OTTAWA – Baseball Canada announced Monday several updates to its Board of Directors following the organization’s Annual General Meeting, which was held virtually on July 27th.
The organization implemented a new board structure as part of a modernized governance framework, that includes independent directors, athlete representatives, and provincial sport organization leaders.
This change marks a significant evolution in Baseball Canada’s governance model, aligning with the Canadian Sport Governance Code best practices for national sport organizations, and reinforcing the organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and diversity.
“This is a transformational moment for Baseball Canada,” said Baseball Canada President Mike Keating. “We are honoured to welcome such an accomplished and diverse group of leaders to our Board of Directors. Their collective experience and passion for the game will help drive our vision forward while ensuring strong governance and broad representation across all levels of baseball in Canada.
“I would also like to thank our departing board members for their many years of dedicated service, their commitment to building Baseball Canada that exists, and their support for these changes aimed at moving the organization forward.”
The six newly appointed board members include former national team athletes Trent Kitsch and Samantha Magalas, who will serve as athlete representatives along with Owen Charters, Tyler Currie, Luana Harris and Dale Hooper.
They will join existing board members Mike Keating (Baseball Canada President), Terry Butler (Baseball Canada Vice-President), Ken Sharpe (Baseball Canada Treasurer), Jon Oko and Marc Vadboncoeur who will remain in their roles in forming the new leadership team.
Meet the New Board Members:
Luana Harris – Managing Director, RBC Sports Advisory
Luana leads a global team serving the sports and entertainment industry. A longtime Baseball Canada partner, she co-founded the Baseball Canada Education and Mentorship Program and brings extensive board experience in health and education.
Dale Hooper – General Manager, FanDuel Canada
Dale brings over 20 years of executive experience in marketing and brand leadership including senior roles with Rogers Communications and PepsiCo Canada. A passionate baseball supporter, he has served on several national sport boards and remains actively involved in his local baseball community.
Owen Charters – CEO of BGC Canada
Owen is CEO of BGC Canada, the nation’s largest child- and youth-focused charity. A seasoned nonprofit leader and governance expert, he has dedicated his career to creating access and equity in sport and recreation. Owen also sits on the boards of the Institute on Governance and the PayPal Giving Fund and has deep ties to grassroots baseball as a former youth coach and manager.
Tyler Currie- Assistant Deputy Minister of Sport in Ontario
Tyler oversees sport policy, funding programs, and major international sporting events. Previously, he spent over a decade leading international operations for the NHL Players’ Association. A former rep-level player and current youth coach, Tyler lives in Waterloo, Ontario with his family.
Samantha Magalas (Athlete Representative)
A trailblazer in Canadian women’s baseball, Samantha brings over 20 years of experience in sport leadership, including roles with Ontario University Athletics and the City of Windsor. A former national team athlete and coach, she currently teaches at St. Clair College.
Trent Kitsch (Athlete Representative)
A former national team captain and NCAA athlete, Trent is an entrepreneur and founder of SAXX Underwear. He brings experience in business and sport governance and continues to support youth and national-level baseball initiatives.
Baseball Canada Board of Directors
Mike Keating (President, Baseball Canada)
Terry Butler (Vice-President, Baseball Canada)
Ken Sharpe (Treasurer, Baseball Canada)
Trent Kitsch (Athlete Representative)
Samantha Magalas (Athlete Representative)
Owen Charters (CEO, BGC Canada)
Tyler Currie (Assistant Deputy Minister of Sport in Ontario)
Luana Harris (Managing Director, RBC Sports Advisory)
Dale Hooper (General Manager, FanDuel Canada)
Jon Oko (President, Baseball Alberta)
Marc Vadboncoeur (President, Baseball Québec)
Media Contact:
Adam Morissette
Baseball Canada
613-748-5606 (office)
613-862-0256 (mobile)