September 23, 2003 – Biathlon Canada is pleased to announce that Joanne Thomson of Canmore, Alberta will be joining Biathlon Canada as the new Executive Director, the senior staff position of the organization. Joanne will be returning to a sport about which she already has an abundance of knowledge – which she earned as an elite athlete on the Biathlon National Team for six years and by being a fully certified Level 3 biathlon coach. As well, she served for a period as a member of the Biathlon Canada Executive in the capacity of Athlete Representative.

To her new role as the Executive Director, Joanne brings an impressive set of administrative skills acquired while working as the Director of Administration and Communications with Cross Country Canada from1999 to present. Previously, she gained valuable experience with the Calgary Olympic Development Authority (CODA) as the Sport Services Coordinator for both Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined. In addition to this administrative knowledge, Joanne brings a wealth of technical and other sport specific know-how to the job as a result of her thirteen years in the sport of biathlon. As well, she is a Level 2 cross-country ski coach and a ski jumping/Nordic combined coach. Joanne has received numerous awards for her accomplishments as a coach, including the 2001 National 3M coaching recognition award.

As a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Joanne earned bachelor degrees in Physical and Health Education and Physical Geography. During the 1993-94 academic year at Queen's she was an All-Canadian Student-athlete maintaining an A average while competing and finishing as a top 10 all-star at Ontario University Cross Country Ski Championships. To this day, she remains an avid sports enthusiast and volunteer competing, coaching and officiating in several sports.

Joanne will officially commence her new employment as the Executive Director on 29 September 2003, following a move to her hometown of Ottawa.