Andrea Skinner has been appointed by Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors to serve as interim Chair of the Board until the conclusion of the current Board’s term. The term is set to expire at the annual meeting scheduled for November 2022. The interim appointment comes after the resignation of Michael Brind’Amour.

Ms. Skinner was first elected to the Hockey Canada Board of Directors in November 2020 and has volunteered countless hours in service to the organization. She practices law as a partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, where she also serves as Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and leads the firm’s Mental Health Initiative.

Hockey Canada notes that the current Board of Directors is the first Board elected under updated By-Laws requiring gender diversity. In a news release the Board says it recognizes there is more work to do and “we are committed to continuing to drive change, in the best interests of hockey and in keeping with Canadians’ expectations.” That includes elevating the expectations for everyone involved in hockey and effecting positive behaviour from the grassroots to the national team level.

Andrea Skinner says, “As a Board we are listening to Canadians. We are working to make meaningful positive changes to the culture of the sport of hockey. I am proud of my lifelong commitment to hockey and am honoured to serve Hockey Canada as Chair of the Board; a Board that includes men and women with a diversity of age and life experiences, and one that represents different ethnic and cultural communities, including Indigenous Canadians, and the LGBT2Q+ community.”

Hockey Canada has come under fire after two cases of sexual assault came to light involving the 2003 and 2018 Canadian World Juniors teams.  The organization has also sparked ire over a special fund used to handle sexual assault claims to pay legal settlements that was partly made up of registration fees.