Lolly Gillen Elected New President of Squash Canada
by Danny Da Costa

June 21, 2013 OTTAWA (ON) – Lolly Gillen was elected as the new president of Squash Canada at the annual general meeting in Ottawa this past weekend. Ms. Gillen takes over from current president Bob Wyma and begins her two year term as the head of Squash Canada’s board of directors.

Ms. Gillen, who served in the role of Vice President Operations during the previous board of director’s cycle, will be joined by the newly elected John Roche (VP Operations) and Gene Turk (VP High Performance) and incumbent members Ann-Marie Reinson (VP Finance), Gerry Poulton (VP Player Development), and Graham Waters (VP Techincal).

Ms. Gillen has been a highly involved member of the squash community for over 30 years, in both a playing and an administrative capacity. A highly accomplished doubles player, Ms. Gillen has won over 40 doubles titles in her career, including 21 Canadian Championships, 15 Ontario Titles, and 6 International Titles.  Ms. Gillen was a member of the Squash Ontario board of directors for 7 years, first as VP marketing, and then as President, and in that time built strong partnerships, streamlined the governance plan, and helped create the National Junior Advisory Council. In 2009, Ms. Gillen moved on to the Squash Canada Board of Directors, serving as VP Operations; here she created the Recognition Awards Program, a system through which the provinces and territories can distinguish those people and organizations that have made a truly meaningful difference in squash. Ms. Gillen has also strived to grow strong partnerships with different levels of government and corporate organizations, creating a foundation of support for Squash Canada to build from.

John Roche is returning to Squash Canada’s Board of Directors, having previously served as VP Finance in 2010/2011. Mr. Roche is taking over for Ms. Gillen as VP Operations. Like Ms. Gillen, Mr. Roche also served as a provincial squash association president, heading Squash BC for 4 years, and in that time, worked with Ms. Gillen in creating the National Junior Advisory Council. Mr. Roche is a certified National Squash Referee and has officiated at many of Canada’s most prestigious squash events.

As incoming VP High Performance, Gene Turk will be holding a Squash Canada board position for the first time.  A prolific squash player and coach, Mr. Turk has been a member of the squash community for nearly 40 years. Mr. Turk represented Canada both on the Junior National Team (1979), and the Senior National Team (1987 – 1992). Mr. Turk’s coaching achievements may be even more impressive than his playing accomplishments. The Senior National Team Coach from 1991 through 2007, Mr. Turk was at the helm for the Golden Era of Canadian Men’s Squash, including Canada’s best ever performance at the Men’s World Team Championships, 2nd place in 1997. Mr. Turk has the distinction of being both a player and the coach on Canada’s 1991 senior team.  Mr. Turk also served as Canada’s Pan-Am Games and Commonwealth Games coach and organized the first ever Pan American National Coaching Conference. Mr. Turk will be charged with helping build the selection policies that allow Canada to put the best team forward for competition on the international stage. 





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