Triathlon Canada —Les Pereira returns as President of Board with Christian Triquet, Jacqueline Hatherly —

VICTORIA—Olympian Sarah-Anne Brault has been elected by her peer group to help shape the future of the Triathlon Canada Nation as a new member of the national sport body’s Board of Directors. Brault will be serving her first two-year term along with one of Canada’s most powerful women, Brenda Eaton who will serve a four-year term. Les Pereira returns as president along with Christian Triquet and Jacqueline Hatherly for another four-year term.

Brault, who officially retired in March after achieving her dream of competing for Canada at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio, will serve as the athlete representative on the Board.

“I committed my life to triathlon for 10 years and I knew if I wanted to do something to give back to the sport that has given me so much that now was the time,” said Brault. “My number one goal is to ensure everyone is heard, and to help make the sport even better in Canada than it is now.”

A high achiever – both on the playing field and in the classroom – the 27-year-old Quebec City resident graduated with a Finance and Economics degree at West Virginia University where she was part of the cross-country running team. She is currently taking her Masters in Finance at McGill University.

Brault will take over from Victoria’s Brent McMahon – an Olympian, World Cup champion, Xterra champion, Ironman 70.3 champion and Ironman champion – who wrapped up his term in the fall.

“Brent did an incredible job of setting a nice framework for the athlete rep to have a say, and I look forward to building on that moving forward,” added Brault, who is also doing some coaching and participating in a variety of sports recreationally. “This is obviously a new world, and it is a little intimidating, but I am glad the athletes have trusted me to do this job. Now I have to deliver for them. Communication will be key to success. I want everyone to be heard in a process that needs to be collaborative and transparent.”

Growing up in Manitoba, Brault began triathlons in 2006 before moving to Quebec and then Australia for the final three years of her career that was highlighted by five, top-15 finishes on the World Triathlon Series. In addition to hitting the start line in Rio, her career-best showing was a fourth-place finish at a World Triathlon Series race in Auckland, New Zealand in 2016.  Brault also celebrated two podium performances on the World Cup.

Joining Brault on Triathlon Canada’s Board of Directors is one of Canada’s most respected corporate and government leaders on the West Coast, Brenda Eaton.

A seasoned corporate director serving on multiple Boards for a variety of organizations in the private, public, not-for-profit and crown corporation organizations, Eaton has held senior executive positions in finance including the CFO of a Health Authority. Prior to becoming a Corporate Director, Eaton was Deputy Minister to Premier of British Columbia for four years, and served as Deputy Minister in a number of government departments including Finance, Energy and Social Services.

Eaton was awarded with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, and has three times been named as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women. In 2008, Eaton was voted Consumer Choice’s B.C. Businesswoman of the Year.

Les Pereira was re-elected to another four-year term where he will also continue as president of the Board.

A member of Triathlon Canada’s Board as a Director at Large since 2013, Pereira has led Triathlon Canada into a new era. The Richmond, B.C. resident has touched all facets of the sport from the grassroots to elite level through a variety of volunteer positions, and has helped shaped the development pathway for many young triathletes while on the Triathlon B.C. Board, and as president of the Pacific Spirit Triathlon Club.

“At the completion of our last Olympic and Paralympic cycle, Triathlon Canada found itself at a crossroads. We took this time to reflect and it was clear we were in need of launching a new era for our sport,” said Pereira. “Since that time, we assembled a new leadership team to guide us, and have laid the foundation of our future by implementing a successful new strategic plan that puts a focus on excellence in sport and business. A long road lies ahead for us to achieve our goals, but I am honoured to have the opportunity to continue the work that has been started with our dedicated staff and Board to help put more Canadian triathletes on the international podium over the next four years.”

Triathlon Canada also expanded its Board from seven to eight members.

Christian Triquet (Quebec), who is a sales and marketing executive, will also return for another four-year term with Saskatchewan-based lawyer, Jacqueline Hatherly. Pereira, Brault, Arsenault, Triquet and Hatherly join incumbent Board members: Steve Harrigan (Ontario) who continues in his role of treasurer; Ontario’s Paul Huyer (secretary); and Terry Hooper (Saskatchewan).

Triathlon Canada is the governing body of the sport in the country. Triathlon Canada’s more than 22,000 members include athletes, coaches and officials from the grassroots to elite levels. With the support of its valued corporate partners – 94 FORWARD, Project, Garneau, Training Peaks, Zizu Optics, and Polar – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Own the Podium, Triathlon Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic and world Champions in all race disciplines. For more information on Triathlon Canada, please visit us at www.triathloncanada.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan

Media and Public Relations

Triathlon Canada

T: 403-620-8731