Bill Fenwick

Games Services Committee Chair

The 71-year-old London native grew up playing hockey and tennis before he devoted himself to working in sport for over four decades, including 11 years as the Director of Recreation and Community Services in St. Catharines from 1991-2002.

Add in five more years as Director of Culture and Recreation for the City of Hamilton, six years in Welland as both the Director of Parks & Recreation and Director of Integrated Services. It’s easy to see why Fenwick was a natural choice to be the Chair of the Games Services Committee for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Brian McAndrew

Media Committee Chair

Brian McAndrew is originally from Chippawa, ON and worked at several newspapers in southwestern Ontario before settling into a 30-year career as a reporter and editor at the Toronto Star. He is the co-author of Soft Target, a book about the 1985 Air India crash off the coast of Ireland that originated in Toronto. As the Star’s environment reporter, he won three Canadian Science Writers Association Awards. He spent time as the Star’s City Assignment Editor responsible for organizing daily news coverage in the Greater Toronto Area and as Associate Sports Editor. During the 2003 SARS crisis in Toronto, he served as a weekly correspondent for the BBC World News Service. He joined the staff of the Toronto 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games as a member of the Press Operations division where he was Managing Editor of the Games News Service. He returned to the Niagara Region in 2017 and devotes much of his retirement to playing golf, curling and lawn bowling.

Candice Turner-Smith

Artistic Festivals Committee Chair

An Arts Management Consultant who recently retired from the Niagara Symphony Orchestra as its Executive Director for more than a decade. With 12 seasons at the Shaw Festival, Candice is a native of Montreal and a journalist by trade.

One of her most memorable projects is the 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada designation awarded to the Niagara Region to celebrate arts, culture and heritage and highlight their value in each of Niagara’s 12 municipalities.

Other projects: Symphony Nova Scotia, The Norm Foster Theatre Festival,Marketing the Arts of St Catharines/Niagara; Riverbrink Art Museum, Carousel Players, Chorus Niagara; Theatre Beyond Words, Lost & Found Theatre, the National Tap Dance Company of Canada, The School of Restoration Arts at Willowbank; the Department of Dramatic Arts at Brock University, Music Niagara, Bravo Niagara, Orchestra’s Mississauga; the Ontario Arts Council Regeneration Conference.

In 2020, Candice received the City of St. Catharines Arts Awards, Jury’s Pick. She is privileged to serve as Chair, Artistic Festivals for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Carol Phillips

Volunteer Services Committee Chair

Phillips’ sports and recreation background is extensive. Previous to her role as Associate Dean of Community Services, she worked as both the coordinator and a faculty member for Niagara College’s recreation therapy and leisure/recreation services programs. A former executive committee member for Brock Niagara Penguins, Welland Special Olympics and Therapeutic Recreation Ontario,  she also coached basketball for many years, and she has played  elite level basketball, touch football and softball. Additionally, she earned a recreation and leisure degree from Brock University, before obtaining a post-graduate diploma in therapeutic recreation from Georgian College and a Master of Education from Yorkville University.

Crystal Rabley

Sustainability Committee Chair

The Holy Cross alumna’s resume is tailor-made for the position. The Niagara Falls resident has a degree from Brock University in tourism and environment, a Master’s degree from Western University in environment and sustainability, and a post-graduate certificate in environmental management and assessment from Niagara College. She is now a business performance analyst for Walker Industries’ Environmental division.

Rabley also previously worked in a volunteer capacity at a couple of smaller events for an organization called Leading Change Canada, which is a forum for young Canadian professionals working in the environmental sector.

Derek McNally

Medical Committee Chair

Derek recently retired as Niagara Health's Executive Vice-President of Clinical Services & Chief Nursing Executive, where he acted as executive lead for the clinical portfolios. Working with the other members of the Executive Team, Derek was tasked with helping to optimize the organization’s performance as it strives for a great patient experience and excellence of culture, quality and safety, staff and physician engagement, and financial stewardship, working with the other members of the Executive Team.

Derek previously served as Executive Vice-President of Clinical Programs at Markham Stouffville Hospital and was Vice-President, Patient Services & Site Lead and Chief Nursing Officer at the Greater Niagara General Hospital at Niagara Health, where he distinguished himself by dramatically changing the performance and perception of his site. Previous to Niagara Health and Markham, Derek has also held senior leadership positions at Trillium Health Centre, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Derek began his career as a front-line nurse in Glasgow, Scotland and has continued to be a strong and vocal advocate for great patient care.

