Board of Directors 2010 - 2011
Sue Griffin - Chair
President and CEO, BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Sue brings a great of experience in corporate strategy development to her position on the ProMOTION Plus Board. She is currently the President & CEO of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and previous to that was the Chief Development Officer for Science World. Under Sue’s leadership recent initiative at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum that support women and girls in sport include the In Her Footsteps exhibit and the Hero in You online lessons and resources. A respected leader in the Sport and Recreation system and an advocate for women in sport, Sue brings dynamic energy and passion to all that she does.
Debbie Pyne - Past Chair
BCGA Managing Director, Player development
Debbie has long been an advocate for girls and women in sport and has worked to provide opportunities as athletes, coaches, and leaders throughout her career. She is currently the Managing Director of Player Development for the BC Golf Association where she helped to create the player development division, the first in Canada for golf. In her previous position as the Executive Director of the BC Ladies Golf Association, Debbie assisted with the amalgamation process of the organization with the BC Golf Association. Debbie has previously served on the ProMOTION Plus Board and again brings her commitment and attention to details to help create and enhance opportunities for girls and women in BC.
Diana Chan - Vice Chair
AVP, Human Resources
Diana is a Chartered Accountant, and has been a community basketball coach for the past 13 years. While working with girls between the ages of 13-17, Diana has seen the benefits offered to young women while being physically active, and wants to reach a larger group of young women with this message through the ProMOTION Plus Network. In her career in Human Resources, Diana is able to coach a number of women while they advance in their professional careers and has developed programs that reach a broad audience of men and women on the topics of building relationships, communication and leadership . Being involved with ProMOTION Plus, Diana is able to relay her knowledge of the importance of self-worth and the understanding of core values and principles in a person’s life.
Diana is a Chartered Accountant, and has been a community basketball coach for the past 13 years. While working with girls between the ages of 13-17, Diana has seen the benefits offered to young women while being physically active, and wants to reach a larger group of young women with this message through the ProMOTION Plus Network. In her career in Human Resources, Diana is able to coach a number of women while they advance in their professional careers and has developed programs that reach a broad audience of men and women on the topics of building relationships, communication and leadership . Being involved with ProMOTION Plus, Diana is able to relay her knowledge of the importance of self-worth and the understanding of core values and principles in a person’s life.
Ann Holmes - Secretary
Human Kinetics Coordinator and instructor at the College of New Caledonia, Prince George
Human Kinetics Coordinator and instructor at the College of New Caledonia, Prince George
Originally from the Edmonton area, Ann did her BPE at the University of Alberta. She moved to Vancouver to complete an MHK at the University of British Columbia while playing varsity golf. Ann played amateur golf at a provincial and national level before turning pro in 1997, and then started her coaching career at UBC. In addition to coaching the National Women’s team at the World University Golf Championships in 2000, Ann coached the UBC Women’s team to the NAIA National College title in the United States in 2001. Ann is active in the community by serving on the YMCA Board and PacificSport Northern BC Board. She also continues to teach golf as a CPGA professional and works locally at Alder Hills Golf Course in Prince George.
Denise Coutts - Treasurer
My current adventure has become my passion: changing the worlds' sleeping habits via our amazing duvets. Together with Laura (my partner in life as well as business), I help educate people about the gorgeous, highest-quality, mulberry-silk filled duvets that we provide at www.silkconcept.com. Truthfully, it's not a tough sell - who doesn't agree that silk is the dreamiest of fabrics?.
Executive Director, Pacific Parklands Foundation
Denise was born and raised in the Okanagan where she developed her passion for sport. She attended the University of British Columbia, earning a Bachelors of Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Sport Administration. Denise participated on the varsity basketball and rowing teams at UBC but her dream to row in the 1984 Summer Olympics were dashed when she developed ulcerative colitis. She credits her experience as a competitive athlete with enabling her to manage this debilitating disease and was the recipient of the Sport BC Harry Jerome Comeback Athlete of the Year Award in 1990. After graduating from UBC, Denise worked in the Sport BC building for 17 years as the Program Coordinator at Basketball BC and then as the Executive Director for Squash BC, then Badminton BC, and the BC Disability Sports. She has over 30 years of provincial, national, and international sport experience as a player, coach, volunteer, and administrator. Denise is currently the Executive Director of the Pacific Parklands Foundation. In her former role as the Executive Director of the Minerva Foundation for BC Women Denise began the process of connecting ProMOTION Plus with the Minerva Foundation. Denise also played a significant role as a volunteer member of the Steering Committee for the inaugural Women in Sport Leadership event in January.
Denise was born and raised in the Okanagan where she developed her passion for sport. She attended the University of British Columbia, earning a Bachelors of Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Sport Administration. Denise participated on the varsity basketball and rowing teams at UBC but her dream to row in the 1984 Summer Olympics were dashed when she developed ulcerative colitis. She credits her experience as a competitive athlete with enabling her to manage this debilitating disease and was the recipient of the Sport BC Harry Jerome Comeback Athlete of the Year Award in 1990. After graduating from UBC, Denise worked in the Sport BC building for 17 years as the Program Coordinator at Basketball BC and then as the Executive Director for Squash BC, then Badminton BC, and the BC Disability Sports. She has over 30 years of provincial, national, and international sport experience as a player, coach, volunteer, and administrator. Denise is currently the Executive Director of the Pacific Parklands Foundation. In her former role as the Executive Director of the Minerva Foundation for BC Women Denise began the process of connecting ProMOTION Plus with the Minerva Foundation. Denise also played a significant role as a volunteer member of the Steering Committee for the inaugural Women in Sport Leadership event in January.
