TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is pleased to announce the appointment of its new board of directors for 2024-25 following the organization’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on November 6.
Rowing Olympian Andrea Proske was re-elected to the Board for a second term, following her first election at the 2021 AGM. Two new national team athletes were also elected to the Board, rugby sevens Olympian Charity Williams and para-cycling Paralympian Michael Sametz. In addition, rowing Olympian Susanne Wereley was appointed as the 10th member of the Board.
The new Officers will be elected from within the Board in the coming weeks.
“We are excited to welcome Andrea, Charity, Michael, and Susanne to our Board of Directors team,” said AthletesCAN Board Member Colin Hodgson. “Our directors bring substantial experience, diverse viewpoints, and a shared passion for advancing the interests of national team athletes. We look forward to working closely with them in the months ahead.”
AthletesCAN thanks the outgoing directors for their service to the Board, including retired bobsleigh Olympian and national team track athlete Neville Wright and retired wheelchair basketball Paralympian Jessica Vliegenthart.
Biographies of New AthletesCAN Directors
Charity Williams – Rugby Sevens
Charity Williams is a dedicated Canadian rugby athlete, three-time Olympian, and advocate for equity and inclusion in sport. She joined the national rugby team at 16 years old and has since had the privilege of representing Canada on some of the world’s biggest stages. Her journey includes earning a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and a silver medal at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. In addition, she was part of the team that won silver at the 2023 Pan American Games and has contributed to multiple medal finishes in the Rugby Sevens World Series. Most recently, she was proud to help lead the University of British Columbia (UBC) to its first-ever USports National Championship in 2024.
Outside of competition, Charity is passionate about creating more inclusive spaces in sport. She was involved in establishing Rugby Canada’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council, creating a platform to amplify marginalized voices and foster inclusive practices across the organization.
Charity’s commitment to community extends far beyond the rugby field. As the president of The Function Arts and Cultural Association, a non-profit she founded. Charity creates spaces for BIPOC artists to share their talents, builds platforms to promote anti-racism, and provides mentorship opportunities for youth leaders. Through her work, she continues to empower and uplift BIPOC athletes and artists across Canada.
Currently, Charity is a student-athlete at the University of British Columbia, where she balances her studies with her continued dedication to sport and community-building.
Michael Sametz – Para-Cycling
Michael (Mike) Sametz is a Para cyclist having competed internationally for Canada for the past ten years in the road and track. He is a Paralympic bronze medalist from Rio 2016 and a consecutive World Champion (2017, 2018) in the Men’s C3 time trial event. Mike’s international success began to derail in late 2019 when he began experiencing symptoms of REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). After a rollercoaster of a recovery and with a new perspective on high-performance sport, Michael returned to competition in 2023. In his second international event back in Para-cycling he won a bronze medal at the 2023 Para-cycling Road World Championships. He was scheduled to compete at the 2024 Paralympics Games before a training accident in Paris resulted in a hip fracture.
Off the bike, Mike holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Calgary. He is passionate about high-performance sport and ensuring it is accessible and safe for everyone. He currently is an Athlete Mentor with Classroom Champions and an Ambassador for Project REDs.
About AthletesCAN
AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world. As the voice of over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships.
AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.
Follow the #AthleteVoice on social @AthletesCAN
For more information, please contact:Alicia Renaud-Paquin
Manager, Athlete Relations & Marketing
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025 Ext. 224
arenaudpaquin@athletescan.ca