Desmond Walsh

Essential Services Committee Chair

As a retired law enforcement administrator, Des has extensive experience in human resource management, leadership, planning, and resource allocation.

He is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Executive Development Program (FBI Academy) and the Police Leadership Program (Rotman School of Management). Des holds life memberships with the Ontario, Canadian, and International Associations of Chiefs of Police. He was also previously awarded the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.

Sports have been an integral component of Des’ career path. He has had extensive involvement with Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Des is looking forward to contributing to the success of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Gerry McIlhone

Transportation Committee Chair

McIlhone has plenty of previous experience helping out with sporting events in Niagara. He has volunteered at the Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Association championships in Niagara and served as the transportation chair for the 2018 FIBA U18 men’s basketball Americas Championship in St. Catharines.

His transportation-heavy resume includes: supervisor station, train and engine employees with VIA Rail Canada in Toronto; operations controller with GO Transit; manager of transportation with St. Catharines Transit; manager of transportation for the Niagara Parks Commission; and, his present job as operations superintendent with City of Hamilton Transit.

He is also vice-chair of the Niagara Region’s active transportation sub-committee and the chairperson of the transportation advisory committee for Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Halya Rudiak

Chair, Athletes Village

Halya is a resident of Ridgeway Ontario where she retired after a 29 year career with IBM Canada.  She has strong leadership skills to bring to the games with her experience in strategy, marketing programs and communications.  Halya has a degree in Physical Education from York University and has always enjoyed many sports over the years.  Some of her favourite sports include tennis, swimming and skiing and lately golf and pickleball.  She also has two half marathon runs to her credit.

Halya was a volunteer during the PanAm games in 2015.  It was these games that sparked an interest in major events like Niagara 2022 Canada Games.

"I am excited to be a part of this event and to welcome our young athletes to the Athletes Village a 'Safe and Welcoming Environment'! " 

Harvie Hagerty

Venues Committee Chair

Harvie brings many years of Niagara experience to his Canada Games role as Venue Chair. Today, he keeps busy as an athletic convenor for the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association . However, previous to that, he’s had many titles. In addition to being an experienced secondary school, college and university teacher, Harvie has also worked as a National Coaching Certification Program facilitator, a coach, and been a member of Niagara Trillium.

Harvie will tell you his involvement in these Games is all about leaving multiple legacies in Niagara. He wants to be a part of bringing lasting venues to the region, while also helping to provide all the Games’ athletes, spectators, coaches, and volunteers with a legacy of memories they won’t ever forget.

Jane Arkell

Accessibility Committee Chair

Jane Arkell has dedicated her career to the area of access and inclusion for individuals with a disability.

Jane has been the Executive Director of the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD) since its inception in 1989. Prior to that, she was Executive Director for the Canadian Blind Sports Association, and she previously served as Project Director for the Federal Accessibility Legislation Alliance with Spinal Cord Injury Canada to assist in the development of the Accessible Canada Act (2019).

As a volunteer, she has been asked to advise on many committees such as ParticipACTION, Accessibility Standards Council (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act - AODA), CNIB Lake Joseph Centre, and PHE Canada After School and Intramurals Committee. Jane is also Co-Chair for the Brock Niagara Penguins (ParaSport Club).

Jennifer McGregor

Merchandise and Ticketing Committee Chair, she/her, elle

With over 25 years experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Jennifer brings with her a wealth of knowledge in customer service and sales as well working with a variety of ticketing systems. Currently Director of Sales for HOCO Ltd. Clifton Hill, Jennifer has also previously worked for Niagara Falls Tourism, the Niagara Parks Commission, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Jennifer also owns and operates her own business, Alternative Sales Strategy, specializing in unique sales techniques.

No stranger to welcoming guests to Niagara and hosting large events to showcase our beautiful area, Jennifer is truly excited and proud that the Niagara Region is hosting the games. She looks forward to welcoming all the athletes, their friends and family to our beautiful area along with contributing to an outstanding Summer Games. Jennifer is also bilingual in both French and English.

Lynn Hamilton

Sport Committee Chair

Lynn Hamilton grew up in St. Catharines and was a member of Canada's National Basketball team which placed fourth at the 1984 Olympics, and third at the 1986 World Championships. She is also a member of Bishop's University and St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame.

Lynn brings her passion for sport to Niagara 2022.

Both her sons (Freddie and Dougie) played hockey for the Niagara IceDogs and for Canada's World Junior Hockey Team.  Freddie has since retired from the NHL and is a student at Yale University, while Dougie plays for the New Jersey Devils.

