Brock professor to lead 2021 Summer Games
Barry Wright replaces former host society chair Wayne Parrish
After reviewing dozens of resumes from qualified applicants from across the country, Doug Hamilton didn’t have to look far to find the best person to lead efforts to prepare for the Canada Summer Games.
Hamilton, chair of the 2021 Canada Summer Games Host Society board of directors, announced Tuesday that Barry Wright, an associate professor at the Brock University Goodman School of Business, has been brought on as the organization’s new chief executive officer — filling a position that has been vacant for nearly three months following the resignation of Wayne Parrish, who left on late November for personal reasons.
“Barry has some great experience in the sports world and in the organizational and corporate world with respect to his education, but he also has some really important community connections,” Hamilton said.
Wright, the business school’s former dean, will join the organization on May 1, overseeing human resources, volunteering, finances, and sport and athlete services.
Hamilton said Wright’s curriculum vitae isn’t limited to just his academic achievements.
“Before he went off and did his PhD, Barry worked for 10 years in the sport and recreation department for the city of Red Deer,” he said, adding Red Deer just happens to be the location of this year’s Canada Summer Games.
“He also worked with Football Canada and some of the other amateur sports. He has that background as well as his academic background and experience with a number of community organizations,” Hamilton said.
“We’re really quite lucky to have Barry.”
He said Wright’s affiliation with Brock University is another important element that he brings to the table.
“Brock will be one of our key partners in this, both as the home for the athlete’s village as well as the Canada Games park.
“He’s had a role in our programs today in terms of our connections with Brock, so those will continue and it gives us a really nice connection with the university.”
Wright is one of several newly recruited members of the host society’s management.
Steve Katzman — he has worked with NHL teams for the past 20 years including the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators — was appointed chief revenue and marketing officer effective Jan. 5, overseeing marketing and communications, as well as community-related programming and events.
Nick Snow — he worked with the 2015 Toronto Pan Para-Pan American Games — is the host society’s new director of sport and athlete services.
And Vittoria Wikston — she was part of Niagara’s 2021 Canada Summer Games bid committee — has returned to the host society as senior manager of marketing and community development.
In the months since Parrish left the host society, Hamilton said, board members “sort of stepped up to fill the void and we have a number of committees of the board that are playing more of an engaged role than normally a board would.”
He said there are 10 staff working with the organization, keeping it running while awaiting Wright’s arrival.