Anastasia Bucsis was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and started speed skating at the age of 4. Within her 24 year speed skating career she represented Canada at 2 Olympic Games, 6 World Championships and 46 World Cup starts. She was the only athlete from North America to come out publicly in opposition to Russia’s anti LGBTQ+ laws before the Sochi 2014 Olympics. She now lives in Toronto and works for CBC Sports where she co-hosts CBC Sports Presents (CBC’s main sport property with Scott Russell and Andi Petrillo). She just came back from Paris 2024, where she hosted the morning show for CBC.

This highly participative session focuses on understanding and adjusting the connection between how you think and an assortment of effective and ineffective leader behaviors for today’s leaders. You will learn how your thinking styles affect your ability to develop emotional intelligence, build and manage relationships, communicate up, across and down, deal with stress and time management, resolve conflict, embrace rather than resist change, lead change, and function in groups with varying dynamics. You will have an opportunity to identify areas requiring improvement and begin thinking about practical implementation steps to achieve positive change in these areas, all with the aim of learning to lead more effectively and with greater authenticity.

Dr. McAteer comes to you as a true practicing professional. Her experience and approach to simplifying training concepts generates a productive learning environment.

Board members, club executives, and volunteer coordinators, this session is designed for you!

Great curling clubs don’t happen by accident. They happen when everyone knows their role and feels supported in doing it well.

We’ve seen this pattern across dozens of sports clubs and nonprofits: the longtime leader who carries everything in their head finally steps down, and suddenly nobody knows how anything works. Ice contracts, league coordination, vendor relationships—all that institutional knowledge walks out the door. The clubs that survive and thrive are the ones that use these transitions as opportunities to build the systems they should have had all along. They emerge stronger, more sustainable, and less dependent on any single person.

This session combines governance fundamentals with practical tools that actually work. You’ll learn essential board responsibilities and the crucial difference between governance oversight and day-to-day operations. More importantly, you’ll discover how to create role clarity that empowers people instead of overwhelming them.

We’ll cover board basics like fiduciary duties and policy development, then dive into the practical stuff: writing role descriptions that attract volunteers, setting realistic expectations, and having supportive conversations when things go off track.

Through hands-on exercises, you’ll draft role descriptions for common club positions and work through scenarios with other club leaders. You’ll learn simple systems for accountability that feel like support, not surveillance.

The tools you’ll take home have been tested in real clubs facing real challenges. They work because they’re designed for volunteers who have day jobs and busy lives.

What You’ll Take Home:

• Board governance essentials that make sense
• Role templates for 8 common club positions
• Conversation guides for accountability check-ins
• Planning tools that prevent last-minute scrambles
• Recognition strategies that keep volunteers engaged

Perfect for clubs ready to build the clarity and structure that turns good intentions into great operations.

Mark R. Thompson is the President and Chief Engagement Officer of McKinley Solutions Exchange based in the Toronto office.

Mark is a nationally recognized speaker in leadership, teambuilding, motivation and human capital. Mark is also a sought-after lead trainer for groups of all sizes from small leadership retreats to large groups of 500 plus, known for his high energy, engaging passion style. 

Mark leads active hands-on teams in training and development, project management and business development. His expertise is in team and leadership development, program facilitation, and innovative instructional design.

Mark holds a business degree with a specialization in human resources and management from Bishop’s University. He is a successful Ironman triathlete, youth mental health advocate, cancer fundraiser, road cyclist, foodie, international mountaineer and, most importantly, a proud father of two active boys. 

Mark is also a board member of the Culinary Federation of Canada, Georgian College Golf Program (Chair), Oakville Aquatic Club (Chair) and is currently on committees for Ontario Cycling and Wheelchair Rugby Canada.

Curling has the power to inspire, connect, and build confidence in young people. This workshop is all about using fun, flexible, and meaningful ways to engage and retain youth in the sport. Through interactive activities and open discussion, we’ll discuss strategies to ensure sessions are fun, inclusive, age/stage appropriate, and welcoming, as well as to boost confidence, teach important life skills, and keep young people coming back each year.

Participants will also learn about the wide range of youth programs available—such as Hit Draw Tap (U12), RockFest (U15)—and the resources that ensure youth coordinators and volunteers are well supported in delivering them. You’ll leave this workshop with fresh ideas, practical tools, and connections to programs and supports that can help engage and inspire the next generation through curling.