Marcel Castonguay

Mission Services Committee Chair

Marcel is presently the Executive Director of Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara, a non-profit, multidisciplinary care organization that serves the French speaking populations of the Hamilton and Niagara areas. The Centre employs over 100 full-time staff and serves over 10,000 patients. The services provided range from primary care (medical services), chronic disease management, specialized services such as a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) clinic, adult and children mental services, services to newcomers and support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. It also provides early-years services as well as a number of support services for seniors.

Prior to joining the Centre de santé 15 years ago, Marcel enjoyed a 23-year career in the Ontario Public Service working in various ministries such as Labor, Transportation and the three ministries comprising the justice sector. 

As Executive Lead for French language services across the ministries of the Attorney General, Solicitor General and Community Safety and Correctional Services, Marcel championed a number of legislative projects such as the regulation on bilingual proceedings before Ontario’s court system. During this time, he also had the opportunity to co-chair national working groups on access to justice in both official languages with representatives from all provinces and territories. He also had the opportunity to lead many provincial transformation initiatives to enhance access to French language justices services within Ontario.

Marcel grew up in northern Ontario, is an avid golfer, likes biking and enjoys reading. He played hockey in his younger years and also coached for a number of years. The Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games are his first hands-on experience with Canada Games but he enjoys following both summer and winter Olympic sports. 

Nicole Perreault

Protocol Committee Chair, she/her

Nicole Perreault, is a certified human resources professional who recently retired from Niagara College as the Director of Human Resources. She has spent over 25 years in post-secondary education providing leadership in the areas of talent management, recruitment, human resource administration, employee/labour relations, organizational development and health & safety. Nicole also has experience working in the manufacturing and corporate sector as well as health care. In 2008, Nicole was the recipient of the Niagara College “Award of Excellence” given to a Niagara College administrator who exemplifies excellence.

A Welland native, Nicole and her husband Henri are the proud parents of three adult children and two grandchildren. Nicole has actively participated and volunteered in her community and is a member of the francophone community of Welland.

Peter Van Hesldingen

Food and Beverage Committee Chair

Peter has been managing Food and Beverage and event planning for over 30 years in Niagara.  Past president of Feastivites Events and Catering, a catering and event planning business in Niagara since 1971. Peter was involved in planning food and beverage for several large events in Niagara over the years including Canoe Competition in Welland, Red Bull in Niagara Falls, Olympic Torch relay throughout Ontario, and a contract to serve the Department of National Defence more than 2500 meals a day. Peter holds a Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant management from Niagara College and a degree from Niagara University. Peters’ passion was mentoring and teaching students for over 20 years part time at Niagara College and George Brown College in Food and Beverage, Business, and Event Planning. Peter is now the president of Calamus Estate Winery. 

Rob Foster

Technology Committee Chair

Foster has an extensive background both in politics here in Niagara and further in software development / Information Technology. He was first elected to Lincoln town council in a by-election in January of 2001 and served continuously representing Ward 1 for the past 18 years. He was elected to regional council in 2018 and is serving his first term as a regional councillor. Foster is recently retired, having had an extensive career for over 40 years in information technology as a senior IT manager, both in the media industry and, most recently, in healthcare.

Susan Morin

Official Languages Committee Chair

A leader in sport tourism in Niagara for over 15 years, a member of the Bid Committee for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, and a passionate member of Niagara’s francophone community. Games organizers have become familiar with Morin's catchphrase: ‘How are you going to French it up?’ The native of Montreal is the business development manager with Venture Niagara, a designated bilingual Community Futures Development Corporation. Morin chairs La Table InterAgence, Niagara’s French Interagency Network, established to create an awareness campaign for Niagara’s francophone community using the “Bonjour Niagara” campaign and bonjourniagara.com.

Tony Mattiacci

Event Services Chair

Tony first found out about the Canada Games when he was living around the corner from the Canada Games Complex in Thunder Bay. He attended Lakehead University and graduated with an Honours Bachelor degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography.  Over the past 10 years Tony has been in the tourism and education industry, from working in the Caribbean facilitating programs for youth on a cruise ship to organizing large international conferences for secondary school students. Tony has been planning and executing successful events since graduating university.

Tony is an avid sports fan, he has been a spectator at 2010 Winter and 2012 Summer Olympic Games, 2015 Pan American Games, 2017 Invictus Games, multiple Grey Cups and MLS Cups. 

The Niagara Region has lots to offer and Tony is excited for the rest of Canada to experience it.