Changes to viaSport BC Board of Directors
Sep 02, 2026
viaSport BC is announcing changes to its Board of Directors. In January 2026, viaSport through its Nomination Committee, invited passionate individuals to apply for Board of Director positions. As a governance and policy-focused board, the Board is committed to ensuring that their collective skill set and representation are diverse and reflective of the communities in British Columbia.
By the end of February, the Nominations Committee received twenty plus submissions from qualified candidates. All applications were reviewed by Committee and recommended candidates were provided to the Board for consideration and approval in April 2026. The revised 11-director board was formalized at viaSport’s July 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Yue-Ching Cheng, Akenke Oliver, and Ty Speer are welcomed as new directors, while Dr. Tsnomot Brad Baker moved off the viaSport Board. Current Board Director Kacey Dalzell who served for the last three years as the Vice Chair take over as the new Board Chair, with longer standing director, Sarah Harper becoming the new Vice Chair. Additionally, the role of Treasurer now sits with Meghan Hansen who is also the Finance and Audit Committee Chair. Erin Embley, Mark Faubert, Erica McGuinness and Elaine Sanders retain their positions as valued Board Directors. Geoffrey Wong, immediate past Chair, remains as a Board Director for one more year when he will reach the maximum term of nine years on the viaSport Board.
“I would like to thank Geoffrey Wong for serving as Board Chair, leading us on many key issues,” said Kacey Dalzell, Board Chair. “I would also like to thank Dr. Tsnomot Brad Baker for his impactful work as he moves on from the board. The contributions of both have led viaSport with sound advice and guidance.”
New Board Directors
New to the Board, Yue-Ching Cheng is Department Chair of Recreation Studies at Langara College, where he prepares future recreation professionals and leads applied research focused on community wellbeing, equitable access to recreation, and evidence-informed decision-making. His career spans higher education, municipal recreation, and research partnerships with local governments and provincial organizations.
Akenke Oliver is a Kamloops-based sport management professional with a passion for building inclusive, community-focused sport systems. Her experience in sport administration, event operations, and community programming has been developed through roles with the Kamloops Sports Council, Pacific Elevation Athletics, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Regina Recreation League. Throughout her career, she has supported the delivery of sporting events, athlete and participant programs, volunteer initiatives, and community engagement activities that strengthen participation and create positive sport experiences.
Ty Speer is a North Vancouver-based executive leader, most recently as the Chief Executive of St. John Ambulance, British Columbia & Yukon. Prior to his role with St. John Ambulance, Ty led Tourism Vancouver as President and CEO. Ty’s experience also includes 25 years in leadership roles in the sport sector. He led the commercial program Commonwealth Games for Melbourne 2006 and Glasgow 2014, as well as served on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee. Currently, he is a non-executive director for the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE).
“The current and new Board Directors bring fresh perspectives and reflect combined experience in sport and recreation, as well as regional representation,” said Andrew Price, CEO, viaSport BC. “As viaSport’s footprint across the province grows, this aligns well with our efforts to strengthen amateur sport in BC.”
viaSport continues to welcome expressions of interest to join its Board of Directors. For more information about the viaSport Board of Directors, visit the Board page or contact the viaSport Board at board@viasport.ca.
