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President
John Rodda
John Rodda’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; he has 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 volunteer and leadership experience 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 continues to benefit the Arctic Winter Games.
President
John Rodda
John Rodda’s career includes both public and priva...
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Vice President
Leigh Goldie
Leigh has been involved in sports all his life. He has played, coached, officiated and organized several sports from the local to the national level. Recently retired after a forty-year teaching career at Grande Prairie Regional College in the Physical Education, Athletics and Kinesiology department, he is still active in many sport organizations. He currently serves as President of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association as well as President of Volleyball Alberta. Leigh is also a Master Coach Developer with the National Coaching Certification Program multi-sport modules. He began his association with the Arctic Winter Games as a mission staff member for Northern Alberta in the 1988 Games in Fairbanks and in subsequent Games served as a volleyball coach and again as a mission staff member. For the 2010 Arctic Winter Games, he served on the Host Committee as co-director of the Care and Comfort committee. In addition to the Arctic Winter Games, he has been involved in various capacities with the Alberta Summer and Winter Games and the Canada Winter Games.
Vice President
Leigh Goldie
Leigh has been involved in sports all his life. He...
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Past President
John Flynn
John Flynn was born and raised in Dawson City, Yukon. He has participated in seven Arctic Winter Games as an athlete and coach beginning with the 1974 Games held in Anchorage, Alaska. John is a great resource to the Committee because of his experience as a participant and the volunteer roles he has played in rural Yukon. Mr. Flynn has been active in Dawson City and the Yukon as a sport volunteer for over thirty years. He manages a successful mining business and is a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. He resides in Dawson City with his wife, Jennifer.
Past President
John Flynn
John Flynn was born and raised in Dawson City, Yuk...
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Director-Nunavut
Kyle Seeley
Kyle is the Director of Sport and Recreation for the Government of Nunavut, in this role his responsibilities include management of the territory’s sport, physical activity and recreation program and services. Kyle resides in Baker Lake, Nunavut. Prior to taking on the role of Director of Sport and Recreation, Kyle was Sport Nunavut’s- Manager of Sport Development. As Manager he was responsible for the coordination of Team Nunavut’s participation in all major games including the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Games, North American Indigenous Games, and Western Canada Summer Games. Kyle’s involvement with the Arctic Winter Games began with planning Team Nunavut’s team selection events in 2001. He has been involved in every set of Games since, performing either the role of Chef de Mission or Assistant Chef de Mission for Team Nunavut.
Director-Nunavut
Kyle Seeley
Kyle is the Director of Sport and Recreation for t...
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Director - Greenland
Karl Davidsen
Karl is a Head of Department at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and the Church in Greenland. He was born and raised in Ilulissat Greenland and has lived most of his adult life in Nuuk, Greenland. He has had various jobs in the public sector and began his association with the Arctic Winter Games during the preparations for the 2016 games in Nuuk. Karl's passions in sports include snowboarding and mountain biking, he also has some experience in cross-country skiing and alpine skiing.
Director - Greenland
Karl Davidsen
Karl is a Head of Department at the Ministry of Ed...
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Director - Alaska, Joint Interim - Technical Director
John Estle
Contact: technical@arcticwintergames.org John grew up and lived in New England for 30 years before moving to Fairbanks in 1982 to assume the position of Head Coach for Cross Country Skiing and Cross Country Running at UA Fairbanks. He held that position from 1982 through 1990 before taking the position of Head Coach of the US Cross Country Ski Team, which he held from 1990-1993. He served as Program Director for the US Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Michigan in 1993-94. Returning to Fairbanks in 1994, he has built a business providing sport and business services, including organizing events, timing running races, coaching and bookkeeping. He is an International Ski Federation-certified Technical Delegate and Homologation Inspector for cross country skiing. He has attended the 1984, 1992 and 2002 Olympic Games as a coach or official but considers the Arctic Winter Games to be a more meaningful event because of the effect the AWG can have on the people and communities of the north – without all the hype involved in the Olympics. John’s association with the Games extends more than 30 years: he was a sport coordinator for Team Alaska for the 1988 Games, was Team Alaska Chef de Mission in 1996 and from 2000-2010, and served on the Host Society Board of Directors for the 2014 Games in Fairbanks. John and his wife Norma live 500m from the Birch Hill cross country ski trails and spend as much time as possible at their cabin in the Alaska Range
Director - Alaska, Joint Interim - Technical Director
John Estle
Contact: technical@arcticwintergames.org John gr...
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Director – NWT, Joint Interim - Technical Director
Alison Brown
Contact: technical@arcticwintergames.org Alison Brown is a member of Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation and the Director, Sport Recreation and Youth for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Alison grew up south of Calgary and attended the 2002 Alberta Summer Games in Camrose for badminton and was the football trainer in high school. Alison began her career in the north as a commercial bush pilot in Fort Simpson for a small charter airline, and after falling in love with the north, she completed her Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Royal University, majoring in management. Alison has supported community governments working in various positions for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. In 2022, Alison moved to the Sport, Recreation and Youth Division as the Director and has attended the Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls, Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Canada Winter Games in PEI, and North American Indigenous Games in Halifax with Team NT.
