OTTAWA — Wheelchair Rugby Canada has added three new leaders to its board of directors, strengthening the organization’s expertise in governance, finance and sport development.

Mark Thompson – Vice President

Mark Thompson of Oakville, Ont., has been elected vice-president, succeeding Kathy Newman, whose term has concluded.

Thompson is president and chief engagement officer of McKinley Solutions Exchange Inc., a national performance development firm. With more than 25 years of experience advising organizations in sport, hospitality, construction, skilled trades and the non-profit sector, he specializes in aligning human resources, governance and leadership strategies.

Thompson has worked with national sport bodies including the PGA of Canada, Canada Soccer and Rugby Canada. An avid triathlete and cyclist, Thompson said he was drawn to wheelchair rugby’s “purpose-driven sport that creates impact from local community programs to the global stage.”

Danielle Gattinger – Director

Danielle Gattinger, elected as a director, first volunteered with wheelchair rugby at a 2017 invitational tournament at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre—a moment she says inspired her to pursue a purpose-driven career. Gattinger has seven years’ experience in fundraising, including six in sport, and previously led the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility committee at the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

She has attended three Paralympic Games and is passionate about advancing women in sport, both in leadership and on the field of play. Gattinger said she hopes to bring a collaborative, equity-focused perspective that “champions athletes and elevates the growth of wheelchair rugby across Canada and beyond.”

Nathan Medd – Director

Nathan Medd, of Victoria, joins the board as a director after serving on Wheelchair Rugby Canada’s finance and audit committee in 2024. Medd has held senior programming roles with the National Arts Centre—where his team helped establish the world’s first Indigenous national theatre company—and at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. He is now CEO of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, which operates Canada’s largest music therapy program.

With a 25-year career in the arts and culture sector and experience managing organizations ranging of various sizes, Medd brings expertise in strategic planning, marketing, communications and advocacy. He holds degrees from the University of Victoria and Harvard University.

Kathy Newman’s contribution to Wheelchair Rugby Canada

Newman departs the Wheelchair Rugby Canada board after more than 12 years of service, leaving a legacy of pioneering leadership that spans more than four decades in Canadian parasport.

A 2019 Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame inductee in the builder category, Newman is widely recognized as a visionary sport administrator and tireless advocate for wheelchair sports. She began her involvement in parasport in 1981 while president of the Langley Mustangs Track and Field Club, helping stage one of the first integrated track meets in Canada.

Newman went on to work for the BC Wheelchair Sports Association (BCWSA) for 31 years, serving as executive director for 26 of them. Under her leadership, BCWSA became an international leader in event hosting and athlete development. She spearheaded the creation of the Canada Cup tournament in 2004 to build international competition experience ahead of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and helped secure and deliver the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships—an event that set records for attendance, ticket sales and media reach. Newman currently serves as Chair of the World Wheelchair Rugby Women’s Task Team.

“I have had the distinct honor of serving as a board member for Wheelchair Rugby Canada (WRC) for over 12 years. During this time, the Board has proactively addressed critical issues within the sport system, establishing and maintaining WRC’s excellent reputation. This success is a direct reflection of the caliber of leadership within the organization” Newman said.

“ I wish to acknowledge the outstanding WRC Presidents I have had the privilege to work with: Donald Royer, Laurel Crosby, and Jen Bream. Their combined vision and leadership have been indispensable to our achievements. Furthermore, retired CEO Cathy Cadieux and current CEO Paul Hunter have steered the organization with remarkable passion and expertise. Thanks to this dedication, WRC continues to thrive and achieve success at every level of the sport. I am deeply proud to have been a part of this enduring contribution.”

Wheelchair Rugby Canada thanks Newman for her years of leadership and the legacy she leaves behind.