Alpine Canada Alpin Welcomes Joseph Gurgis As Safe Sport Manager

“We are thrilled to welcome Joseph to the organization in this critical role,” said Alpine Canada’s President & CEO Therese Brisson. “Alpine Canada is unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding sport and we have made it a priority. We have taken concrete action over the last few years to ensure a healthy and safe sport environment for all ski racing participants in Canada and we look forward to having Joseph’s leadership to help build on that momentum.”

The Safe Sport Manager will report directly to the President & CEO and will lead the evolution and implementation of Alpine Canada’s Safe Sport Framework, including supporting the Provincial & Territorial Organizations. This includes the research, policies & procedures, education, prevention, response, monitoring, and advocacy related to safeguarding ski racing in Canada.

Joseph is in the final stages of completing his PhD in Exercise Sciences at the University of Toronto where his research was focused on safeguarding sport. Over the course of his career, he has assisted several organizations with safeguarding sport, coach development, and program evaluation including the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE), the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO), and the Jays Care Foundation. Joseph led the content development for the mandatory Safe Sport Training offered by the CAC. He is a coach developer with the Coaches Association of Ontario and has spent time working on issues such as women in coaching, Indigenous sport, and the sport experiences of individuals with intersectional identities which will serve him well in his new role with Alpine Canada.

“I am thrilled to be joining ACA as their Safe Sport Manager. It is essential that every individual in sport is safeguarded from harm and made aware of their fundamental right to participate in safe, inclusive, and accessible sport” Joseph said. “I am grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to continuing to establish a safe sport space for every member of the Canadian ski racing community.”

Joseph will work with all ACA stakeholders, including the Board, staff, Canadian Ski Team coaches and athletes, Provincial and Territorial Sports Organizations (PTSOs), clubs, and registered participants in support of creating an optimal sport experience for all ski racing participants in Canada.  

Joseph began his role on January 4, 2021.