BC Games Society – After 26 years with the BC Games Society, 19 of them as the President and CEO, Kelly Mann has announced that he will conclude his role with the Society this fall.

“I have had a great career working in sport in B.C. and it’s time to do something different”, said Mann.   “As a lead organization for sport in British Columbia, my Board and staff and I have had the opportunity to set the BC Winter and BC Summer Games apart from organizations across Canada due to our influence on policy, and leadership in areas related to athlete and sport development, community investment, and volunteer leadership.  It is that lasting impact I am most proud of.”

During his time as CEO, Mann helped move the program to one of sport development, away from recreational involvement resulting in greater percentages of BC Games participants competing at Canada Games, and on national and Olympic and Paralympic teams.  His recent creation of the Powering Potential Fund has added value to hosting the BC Games through direct investment of new dollars in sport equipment and infrastructure, ensuring a growth in those related sports and sport tourism.  The fund also supports athlete and coach bursaries, supporting them through their next phase of education and/or sport development.

Since his November 1992 hiring, Mann was directly involved in eighty-five provincial Games involving several thousand participants and volunteers.  He was Assistant Chef de Mission for Team BC at the 1999 Canada Winter Games, and has contributed to Canada Winter and Summer Games, the Western Canada Summer Games, and the Olympic Games in Sydney and Vancouver.

In 2000, he was a co-founder of KidSport Greater Victoria.  That chapter remains the most successful in BC, helping children get involved in sport through registration grants.  He was involved in provincial and national sport policy development, while consulting on a wide variety of events and Games.  He regularly contributed to sport management programs at Camosun College, mentoring students in areas of leadership and sport.  

Kelly has been acknowledged for his leadership in the community and provincially and was honoured with the Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, and the BC Community Achievement Award.  He was also an Ambassador for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

BC Games Society Board Chair Jamey Paterson of Langley said, “We shall miss Kelly’s vision and leadership but understand renewal in this position can create new opportunities and partnerships.  He has raised the profile of the BC Winter and BC Summer Games as a significant opportunity for communities and provincial sport organizations.”

“BC is proud of its sport programs and accomplishments on a number of fronts,” said acting Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Lana Popham, responsible for the BC Games Society. “The BC Games under Kelly Mann’s leadership have provided communities and participants with opportunities to excel and grow. The Province of B.C. congratulates Mr. Mann and wishes him every success going forward.”

Mann’s departure will be this fall and comes as the BC Games Society celebrates its 40th anniversary of Games delivery to all corners of British Columbia.

A date for Mann’s last day will coincide with the hiring and orientation of a new President and CEO.  Mann’s future plans are yet to be confirmed.

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Contacts:
Lia Threlfall
Communications Manager
BC Games Society
250-387-4688 (office)
250-812-3887 (mobile)
liat@bcgames.org