Kingston, January 10, 2025 – Sail Canada is excited to announce that Lisa Ross, an accomplished coach and Olympian, is joining our Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) Committee.
Lisa represented Canada at the 2004 Athens Olympics as the skipper of the three person Yngling class and was the first female Canadian to compete in the ILCA class at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She also competed in two Pan American Games (1995 and 2007).
Over the past 15 years, she has coached athletes of all levels and classes, from development to the highest level of international competitions. She served as a national team coach for Sail Canada from 2020 to 2023 and coached the ILCA 6 at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Lisa’s coaching credentials include the Chartered Professional Coach designation (2016) and the Advanced Coaching Diploma (2020).
Using her experience and deep commitment to fostering an inclusive and progressive environment within Canada’s high-performance programs and across the sailing community in Canada, Lisa will support Sail Canada’s objective to ensure every sailor, regardless of background or identity, can participate, thrive, and succeed in our sport by advancing actionable solutions as part of Sail Canada’s IDE Committee. By working closely with athletes, coaches, and the sailing community, the IDE Committee focuses on initiatives that promote diversity at every level of sailing — from grassroots programs to elite competition.
Sail Canada recognizes that systemic barriers and inequalities exist within sailing and the broader Canadian Sport System. We envision a future where Canadian sailing is a model of inclusivity, where diversity is celebrated, and where all sailors can contribute to and excel in our sport.
“Sail Canada is dedicated to making this vision a reality and the organization welcomes Lisa’s wealth of experience and dedication to empowering athletes from diverse backgrounds to the IDE Committee”, said Sail Canada Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Kelly. “I look forward to working with Lisa and all members of the Sail Canada IDE Committee as we advance the IDE Strategy and help get more Canadians on the water in a safe and welcoming environment.”
“I look forward to working with all the members of the IDE committee to continue their work transforming Sail Canada’s IDE goals into actionable change,” said Lisa Ross. “I am grateful for Ryan’s commitment and dedication to charting a new course for Sail Canada. Together we will identify the challenges faced by underrepresented and equity deserving groups, developing strategies to practically address these challenges, and ensure that Sail Canada’s policies, programs, and resources reflect its commitment to equity and inclusion. We will collaborate with the broader sailing community to create lasting change that not only enhances participation and representation but also strengthens the overall growth and success of sailing in Canada. I am excited to help realize a future where Canadian sailing is a model of inclusivity, where diversity is celebrated, and where all sailors can contribute to and excel in our sport.”
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
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Information:
Patrick Godbout
Communications Manager
Sail Canada
Email: patrick@sailing.ca
Phone: 514-213-9897