Samantha Coutts
Teacher– Mulgrave School
After graduating from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Samantha spent two years working at Cantest in Burnaby, first as a lab technician and then as an analyst. While having already earned both Science and Arts Degrees, Sam returned to school at SFU in September 2007 to complete her teaching certification with a goal to teach science and coach at the high school level. An all-around athlete, Sam captained the St. Mary’s women’s basketball team and continues to play basketball and field hockey competitively and also enjoys softball and golf recreationally.
Samantha has volunteered extensively in the sport community during the past ten years and she strongly believes that girls and women are entitled to an equitable share of resources and opportunities to participate in sport and recreation. She also recognizes the important skills that are developed through participation in sport and recreation and that these are highly transferable to life, work and play and believes that this is another important impetus for women and girls to be active and get involved.
Kim Appleton
Sales & Customer Service rep. - Silk Concept
Life is adventure. I grew up competing in sport, which taught me to believe in myself, push myself, and go for the win. I've worked with investment bankers in London, as a lifeguard in Southern California, a ski instructor in Banff, a forest firefighter in Northern Ontario, and a tree planter in Northern BC. Most recently I spent two years as program director of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs here in Vancouver. My current adventure has become my passion: changing the worlds' sleeping habits via our amazing duvets. Together with Laura (my partner in life as well as business), I help educate people about the gorgeous, highest-quality, mulberry-silk filled duvets that we provide at www.silkconcept.com. Truthfully, it's not a tough sell - who doesn't agree that silk is the dreamiest of fabrics?.
Kelly MacDonald
Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and two decades of participation in sport. In 2007 she began a Masters of Arts in Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia. Having been a soccer and volleyball player at the university level, a coach for various ages in her respective sports and having an ongoing passion for physical activity, her education pursuits combines her love of sport and her passion for people. Kelly’s current research focuses on gender equity and equitable practices in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport system. She has also been volunteering at JW Sporta and helping with their Premier’s Sport Awards Program and at the Women in Sport Leadership Event in January.
Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and two decades of participation in sport. In 2007 she began a Masters of Arts in Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia. Having been a soccer and volleyball player at the university level, a coach for various ages in her respective sports and having an ongoing passion for physical activity, her education pursuits combines her love of sport and her passion for people. Kelly’s current research focuses on gender equity and equitable practices in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport system. She has also been volunteering at JW Sporta and helping with their Premier’s Sport Awards Program and at the Women in Sport Leadership Event in January.
Bryna Kopelow - Honourary Board Member
Sport Consultant, JW Sporta - Premier's Sport Awards Program and Action Schools! BC
Bryna is a member of JW Sporta: Health, Physical Activity and Sport Education Consultants, creators of the Premier’s Sport Awards Program (p.s.a.p.), a physical education resource program designed to help teachers and instructors teach children their basic sport skills. The JW Sporta Team is excited to be part of Action Schools! BC, a new initiative designed to assist elementary schools in creating individualized action plans to promote healthy living. Bryna is involved with numerous endeavours promoting physical activity and sport at a grassroots level. She is Past Chair of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity, Past Chair of ProMOTION Plus - Girls and Women in Physical Activity and Sport, a key player in the national On the Move program initiative, and a Board Member of Sport BC. Bryna received her BPHE from the University of Toronto and Teaching Certification and Masters of Physical Education from UBC. Bryna and her husband have two children.
Sport Consultant, JW Sporta - Premier's Sport Awards Program and Action Schools! BC
Bryna is a member of JW Sporta: Health, Physical Activity and Sport Education Consultants, creators of the Premier’s Sport Awards Program (p.s.a.p.), a physical education resource program designed to help teachers and instructors teach children their basic sport skills. The JW Sporta Team is excited to be part of Action Schools! BC, a new initiative designed to assist elementary schools in creating individualized action plans to promote healthy living. Bryna is involved with numerous endeavours promoting physical activity and sport at a grassroots level. She is Past Chair of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity, Past Chair of ProMOTION Plus - Girls and Women in Physical Activity and Sport, a key player in the national On the Move program initiative, and a Board Member of Sport BC. Bryna received her BPHE from the University of Toronto and Teaching Certification and Masters of Physical Education from UBC. Bryna and her husband have two children.
Marion Lay- Honorary Board Member
President, Think Sport Ltd.
Former President and CEO of 2010 Legacies Now, Marion has been involved with the Vancouver 2010 Games since the Bid stage in 1998. A two-time Olympian and a member of the bronze medal 4 x 100m freestyle relay team at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Marion was elected to represent the City of Vancouver as a member of the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
Marion is a member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Olympic Committee, a founding member and past chair of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), and a founding member of ProMOTION Plus and WomenSport International.
She obtained her master’s degree in the sociology of sport from California State University. Upon graduating from CSU, Marion took a job teaching at the University of Western Ontario. In 1971 she was offered a position with Sport Canada, a move that began her extensive career in the world of sports.
Marion is a member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Olympic Committee, a founding member and past chair of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), and a founding member of ProMOTION Plus and WomenSport International.
She obtained her master’s degree in the sociology of sport from California State University. Upon graduating from CSU, Marion took a job teaching at the University of Western Ontario. In 1971 she was offered a position with Sport Canada, a move that began her extensive career in the world of sports.
This organization is supported by 2010 LegaciesNow
Copyright 2002 | ProMOTION Plus | All rights reserved
Copyright 2002 | ProMOTION Plus | All rights reserved
