport with Diversity and Inclusion”. As Inclusion, Diversity and Equity is one of key objectives of Sail Canada in its new 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, the discussion was moderated by INclusion INcorporated on how safe sport intersects with diversity and inclusion to create more safe, welcoming, and inclusive sailing experiences across the country. Among the panelists: three-time Paralympic medalist Paul Tingley.

More information can be found on Sail Canada’s website at www.sailing.ca.