June 27, 2011 (Canmore, Alta.) – A quartet of passionate and dedicated individuals from across the country has joined the Board of Directors of Cross Country Canada, the governing body for cross-country skiing. With a goal of contributing to the strategy of putting more Canadian athletes on the international podium, while introducing more Canadians to cross-country skiing in all corners of the country, Cross Country Canada welcomed Al Pilcher (Ottawa); Peter Lloyd (Joliette, Que.); Dan Brisbin (Saskatoon); and Greg Kilroy (Thunder Bay, Ont.) to its Board of Directors.

“We hope that these new members will add depth and diversity to Cross Country Canada’s Board as the organization strives to achieve excellence both in the boardroom and on the snow,” said Davin MacIntosh, Executive Director, Cross Country Canada. “These are passionate individuals who have experience in different facets of the sport as athletes, coaches, club members and volunteers. Most importantly, we hope that their experience and acumen willhelp the Board with its role in planning and oversight of the organization that will ensure success and stability well into the future.”

Olympian Al Pilcher brings nearly three decades of experience in nordic sport and the business world to the Board. A two-time Olympian who also competed on threeWorld Championship Teams for Canada, Pilcher has committed significant timevolunteering with Canada’s future Olympians getting intorduced to the sport in Jackrabbit programs at Chelsea Nordiq and Nakkertok Nordic over the last six years. Currently a professor in business at Algonquin College, Pilcher has also developed strategic business plans for multiple organizations and has a proven track record for fundraising.

Pilcher will be joined by another first-time member of the Board in Peter Lloyd. A proven business leader who has been involved with business planning for more than 20 years, Lloyd also brings experience having served on various Boards, Committees and Associations in addition to investing countless hours in coaching young Canadians to ski at Nakkertok Ski Club. Lloyd has been involved in cross-country skiing for 35 years, having raced at the local level, coached for more than 10 years, and has helped lead Jackrabbit programs.

Having already served two years on Cross Country Canada’s Board of Directors, Dan Brisbin was re-elected for another term. Brisbin has been influential in leading cross-country skiing in Saskatchewan as Director of Competition andHigh-Performance for Cross Country Saskatchewan. In addition to having a passion for advancing cross-country skiing in Canada, Brisbin has been exposed to a broad range of experiences in the sport: recreational skiing, youth programs and instruction, competition and officiating.

Greg Kilroy was confirmed as athlete director, having been selected by the CCC athlete community at CCC’s National Championshiops in March 2011. Kilroy, who has worked his way through Cross Country Canada’s long term athlete development system in Ontario, will bring the athlete voice to the Board of Directors and the High Performance Committee. Each of these four were officially elected to the Board of Directors during Cross Country Canada’s Annual General Meeting on June 11, 2011. Four positions on the nine-member Board are elected in alternate years.