OTTAWA—After 38 years serving at the highest levels of Canadian sport, Lane MacAdam will be retiring in April.

Lane is a proven leader in government and the non-profit sport sector and has applied his extensive skills in program management, policy development and organizational leadership to a number of key roles in the Canadian sport system for close to four decades

Currently the Director of Partnerships and Operations at Own the Podium (OTP), MacAdam will be assisting with the staffing transition through April. Among his accomplishments at OTP, MacAdam contributed to building OTP’s reputation as a key supporter of Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic high performance landscape and improving our nation’s international medal success.
 
“Lane is a strong consensus builder who has developed effective relations with a wide range of partners in the Canadian sport system. A strategic thinker and an effective communicator respected by colleagues and peers alike, he is driven by an unwavering passion for sport and the pursuit of excellence”, said Anne Merklinger, CEO of OTP.
 
MacAdam served as Special Advisor and Executive Assistant to four federal Ministers of Sport. During this time, he gained a deep understanding of sport policy and programs and developed a sound appreciation for how “Ottawa works”. During his tenure, he contributed to a number of major federal initiatives including federal support for the Calgary Olympic Winter Games; the Best Ever 88 program; and The Commission for Fair Play.
In the nineties, MacAdam was hired as the first President and CEO of the Canada Games Council. He incorporated the Canada Games Council as a national non-profit sport organization and assembled its first ever staff team. He presided over five successful sets of national games. After his departure from the Canada Games Council as President and CEO, he served on the Board of Directors from 2002-2007.
 
MacAdam held various positions at Sport Canada from 2002-2015, including Director General, Executive Director – Canadian Sport Policy and Executive Director – Sport Excellence. While at Sport Canada, MacAdam was at the helm when the Canadian Sport Policy 2002 was adopted by all Federal and Provincial/Territorial governments, and also helped usher in the Sport and Physical Activity Act (2003). He co-chaired the Federal-Provincial/Territorial Sport Committee from 2002- 2006. MacAdam was instrumental in confirming Sport Canada approval of the “targeted” funding approach which was the precursor to the Own the Podium (OTP) initiative. He served on the OTP Advisory Board from 2006 until 2014. He was Chair of the TO2015 Pan Am Games Legacy Sub-Committee.
 
MacAdam graduated from Laurentian University in 1983 with an Honours B. Commerce in Sports Administration and an MBA in Sports Management in 2011. In 1983, he captained the Laurentian University soccer team that captured the national title and he was voted to the All-Canadian All Star team. He was inducted into the Laurentian Voyageur Hall of Fame in 1995.

Married to Susan and the father of three daughters, he was a volunteer NCCP certified Coach in competitive ringette and soccer for close to two decades. “ It has been a privilege to work in sport my entire career. I have been fortunate to work alongside so many talented, passionate and dedicated people who share a solid appreciation of the widespread impact that sport has on Canadians, the importance of partnerships in advancing the sport experience and the power that winning has on our national psyche.”

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