The Club is governed by a Board of Directors. KWSSSC Board of Directors respect and follow the Club Bylaws. Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, with an Annual General Meeting at the end of each skating season (date to be emailed to all members).

2022-2023 Board Members

 

 Thank you Tom Read for an outstanding 40 years of service on the Board of Directors.

Matt Kerwin

Matt Kerwin

President 

prez@kwspeedskating.com 

Matt started skating in Calgary with the long track speed skating club there, and connected with KWSSSC upon moving to Waterloo Region. He joined the Board in 2018 and has been president since 2020. He joined the Board to help give back to the club, as well as learn more about different aspects of speed skating such as equpiment management, meet planning, and more. He enjoys being a part of the team that continues on our club’s long history of activity in the KW area. When he isn’t at the rink or a board meeting, Matt enjoys spending time outdoors camping and hiking, as well as slowly renovating his 100 year old home!

My favourite thing about KWSSSC is how friendly and supportive the members are. Although speed skating is often seen as an individual sport, I find that our members work to encourage and assist each other. It’s a friendly environment to learn and develop your skating skills, whether you have competitive or recreational goals. “

  

Christine Morton

Christine Morton

Vice President, Social Media Manager, Volunteer Coordinator

viceprez@kwspeedskating.com

Christine became involved with KWSSSC when her two kids wanted to learn to skate, but neither herself or her husband knew how to teach them! Upon recommendation from another parent on her son’s baseball team, they joined KWSSSC and 6 years later (at time of writing) both boys are attending the Ontario Winter Games 2022. She joined the Board right when the COVID pandemic started, as a way to feel like she was doing something positive to help her kids and other skaters when everything felt like it was out of control. Christine’s favourite part of KWSSSSC is going to speed skating meets – though when not at the rink she dabbles in the arts, especially photograhy and sewing, but has yet to meet a medium that she doesn’t want to try and play with!

 

“Whether volunteering at the meets or sitting with the other parents in the stands, I really like the energy and excitement of getting to watch kids I know compete.”

Sydney Cook

Sydney Cook

Secretary, Coaching Representative, Member Communications, Website

coachrep@kwspeedskating.com

members@kwspeedskating.com

Sydney joined KWSSSC with her mom as a young teenager looking for a sport that spoke to her. Now, many years later, she tries her best to pass on her enthusiasm for the sport in her coaching. Sydney joined the Board to further support the club as a strong and healthy community organization. She loves how speed skating brings people together, and offers opportunity for sport and community to all ages, interests and abilities. When she isn’t skating, Sydney is caring for her many (many) pets.

 “I can’t imagine ever not being a part of the Speed Skating community. I can coach at a competition anywhere in Ontario and I will find friends.”

 

Doug Cook

Doug Cook

Treasurer

treasurer@kwspeedskating.com

Doug joined the Board (and KWSSSC!) to act as treasurer because his daughter, Sydney, asked him very nicely. Thank you Doug for bringing your expertise! 

 

Ryan Martin

Ryan Martin

Parent Representative

Ryan got involved in the club through his son Isaac, who saw speed skating once and insisted on trying it, and has loved every second of it since he started in October 2021. Ryan joined the board to help support the organization – he knows what it takes to organize and direct an association, and that “this kind of thing doesn’t run itself!”  Ryan and wife Lori spend much of their time running the dairy farm they own with his brother and parents. On the side Ryan likes to road bike, downhill ski, travel, back country canoe, and keep up with Isaac’s interests.

“What I really enjoy about the club is that it combines boys and girls working out and skating together, and matches kids based on ability for racing. The atmosphere is great, supportive yet pushes the kids to try hard and excel. The improvement we saw in our son and other kids is a testimony to the great coaching they have.”

 

Rosie Chong

Rosie Chong

Registrar, Equipment Team

register@kwspeedskating.com

Rosie joined the club in 2005 with an exchange student who was living with her – the student went back to Australia and Rosie has been skating ever since! Rosie joined the board because she felt she could contribute in a meaningful way, as she feels different viewpoints on the Board make for a strong, healthy dynamic. In Rosie’s life, winter is for skating and skiing; summer is for cycling and hiking; and all year is the time for travelling to see her grandchildren and children, and sometimes even her siblings, all of whom live in Australia.

 “Like most of us, I came because of the skating – but I stay because of the people. The club is a super friendly place, inclusive, a chance to exercise – in the warmth – with friends. And speed skating is such a technical sport that there is ALWAYS more to learn, so one never gets bored.   Our coaching is truly exceptional.”

 

Brenda Lagassie

Brenda Lagassie

Director at Large

Bio coming soon

 

Jenn Murray

Jenn Murray

Director at Large

Bio coming soon

 

Brittney

Brittney

Equipment Team

Brittney got involved with KWSSSC as an adult in one of the Learn to Speed Skate sessions. It was a sport she had always been interested in but never had the opportunity to try until finding KWSSSC. Brittney joined the Board because, despite the unprecedented times we have faced in the past two years, Speed Skating remained a  way for her to find some normalcy and balance. This is a direct result of the hard work and dedication the Board has put in so that our seasons were as safe and uninterrupted as possible. Having benefited from this dedication, Brittney wanted to step up and help out in any way needed to support the growth and stability of our club for years to come. When not doing KWSSSC things, Brittney loves to spend her spare time at the horse barn.

“KWSSSC is full of so many welcoming and caring individuals. From the very first LTSS sessions, to my first session in our Masters group KWSSSC has felt like such a wonderful and supportive community.”

Zafar Siddiqi

Zafar Siddiqi

Director at Large

Bio coming soon

Your Name Next!

 If you want to be involved in supporting KWSSSC operations, we have many open volunteer positions on the Board! Email prez@kwspeedskating.com to inquire about joining the Board during our next AGM.