Arctic Winter Games International Committee

President

Jens Brinch

Appointed 1998 Appointed 2011 Director of International Affairs

Jens has been involved with sports all of his life in a variety of roles, including player, coach and teacher. He has a degree in Sport Science from the University of Copenhagen. He taught and trained coaches in both secondary and high schools. He has lectured at many institutions about Human Sport Science. He is also an author with a number of sport psychology and sport science works to his credit. Over the last 25 years, Jens has been working in various areas within international sports policy; working with sports development in Eastern Europe and Africa, and for 4 years he was chairman for "Play the Game", an organization working towards more democracy and transparency in international sports organizations. Jens worked 12 years for the Sports Confederation of Greenland as International Director and Secretary General. He has served on the AWGIC since 1998 and before his election was the Director responsible for International Affairs. Jens brings to the International Committee a thorough knowledge of the interaction of sport and culture and his experience with Games, knowledge and dedication to sport provides positive direction to the International Committee in communications with our International partners and guests.

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Vice President

John Rodda

Anchorage, Alaska Appointed 1998

John's career includes both public and private sector recreation management in Anchorage and Eagle River. From 1974 to 1997, he was involved in the development, construction and management of four indoor ice arenas, and served on numerous youth and adult sports advisory commissions. A lifelong Alaskan, John has been an active participant, coach, and volunteer in the sports community since the early 60's. He has extended his volunteer and leadership commitments with various organizations including AWG Team Alaska, the Chugiak-Eagle River chamber of Commerce, Ice Skating Institute of America, and Rotary International. John has been involved with Arctic Winter Games since 1974, and was the Host Society President for the Eagle River Games in 1996. John's business experience and strong commitment to healthy youth and adult activities will be beneficial to the future successes of the Arctic Winter Games.

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Secretary

Doris Landry

St. Albert, Alberta Appointed 2012

Doris was raised in Falher, Alberta, attended College both in Fairview, Alberta and Grande Prairie, Alberta. She makes her home in Grande Prairie, Alberta with her husband, Marc and is the proud mother of two grown children. She has a keen interest in education and youth oriented activities and has been involved as a volunteer in a variety of community organizations since her teen years. Doris worked as a legal secretary in the City of Grande Prairie for 18 years. She is presently employed at École St. Gerard in Grande Prairie where she has the opportunity to use her organizational skills and interact with youth in an educational setting. She is a past recipient of the Swan City Rotary Club Excellence in Education – Service above Self Award Doris served as volunteer, as well as Assistant to the General Manager and President for the 2010 Arctic Winter Games Host Society. She believes strongly in the philosophy and values of the Arctic Winter Games, specifically that it provides opportunities for Northern Youth to travel and interact with their peers culturally and athletically in a safe fair arena. She brings to the Committee her knowledge and hands on experience with the 2010 Host Organization and the host of volunteers required to Host an Arctic Winter Games.

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Treasurer

Meika McDonald

Fort Smith, Northwest Territories Appointed 2007

Meika has been blessed over the years to be influenced and motivated by past and present coaches as well as competitors in the various sports she competes in. As a mother of 6 children, Meika is not only an accomplished athlete in Arctic Sports, but a successful business person. Over the years, she has been a mentor in Arctic Sports by providing leadership in training and development of Traditional Inuit Games. Through demonstrations and workshops in Western Canada, the McKenzie region, Northern Alberta and the circumpolar regions she has shared her skills as well as contributed to people’s knowledge and exposure to the sport. Her career in Arctic Sports and the local sports she actively participates in inspires others to remain committed to the essence of sport. A significant contribution that Meika has made to Arctic Sports is her assistance in creating a technical training and coaching package which she hopes truly represents the spirit of Traditional Inuit Games –cooperation and friendship, as well as the historical significance of the games. This manual and training video opens the eyes of the global community in the long standing importance of sport in every day life of Northerners. Meika celebrates her strong connection to her family as being the key ingredient to successes and challenges faced in all facets of life. She attributes her success to the experiences and opportunities given through sport, the foundation and values from her family and community support.