Director – NWT, Joint Interim - Technical Director
Alison Brown
Contact: technical@arcticwintergames.org Alison...
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Director - Yukon
Marie Cairns
Marie is currently the Director of Sport and Recreation for the Yukon Government. Marie was born and raised in Whitehorse and grew up playing a variety of sports but found her passion was basketball. Her first experience with the Arctic Winter Games was at the 1988 Games in Fairbanks, AK. She went on to graduate from the University of Alberta with a degree in Physical Education. Marie’s experience with the Arctic Winter Games is extensive. It began as an athlete, but quickly evolved to other roles, including mission staff and key positions on the host societies for the 2000, 2012 and 2020 Arctic Winter Games held in Yukon.
Director - Yukon
Marie Cairns
Marie is currently the Director of Sport and Recre...
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Director - Nunavut
Mariele dePeuter
Mariele dePeuter was raised in Baker Lake, Nunavut, where she developed a passion for sport and using sport for social development. After completing her education, Mariele graduated from the University of Regina with a degree in Health Studies and Kinesiology. In 2011, Mariele started with the Government of Nunavut's Sport and Recreation Division, encouraging participation in physical activity and sports. Mariele has served as Team Nunavut's Chef de Mission since 2014 and is currently the Director of Sport and Recreation. Beyond her professional endeavors, Mariele remains deeply involved by actively volunteering for local sports organizations. Mariele dePeuter continues in the sport and recreation landscape for Nunavut, recognized for her passion, leadership, and commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for all.
Director - Nunavut
Mariele dePeuter
Mariele dePeuter was raised in Baker Lake, Nunavut...
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Director - Nunavik
Guy Yango
Guy Yango is the Executive Advisor to the Chairperson at the Kativik Regional Government and is Nunavik's inaugural Director to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. Guy brings with him decades of experience in capital development, strategic planning, corporate innovation & governance, as well as youth education. In his capacity as Executive Advisor, he oversees the negotiations and implementation of the Chairperson's agenda in the region, and beyond. A former multisport athlete in basketball, track and soccer, he carries the athletic mindset and preparation to the work he does. When not working, you can find him tutoring youth in languages or with his head buried in a book at a local coffee shop.
Director - Nunavik
Guy Yango
Guy Yango is the Executive Advisor to the Chairper...
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Treasurer
Don Wilson
Don is presently the Director, Multisport Games for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation branch within the Ministry of Tourism & Sport. Previous positions included: Chief Executive Officer for Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton. Director of Athletics at the University of Calgary, General Manager of Swim Alberta, Director of Sport, Recreation & Culture for Fort McMurray and a professional swim coach. Over the past 40 years he has been involved in sport at all levels, participating at the provincial level, coaching at the national level and an administrator at 3 Olympics. He has a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Masters of Human Kinetics (Biomechanics). Don is married to Kim and has two adult children, Sarah and Connor.
Treasurer
Don Wilson
Don is presently the Director, Multisport Games fo...
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Secretary
Jane Arychuk
Jane has over 35 years of experience in education and consulting in Yellowknife, Fort Providence, Ndilo, Dettah, Fort Smith, the Tlicho Region, and Deline. She has supported early learning and childcare projects, Aboriginal graduation, healthcare, and individuals experiencing disabilities. Her connection to sport started in school sports, hosting or travelling with students to events across the NWT, including the tenting days at Track and Field in Fort Smith. Mrs. Arychuk is also very active in supporting physical activity for persons with disabilities and is the chairperson for Special Olympics NWT; she travelled as a member of the Special Olympics mission staff in 2010 and is interested in safety in the sports system. Jane is semi-retired and living in Yellowknife, operating ArTech Engrave with her family and continuing consulting and contract work in the field of education.
Secretary
Jane Arychuk
Jane has over 35 years of experience in education ...
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Executive Director (Ex-Officio)
Moira Lassen
Contact: moira.lassen@arcticwintergames.org Moira is an experienced sport event management professional who specializes in national and international multi-sport and single sport events. Moira has worked at numerous multi-sport Games, including Olympic, Youth Olympic, Commonwealth, Commonwealth Youth, Pan American, Canada and Arctic Winter Games in a variety of roles. Moira has completed over fifty international missions as a Technical Official in sport of weightlifting and was the first woman ever elected to the International Weightlifting Federation. Currently, Moira resides on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council in Whitehorse, Yukon and holds the position of Ministerial Advisor in the Government of Yukon Cabinet offices.
Executive Director (Ex-Officio)
Moira Lassen
Contact: moira.lassen@arcticwintergames.org Moira...
PAST PRESIDENTS
- John Flynn 2018 - present Yukon
- Jens Brinch 2014 - 2018 International Director
- Gerry Thick 1984 - 2014 Yukon
- Don Cooper 1986 - 1994 Northwest Territories
- Jim Whisenhant 1985 - 1986 Alaska
- Barrie Robb 1982 - 1985 Yukon
- Ted Richard 1980 - 1982 Northwest Territories
- Don Dennis 1978 - 1980 Alaska
- Jim Pollock 1976 - 1978 Yukon
- Brian Purdy 1970 - 1976 Northwest Territories
- Ken McKinnon 1969 - 1970 Yukon
Click here to view more past AWGIC Directors.