Calgary 2026 board of directors brings in Olympic athletes
Medal winners join representatives in bid to bring Olympics back to Alberta
Members named to Calgary 2026 are eager to sell the Alberta locale as an Olympic city that already boasts an iconic legacy with facilities for winter and summer athletes and new opportunities to build on strong housing, transportation and volunteer networks.
“We already have legacy here, but we want to build on that legacy,” said Catriona Le May Doan, Olympian and three-time medal winner in women’s speed skating, named Wednesday to the Calgary 2026 board of directors.
“We have a great opportunity to benefit from the economic impact this will bring in terms of transportation, even housing. We know this city needs affordable housing.”
Le May Doan explained that she arrived in Calgary three decades ago to train but has chosen to raise her children here, both of whom have benefited greatly from legacy facilities like the Olympic Oval and Canada Olympic Park.
“I came here because of sport, but then I stayed because of sport too. Because of the facilities I knew would benefit my family.”
The first 16 people set to serve on the board of directors exploring Calgary’s 2026 Olympic bid were announced Wednesday morning.
Six-time Olympian and fourtime gold medal winner for the Canadian women’s hockey team Hayley Wickenheiser was named vice-chair.
Wickenheiser will serve alongside Scott Hutcheson as the board works to guide the next phase of planning to determine if Calgary will go ahead with a bid.
“I am grateful to have the opportunity, and the trust of Scott and the board of directors, to take on this prestigious position,” said Wickenheiser.
“As a young child, I remember coming to Calgary to watch the 1988 Games. That Olympic experience changed my life, and I was driven every day after that to become an Olympian. I competed in a home Games in 2010, and I want the Olympics back in Canada. There is so much involved in a bid, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with these great Canadians, and the Calgary community, to ensure its viability.”
Hutcheson said the board will look to quickly establish a working relationship.
“The board is made up of some of the most senior professionals and influential people who have a keen understanding of the sport community and our orders of government,” he said.
“We will quickly establish a strong working relationship, and develop a culture of healthy, open and productive dialogue that will lead to informed decision making.”
Le May Doan said that as the board looks to economic development opportunities, Calgarians that are new to the city need to know that an Olympic Games can benefit everyone, not just now but decades into the future.
“We need people to understand why it’s important to everyone, not just people in the city, but the surrounding areas, the province and the entire country.”
She added that while winter Olympic athletes benefit from Calgary’s legacy facilities, summer Olympic athletes also spend a lot of time training in Calgary.
The Canadian Sport Institute, with facilities at both WinSport
We need people to understand why it’s important to everyone, not just people in the city, but the surrounding areas, the province and the entire country.
and the University of Calgary, provides a wide range of supports for athletes beyond just facilities including coaching, physiotherapy and sport psychology
Le May Doan is one of the three representatives appointed to the board by the federal government. She is joined by Cree Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild, and another director to be named at a later date.
Representing the City of Calgary is city manager Jeff Fielding who will be joined by Chris Lee and businesswoman Manjit Minhas.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he was happy with all of the appointments, including the city of Calgary’s three who he called terrific community leaders who bring a lot of skills to the table.
“The brain trust is getting built and there is a ton of work to do but the work is getting done,” Nenshi said.
The Alberta government appointed culture and tourism deputy minister Meryl Whittaker, operations deputy minister Ray Gilmour and managing director of communications and public engagement Corey Hogan as its representatives.
The Town of Canmore appointed Lisa de Soto as its representative.
Former president of the Canadian Olympic Committee Dick Pound will represent the COC along with lawyer and businesswoman Tricia Smith and Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Overholt.
Jude Daniels was selected as the Métis representative, while MarcAndre Fabien will represent the Canadian Paralympic Committee.