Technical Director

Ian Legaree

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Appointed 1990

Ian's involvement with the Arctic Winter Games began with NWT team selection trials in the Eastern Arctic in 1986. He served on mission staff in 1986 and 1988 and was on the 1990 Host Society Board of Directors in Yellowknife. He was first appointed to the International Committee in 1990 and has served as Technical Director since 1992. Ian is the Director of Sport, Recreation and Youth for the Government of the Northwest Territories. He has worked in the NWT and Nunavut for nearly 30 years in recreation, sport, community and leadership development and municipal affairs. During his tenure he has also played important roles in a wide range of other projects including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games – Northwest Territories Program, the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council and the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and Confederation College and is a certified Level 3 coach in swimming. His volunteer experience includes over twenty years of coaching and officiating in swimming including assignments at the Canada and North American Indigenous Games, Défi sportif, World Cup (Edmonton) and various national championships. He also works with the Yellowknife Community Foundation to assist with their charitable works in the north and in 2010 was the Chair of the Board of Inquiry for the NWT/Nunavut Registered Nurses Association. Ian and his wife Shawna Lampi-Legaree, artist and business owner, have three adult sons.

Director

Lloyd Bentz

Edmonton, Alberta Appointed 2000

Lloyd has been involved in sports all is life as either an athlete, coach, volunteer or administrator. He completed both a bachelor degree in physical education and a masters degree in sport management at the University of Alberta. He held the position as Executive Director with the Recreation and Sport Division of the provincial government and General Manager of the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Sport Connection, the successor of the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation. Lloyd has been involved with many multi-sport games at the provincial, national and international levels including the Alberta Games, Western Canada Summer Games, Canada Summer and Winter Games, Universiade Games and many Arctic Winter Games. He has also led a number of internationals sport delegations in Hockey, Curling and Fencing to Gangwon, Korea and Hokkaido Japan. His work over the years includes the coordination of the development of the Alberta Sport Plan, which resulted in the redevelopment of Winter Olympic facilities in Alberta to International standards, the introduction of new programs to support athletes, coaches and administrators. He has been honoured for his involvement in recreation and sport with a Premiers Award of Excellence, an Alberta Centennial Medal for achievement and appreciation awards from the sports of Athletics, Baseball and Curling. Lloyd is currently a Director with Win Sport Canada and a member of the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council.

Director

Karen Thomson

Whitehorse, Yukon Appointed 2001.

Karen arrived in Yukon in 1980 and has called it home ever since. Her involvement with the Arctic Winter Games began in 1984 as the Chef-de-Mission for Team Yukon. She has been involved with every set of Games since then except for three. She has served on the Board of Directors of the 2000 and 2012 Host Societies, on Mission Staff several times and as a staff member as the Sport Manager for the 1992 Games in Whitehorse. Her Games experience also includes serving as Mission staff and on the Board of Directors for Canada Games. In 2007 and for 5 years leading up to the 2007 CWG, Karen served as the VP of Sport and as a member of the Executive Committee. She was appointed to the AWGIC in 2001 which coincided with her position with Yukon Government as the Director of Sport & Recreation. Karen has a degree in Recreation Administration from the University of Alberta, is married and has four children. Her husband, Bruce, is a Vice Principal at F.H.Collins High School in Whitehorse. When she is not at work she finds time to cycle, cross country ski, walk, cook, practice her Cello and enjoy family! Karen's experience with Games, knowledge and dedication to sport, recreation and active living brings a unique perspective to the International Committee. Karen believes in the power of sport and the unique opportunities that the Arctic Winter Games offers youth throughout the circumpolar North

Director

Peter Frederik Lyberth

Nuuk Greenland Appointed 2009

Mr. Lyberth is a Key Account Manager with Air Greenland Incorporated. He has worked for the company for over 25 years. He was also the employee representative to the Board of Directors for the company from 1997 to 2000. His sport career includes among others, participation in Football and Table Tennis. He was the Volunteer Committee Chair for the 2002 Arctic Winter Games Host Society in Nuuk and a Team Greenland Mission Staff member for the 2008 Games in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Corporately, he was a sponsor representative for the 2005 Island Games in the Shetland Islands, the 2006 Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska and the 2007 Island Games in Rhodes, Greece. Mr. Lyberth has also been an active member of the volunteer community in Greenland. He was a Lions Club Ilulissat member from 1989 to 1996. He has been a member of the Lions Club Nuuk since 2002, serving as that organization’s President in 2007 and 2008. As Chair of the volunteer committee for the 2002 Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk and a member of the Greenland 2008 Games Mission Staff he is very familiar with the Arctic Winter Games family. His support for Greenland youth to have the opportunity to participate in Arctic Winter Games with other circumpolar young people aids him in his duties on the International Committee.