Ontario Weightlifting Association
2023 OWA President Candidates
AGM - SATURDAY September 9, 2023, 1:00 PM VIRTUAL and IN PERSON
VOTING - FRIDAY September 8,2023 9:00AM to 9:00PM ONLINE ONLY
Voting will take place online only, verified by an independent third party. Results will be announced at the AGM. AGM ZOOM LINK
Voting Eligibility:
To be eligible to vote in this election, you must have a membership level higher than volunteer. Please ensure that your membership is up to date by this Friday at NOON to participate in the election.
Voting Process:
On Friday at 9:00 AM, eligible members will receive an email containing a link and detailed instructions on how to cast your vote. The voting window will be open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on the same day.
Contact Information:
If you encounter any issues or have questions related to the election process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at OWAVote@onweightlifting.ca. Our dedicated team will be ready to assist you promptly.
Mike Miller (Giant Weightlifting) - Current President
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The Ontario Weightlifting Association plays a crucial role in our community, fostering a love for weightlifting, developing athletes, and promoting the sport's growth across all levels. I’ve served many OWA volunteer roles, varying from coach, technical official, competition organizer, Canada Games Rep, OWA VP operations, and OWA president. I believe in the power of positive change and progress.
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Our association, like weightlifting itself, must evolve with the times. New IWF standards and policies will challenge our current history and values. We need to shed outdated practices and embrace modern approaches while updating our policies to remain relevant in today's sporting landscape.
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Weightlifting should be accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level, age, or background. I’ve been dedicated to ensuring our policies reflect this inclusivity. Whether you're an elite athlete, a recreational lifter, a CrossFit enthusiast, a young aspiring lifter, or a Master weightlifter I believe that our association should be your home.
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We must reduce our financial dependence on provincial funding sources to secure our association's future. I have a strategic vision to increase our membership base while maintaining strict budgetary control. The association has lost a fiscally significant amount rebooting itself post-COVID-19, and large investments have been made to support clubs and teams, however, we must get our association to where it was PRE Covid-19.
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For the last four years, I’ve pledged to assemble a team of board members, administrators, and committee members who bring diverse experiences and perspectives from all corners of Ontario. We've never had a more productive, diverse team in Ontario's recent past.
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Lastly, it's important that we utilize technology to provide the best experience for our members. Whether it’s social media, data analysis, or competition setup software, it’s important that we embrace and understand all emerging technologies and leverage their cost-saving advantages.
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Peter MacDowell (Half Moon Weightlifting Club)
I would like to build on what has been accomplished to date.
What I hope to achieve :
a) Increase junior development
b) Improve and standardize the OWA competition calendar
c) Increase Masters’ participation
d) Increase referee development
Education:
Graduate Studies - Sports Administration
Concordia University – Montreal Quebec
Bachelor of Physical & Health Education
University of Toronto, Toronto Ontario
Experience:
Coach, Canada World University Weightlifting Championships, Fredrick Maryland, 2004
Coach, Canada Senior World Weightlifting Championships, Vancouver, Canada, 2003
Coach, Canada Senior World Weightlifting Championships, Lahti, Finland, 1998
President, British Columbia Weightlifting Association, 1995
Coach, Canada Winter Games- British Columbia, 1995 Canada Winter Games Grande Prairie, Alberta
Coach, Canada Junior World Weightlifting Championships, Warsaw, Poland, 1995
NCCP Certification Level 3- Competition Development Certified
Speaker, 10th Commonwealth & International Scientific Congress, (Access to Active Living) Victoria, BC, 1994 (Commonwealth Games)
Coach, Canada -National Junior Team- International Weightlifting Tournament, Flagstaff, Arizona, 1994
Representative, Canada, IWF International Coaching, Refereeing & Medical Symposium, Olympia, Greece, 1993
Assistant Coach, National Junior Weightlifting Team, 1992 – 1995
Competitor, Canadian Weightlifting Championships (1984)
Personal coach of 1999 Pan American Games Gold Medalist
Personal coach of competitor 2003 Junior World Championships
Personal coach of competitor 2002 Junior World Championships
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