Canada Soccer chooses new president

WHISTLER — Steve Reed will succeed Victor Montagliani as Canada Soccer president.

The association announced on Saturday that Reed will serve the remaining three years of Montagliani’s four-year term. Montagliani had to relinquish the position after his election as president of the CONCACAF region, which takes in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Montagliani’s time as president was a golden age for the organization. Canada hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, won back-to-back medals at the Olympic Games in women’s soccer, and set a single-match attendance record for a Canadian national team event, in any sport, held in this country.

“The highlight of my time as president was, of course, the opportunity to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015,” said Montagliani. “It was a watershed moment for Canadian soccer. The record crowds that flocked to those matches were a clear demonstration of the way the culture of soccer in our country has changed.”

Reed’s victory was confirmed at Canada Soccer’s 97th annual meeting. He becomes the association’s 34th president.

Reed has been active in soccer for more than 50 years as a player, coach and administrator. He has been a Canada Soccer board member since 2006 and vice-president since 2012. He has sat on several Canada Soccer committees and was a member of the national organizing committee for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The members also declared their support for Canada’s joint bid with the United States and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup as well as the formation of the Canadian Premier League.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League have confirmed that they are looking into creating a Manitobabased franchise for the Canadian Premier League. There is also an ownership group in Hamilton interested in starting a soccer team.

The league is targeting a start date in the fall of 2018.