Dr. Corliss Bean is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University. Corliss is the director of the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport where her research focuses on using sport and physical activity as vehicles to foster physical and psychosocial development in youth. She works with community organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate relevant programming and initiatives.

Laura Forget is the Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Curling Association. In her role, she manages championships, supports member clubs, and leads programs that grow curling across the province. A lifelong curler herself, Laura is dedicated to creating positive experiences for youth in the sport and believes curling is a powerful way to build friendships, resilience, and leadership skills.

Curling Clubs are experiencing challenges in bringing their membership numbers back up to what they were pre-Covid. With some out of the box ideas, inventive program development, and an honest assessment of what is or isn’t working, a curling club can reach their membership goals and create a thriving curling club.

• the value of running Try Curling Events & Learn to Curl Programs and how to transition the participants into members.
• how to help would be members and members find information and programs easily on a Club’s website.
• the benefits of having an in-house Instructor Team and how to set one up.
• why continuing education & skill development of members aids in member retention.
• how to increase member satisfaction.
• the creation of other forms of revenue streams for a club.

By the end of this session you will be able identify the key building blocks that will allow your club to attract & increase new members, enhance member experiences, increase revenue as well as understanding the advantages of a well constructed website and Instructor Team. 

Service Benchmarking: Seeing Your Club Through a New Member’s Eyes

How easy is it to join your club — and how does it feel? We’ll introduce tools and frameworks to evaluate all aspects of your club’s presence.

• Website and digital presence
• Email and phone responsiveness
• Walk-in and front-desk experiences
• Facility presentation and signage
• Club volunteers and staff engagement and professionalism

Engagement as Growth Strategy: Building Experiences That Retain and Attract
Learn how intentional touchpoints throughout the member journey (especially for new members) can build trust, increase satisfaction, and lead to more organic growth. We’ll explore how responsiveness, tone, and consistency across communication channels shape both first impressions and long-term retention.We’ll also provide examples of how clubs can “map” their current member journey to uncover overlooked opportunities — from onboarding emails to first-game welcomes to how a club handles casual inquiries from prospective curlers.

59club is a global leader in customer experience benchmarking and training across sport, leisure, and hospitality industries. We help clubs and organizations improve the consistency and quality of their service delivery through data, insight, and coaching. Our work leads directly to stronger member engagement, increased satisfaction, and long-term success.

Padraig “Paddy” Kelly is the Director of Operations at 59club Canada, where he leads initiatives that elevate service standards and create memorable experiences across the golf and hospitality industries. A PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional and past recipient of the Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year Award, Paddy is known for combining strategic insight with a people-first approach. He specializes in helping clubs deliver consistent, personalized service by turning data into action and empowering teams to exceed guest expectations. Through his leadership, 59club clients build cultures of hospitality that leave lasting impressions on members and guests alike.

Ryan Tracy is a seasoned golf and hospitality industry leader, currently serving as the Managing Partner for 59club Canada. A Class “A” PGA of Canada Professional, Ryan brings over two decades of experience spanning entrepreneurship, club leadership, education, and operational innovation. 

In June 2020, amid the challenges of the global pandemic, he founded Club Study, a pioneering social forum that connects private club and golf managers across North America. Through collaborative data-sharing and peer-driven insight, Club Study equips industry leaders with a richer information base to enhance operational decision-making. 

Ryan’s career includes leading roles in multiple Canadian provinces. Notably, he guided Miramichi Golf & Country Club to win the Club of the Year (Small Club Category) award from the Club Managers Association of Canada in 2015. He was also recognized as Professional of the Year in 2017 by MYPIE and earned the title of Atlantic PGA Professional of the Year the same year. 

His diversified experience extends beyond management. Ryan has operated an executive golf venture that took corporate clients to marquee events like the President’s Cup, US Open, and PGA Championship. He has also shared his expertise by teaching in the Professional Golf Management (PGM) and Business Programs at Durham College. His commitment to the industry includes volunteer service with the PGA of Canada Zone committees, CMAC Branch, Rotary, and other community groups. 

Ryan holds a Diploma in Professional Golf Management, a Certificate in Adult Education, and has undertaken business studies through Athabasca University. 

As the driving force behind 59club’s expansion into Canada, Ryan continues to champion service excellence, benchmarking, and data-driven performance improvements within golf, hospitality, and leisure. His leadership harmonizes continuous improvement, community-building, and strategic insight.