Motivate Canada – Motivate Canada (MC) is very pleased to announce a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is a product of the philosophy the organization stands for:  developing leaders by empowering, nurturing and mentoring young people to more fully engage in their communities and Canadian society.   MC believes that it is on the leading edge of what has become a growing trend of providing opportunities for youth in the Canadian not-for-profit community.  

It has long been the strategy of Motivate Canada to identify, train and mentor future leaders in order to build necessary capability both inside and outside the organization. A relay-succession model has been particularly effective for Motivate Canada to build a strong, values-based organization where outgoing leaders mentor and prepare successor(s) to ensure continuity and strength of programming.  

In 2004, a young individual showed interest in pursuing not-for-profit career experience in sport.  At the time, the founding members of what was then known as the “Esteem Team Association” were drawn to the passion and energy of Lisa Kwiatkowski – a Human Kinetics student from Vancouver whose brother was one of the original Esteem Team athlete role models.  Through this connection, Lisa embraced an offer to join the Board in order to contribute to youth-driven development alongside an experienced group of industry professionals.

Lisa’s volunteer contributions and passion for Motivate Canada grew over time, as did her professional experience working for three Olympic and Paralympic Games’ Organizing Committees, the Rick Hansen Foundation, and most recently the University of British Columbia’s Department of Athletics and Recreation. In 2014 the Board of Directors asked her to take on the role of President and Chair of the Board. This appointment was an important milestone in the journey of Motivate Canada. 2017 has presented another rather unique opportunity to not only recognize the talents of a dedicated individual, but also to move the organization into a new phase of growth and innovation.

MC believes this appointment to CEO will signal an exciting turning point for the future of youth-driven development in Canada.  Margie Schuett, one of the founding Board members and current Vice-Chair of Motivate Canada says “Lisa’s personal commitment and passion for Motivate Canada’s mission, to develop inspiring and innovative new leaders, is complimented with her desire to embrace a social enterprise approach, with our outstanding legacy programs developed by the young innovative founders of Motivate Canada. Our future is bright with fresh new ideas, and a track record of successful leaders weaved into the Canadian entrepreneurial leadership fabric.”

The Board of Directors of Motivate Canada knows it is time to place a leader for tomorrow who has the skills of being a strategic thinker, relationship builder, collaborative decision-maker, change leader and inspiring motivator.  They know that Lisa Kwiatowski will meet the challenges of leading the organization by delivering value to progressive donors and partners seeking opportunities where they can make a true difference in our world.

About Motivate Canada:

Motivate Canada is a Canadian charitable organization that specializes in improving the lives of young people by fostering civic engagement, social entrepreneurship, social inclusion and leadership among youth. We use techniques from sport, physical education and community driven development in our programming.

Through harnessing the power of positive role models, sport and physical activity, and community engagement principles, Motivate Canada is able to engage young people, build their confidence and sense of self-worth and increase their social and vocational competence.

From our modest beginnings 20 years ago as a one program, one province organization, we now deliver four youth-driven development initiative across Canada – ACTIVATE, the ESTEEM Team, the Clean Air Champions and GEN7. Each program targets youth between the ages of 9 and 25.

For more information on the programs and services being offered by Motivate Canada please go to www.motivatecanada.ca

Motivate Canada’s Founders:

Chris Wilson is one of the best freestyle wrestlers Canada has ever produced.  As a resident of Coquitlam BC for 25 years, Chris Wilson is a true champion of the community.  As a wrestler, he represented our Canada at the 1992 Olympic Games and 1994 Commonwealth games.  He was also a two-time World Cup Champion.  Today, Chris is a Coquitlam city councilor and an active volunteer in the community.  

Lisa Ling, a native of BC, 9-time Canadian national champion in Karate along with many international medals earned her law degree from the London School of Economics (as a Commonwealth Scholar) and studied piano under the tutelage of her mother, and then the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Ling pursued a career in management consulting and has appeared in a major martial arts movie in Hong Kong.  Currently Lisa is an author, educator, motivator and speaker as well as a well-known expert around the world on youth-driven-development.

Ian Bird, a two-time Olympian in field hockey, and now serves on several volunteer Boards of Directors, including Imagine Canada, Own the Podium, and Canada’s Public Policy Forum.  He also sits on the Governor General’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Advisory Committee, and serves as the Canadian representative on the Community Foundation Leadership Team (CFLT), a committee of the Council on Foundations, which provides leadership to community foundation development in the United States.  Ian is now President and CEO for Community Foundations of Canada.

 

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