Host Society > Board of Directors
Executives
Cathie A. Bolstad
President
Cathie works as Manager of Public and Corporate Affairs for NWT Projects at De Beers Canada Inc. Her responsibilities include government, public and community relations as well as external affairs for De Beers’ mining projects in the Northwest Territories. Cathie is a lifetime northern resident who has worked in the communications industry for over twenty years. Prior to joining De Beers, she was the Regional Director of Television for CBC Television where she was responsible for television programming and operations in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and northern Quebec.
Cathie completed her post-secondary education at the University of Alberta and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing and Industrial Relations. Both degrees were completed with distinction.
In 2005, Cathie presented the City of Yellowknife’s winning bid to host the 2008 Games to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee and was a key contributor in the bid presentation. Cathie is an active fundraiser for the Arctic Winter Games and has also been a parent cheering on the sidelines.
Wendy Bisaro
Vice President
Wendy Bisaro was born and raised in Montreal, Québec. She attended McGill University and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1968, specializing in physical education. She taught high school in Montreal for several years before venturing north to Yellowknife in 1971 to teach at Sir John Franklin High School. Teaching and mothering occupied the next 15 years of her life. In 1985, Wendy entered the travel industry and worked in Yellowknife at Mack Travel and Canadian North.
Wendy has always been an active member of the Yellowknife community. She was involved as a player, coach, and organizer for the Yellowknife Basketball Association and the Yellowknife Ladies Softball Association for many years and was a member of the group that founded Sport North.
Wendy participated in several Arctic Winter Games as an athlete, as the NWT Chef de Mission for the 1984 Games, as a director on the board of the 1998 Arctic Winter Games Host Society, and as a supportive parent. That love of the Arctic Winter Games continues to this day and is evident by Wendy’s current position with the 2008 Arctic Winter Games Host Society.
Wendy has been involved in Yellowknife politics since 1988 when she was elected to the Board of Trustees for Yellowknife Education District #1. In 2000 she was elected to Yellowknife City Council. Currently, Wendy Bisaro is a member of the 16th Legislative Assembly of the NWT – MLA for the riding of Frame Lake in Yellowknife.
Dave Grundy
Second Vice President
Originally from Ontario, Dave first arrived in Yellowknife in 1978 as a young member of the RCMP on a three-year assignment. Twenty-eight years later, Dave is still living in and loving Yellowknife. Following his retirement from the force in 2004, Dave accepted the position of Manager, Communications and Information for the Worker’s Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Reporting directly to the president, Dave oversees the communications and marketing needs of the WCB, liaising with stakeholders in various languages. This year marks Dave’s 36th year of coaching and he has participated in five Arctic Winter Games. In his current role as Second Vice President (Sport Technical Director), Dave is looking forward to the challenge of bringing northern youth together for fellowship and sportsmanship.
Max Hall
Treasurer
Max was appointed as City Administrator in May of 1998. Prior to that he was the Director of Community Services for approximately 10 years. As the City Administrator his prime responsibilities are to provide administrative leadership, coordinate interdepartmental activities, direct the implementation of Council’s approved policies, recommend a capital and current budget to Council on an annual basis and administer the appropriate policy controls to ensure that all City programs are delivered within Corporate budget. As City Administrator he also explores and develops new, more effective ways of administering City programs and is ultimately responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of the Municipal Corporation.
Max has an appreciation for the pioneering spirit of northerners and a love of the northern life style. He’s lived in Yellowknife for the past 20 years and worked in the municipal sector for just under 30 years. He’s attended the Arctic Winter Games in 1988, 1996 and 2004. For the 1990 AWG, he served on the Host Committee as Facilities Chairman and for the 1998 AWG, served as Chairman of the Sports and Facilities Committee.
In addition to annual professional development courses, Max holds a Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario and a B.A. in Recreation Administration from the University of Alberta.
Chuck Parker
Secretary
Chuck is the Deputy Minister, Health and Social Services for the Government of the Northwest Territories. The department is responsible for all aspects of primary and acute care health services, which includes 33 health centres in communities across the NWT and four hospitals in regional centres. Chuck is also responsible for social service programs including family counselling, child protection, mental health programs and addiction services. Chuck has lived in Yellowknife since 1981, working for the Territorial government since 1984. He has been involved in four Arctic Winter Games as both a coach and team manager for male and female hockey.
Directors
Kathy Brown
A Micro-Computer Support Specialist for Service Canada, Kathy provides desktop support for Yellowknife and seven satellite offices across NWT and Nunavut. Her work for various departments in the Federal government spans more than 20 years. A Yellowknife resident since 1973, Kathy considers herself “a lifetime northerner.”
Kathy brings to the Arctic Winter Games a history of participation in area sport, both as an athlete (playing on local teams) and as a volunteer, previously with the territorial Volleyball Association and Sport North Federation, and now as Volunteer and Protocol Director.
John-Eric Petersson
As Director of Operations Support Centre with NorthwesTel, responsible for the centralized operations support functions, John-Eric bring his vast telecommunications experience to the 2008 Arctic Winter Games in his capacity of Director, Communications/IT.
John-Eric and his family have enjoyed living in Yellowknife since 1988, and actively participate in and support a number of sporting clubs and community groups. For the past 17 years, John-Eric has been a member of the Yellowknife Volleyball Association, as a player, team captain and most recently, as a statistician. He was also a member of the Yellowknife Curling Club for several years and now enjoys the opportunity to have his sons involved in the Yellowknife Speed Skating Club program.
Reanna Erasmus
Employed as Program Manager for the Aboriginal Head Start Program by the Yellowknives Dene First Nations, Reanna is responsible for four staff members and 32 pre-school children. She oversees the day-to-day and long-range planning activities of the program, designed to provide NWT Aboriginal children with a learning environment based on caring, creativity and pride stemming from the knowledge of traditional community beliefs.
Reanna also serves as the Chairperson of Yellowknife Public School District #1 and has been involved with the Ndilo Education Committee, National AHS Council, NWT Status of Women’s Council and the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, to name but a few. Reanna recalls the positive and memorable experiences her own two children had during their involvement in the Arctic Winter Games and is keen to “give back.” Reanna serves on the Board as the Culture and Ceremonies Director.
David Gilday
Following a 32 year career with the Government of the Northwest Territories, the past 12 as Director of College and Career Development and Apprenticeship, David has a long history of involvement with the Arctic Winter Games, as a dedicated speed skating coach, enthusiastic parent and now as Fundraising Director.
Darlene Mandeville
Darlene is the Owner and Manager of Prestige Planning, a successful special event management firm in Yellowknife operating since 1987. A lifetime Northerner, Darlene also provides administrative assistance to several boards and agencies in the NWT and acts as constituency assistant for Premier Handley, MLA, Weledeh. Darlene brings her marketing and event planning expertise to our board as Director, Marketing and Public Relations.
Grant White
A graduate of the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Recreation Administration, Grant moved to Yellowknife in 1995. Currently employed with the City of Yellowknife, Grant is the Director of Community Service, where he oversees the operations of parks, recreation programs, facilities and the library. Now Sport Facilities Director, Grant previously served on the Sport Facilities Committee in 1998 and he has participated in three Arctic Winter Games as a referee.
Ex-Officio Members
Gordon Van Tighem, Mayor-City of Yellowknife
Ian Legaree, AWG International Committee
Robert Hawkins, MLA Yellowknife Centre
Doug Rentmeister, Sport North
Lydia Bardak, City Councilor
