On October 22, 2009 CanoeKayak - Canada's most succesful summer sport in terms of Olympic medals won over at the past three Olympiads- named Lorraine Lafreniere as Director General to replace the outgoing Anne Merklinger. Merklinger is largely credited (and rightfully so) for the success Canoe/Kayak Canada has enjoyed over the past decade leaving this blogger to wonder what Canoe/Kayak Canada is thinking.
Lafreniere was a carreer adminstrator having worked at the Canadian Olympic Committee, Coaching Association of Canada, Canadian Wheelchair Association before landing her first job with a National Sports Organization (Cycling Canada) in 2007. As CEO of Cycling Canada, Lafreniere openly admitted that she knew little of the organization she headed and it showed. Olympic medal winning performances in the sport went from 2 in 2004 to none in 2008. Road Races that were once fixtures of the sporting landscape disapeared. And as a result Cycling Forums had a field day with the woman http://www.cyclingforums.com/canada/379683-tell-us-lorraine.html before she finally resigned in March 2009.
In naming Lafreniere to head the organization Canoe Kayak Canada credited Lafreniere with instilling financial stability and strong high performance programs within Cycling Canada. If only
they researched the matter. During her tenure the sport faced financial difficulty while high performance programs were "restructured" (Dropped - according to this blogger) to deal with the financial woes.
Fortunately for Canoe/Kayak Canada individuals like Graham Barton remain, but with Lafreniere at the helm one has to wonder when even the sports most ardent supporters jump ship.
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