Board of Directors
The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is governed by an elected Board of Directors. The composition of the Board of Directors is determined at an Annual General Meeting. A full time, year-round Executive Director oversees the operation of the organization.
WASP President: Sarah MacLeod
Sarah has a strong belief that introducing athletes with mental and physical disabilities to skiing can help them gain confidence and determination that will extend into multiple facets of their lives. With this purpose, she has been a volunteer ski instructor with the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program since 2002. Sarah also coaches alpine skiing for the Special Olympics BC in Whistler and at Cypress Mountain as well as sitting on the Executive of the Whistler Valley local since 2006. She is a CSIA Level 1, CADS Level 2a, CSCF Level 1, and Alpine Race Official Level 1. Sarah joined the WASP Board of Directors in 2008 as Secretary before becoming Vice President in 2009. When not on the slopes, Sarah works for Tom Harris Cellular, the largest TELUS Mobility Dealer in Western Canada, selling corporate wireless solutions.
WASP Vice-President: James Peters
This will be my 3rd season as a full-time instructor with Whistler
Blackcomb coaching in the Whistler Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program.
It is a great honour to now be a member on the Board of Directors of the
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program. It is my hope that my direct contact
with so many of our members in the ski and snowboard program, as well as
knowing and working with several of the participants, that I will be
able to offer a unique perspective to the board.
In my professional
acumen, I am coached sports and business most of my life. I am a CSIA 2,
CASI 1 and CADS 2A on the mountain side of coaching skills. I have
achieved TCCP 4 coaching with the Canadian Professional Golf Association
and am currently developing a business to coach men in their lives
along with the national launch of my first book, “How to Get Your Wife
in Bed.” I have owned a company in the UK that was based around
fundraising for several small organizations.
It my greatest hope,
that my past experiences will lend well to the growth of the Whistler
Adaptive Sports Program. I look forward to assisting in the fundraising
efforts and adding my two cents whenever it can be useful.
WASP Treasurer: John Walker
John is a chartered accountant and is currently Chief Financial Officer of Black Press, a privately owned community and daily newspaper publisher with approximately 150 publications in BC, Alberta, Washington, Hawaii and Ohio.
As a part time resident of Whistler for 25 years he has been a Level 3 Alpine Race Official and a past Director, President and Committee Chair of the local junior alpine race club.
John has been the Treasurer for three years.
WASP Secretary: Diana Mulvey
Based in Vancouver and Whistler since 1999, Diana Mulvey moved west to complete her MBA and has furthered her career pursuing her passion for advising organizations on marketing, communications and sustainability issues through her company, Seeds Consulting.
Diana has over fifteen years of experience in strategic planning, marketing and communications. She has a track record of creating innovative marketing plans, measuring goals and strengthening relationships through buzz-generating community engagement; all with an eye to positively build reputation and market position.
She lives the mountain lifestyle in Whistler with a passion for hiking, biking, Nordic and alpine skiing. She also enjoys travel and culinary adventures.
Director: Bianca Matheson
Bianca moved to Whistler, from Australia in 1992. A qualified Sports & Manipulative Physiotherapist; Bianca has also undertaken coaching, first aid and executive MBA studies. Bianca owns and operates Peak Performance Physiotherapy in Whistler and Squamish Physiotherapy and also contracts to the Winter Olympic Institute of Australia. Bianca is also currently working with Canadian Sports Centre Pacific on their athlete development and “Own the Podium” programs. Bianca has worked with national and international disabled athletes and appreciates the difficulties these athletes have overcome to get where they are. Bianca firmly believes getting children and adults with disabilities into sporting activities will improve their quality of life and provide healthy social outlets to build life skills. She is passionate about healing and helping those with injuries and disabilities and is a firm believer of the goals WASP is aiming to achieve on a more local level.
Director: Steve Bayly
Steve Bayly has been active in the Real Estate Development and Construction industry in British Columbia for over thirty years. His main business activity today is in Whistler as a commercial/industrial landlord. Steve is well known in Whistler as a Founding Director of Whistler Housing Authority and is currently a Director of the Whistler 2010 Olympic Athletes’ Village Development. Steve Bayly is a past Director of Whistler Mountain Ski Club and a past Chairman of Whistler’s Advisory Planning Commission. Steve Bayly is in his second year on the W.A.S.P. Board. Although legally blind as a result of advanced stages of retinitis pigmentosa he still is active and enjoys skiing.
Director at Large: Kasi Lubin
Born and raised in Toronto, Kasi relocated to Whistler (for the second time) in 2000. Kasi is currently the Executive Director of Zero Ceiling; a small Whistler based non-profit organization that works with at-risk and homeless youth from Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky-Corridor. Kasi is the also the co-founder of the Whistler Film Festival and has held various contract positions with the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, the Whistler Arts Council, the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival, and the Whistler Chamber of Commerce to name a few. Kasi is an active volunteer and holds an honorary position on the board of the Whistler Film Festival and has sat on the board of the Whistler Arts Council and Big Brothers and Sisters of Whistler and Pemberton. Prior to arriving in Whistler, Kasi spent over a decade working abroad during which time she managed international education, entertainment and youth programs throughout the world.
Director: Donovan Tildesley
Director: Jennifer Erickson
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education
and a Master’s in Counselling Psychology. I spent thirty-three years in
the public school system and loved every minute spent with my teenage
students. Their energy and enthusiasm was inspiring. I often had
responsibility for Special Needs Students and this was the beginning of
my long-term commitment to this group of learners.
When I retired I was looking for an opportunity to utilize my skills and continue with my focus on learners with unique challenges. For me, WASP’s “Ski and Ride” Program was a perfect fit. I am now in my eighth year as a full-time volunteer and I am excited to be on the WASP Board so I can continue to support this much needed and dynamic Program both on the hill and at the Board table.
Disabled Skiers Association of BC (DSABC) Representative: Heidi Rode
Heidi has lived in Whistler for over twenty years and is raising a family of three boys along with her husband, Brian Rode, a senior instructor in the Whistler Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program. Heidi also works for the Question Newspaper as the Office Manager. Heidi brings a strong background of serving on volunteer Board of Directors and will be representing the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program as its appointed representative to the Board of Directors of the Disabled Skiers Association of BC (DSABC). “I came to the Ski and Ride program quite selfishly - initially I joined simply because I wanted to have something other than family to talk to my husband about! I never dreamed how much I would love it or how much of an impact it would have on my general outlook in life,” says Heidi of her desire to become involved in the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program. “ The Whistler Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program has truly been an amazing experience for me.” Heidi is now a Level 2A Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing instructor. Although she is unable to teach skiing this season, due to family commitments she jumped at the chance to work with the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program as the representative on its skiing, grass-roots snowboarding and adaptive alpine ski racing Provincial Sports Organization.