THUNDER BAY — A former Thunder Bay resident has been named to lead Hockey Canada.
Katherine Henderson, the former Curling Canada chief executive officer, was named to the post on Tuesday, the organization’s response to a number of scandals that plagued previous leadership, including sexual assault allegations and undisclosed settlement payouts.
Henderson, who spent seven years at Curling Canada, will be tasked with ensuring hockey is a safe and inclusive sport, while giving Hockey Canada ‘best-in-class governance.’
“The future of hockey is limitless,” said Henderson. “As a winter sport nation, with a long tradition in our ice and snow sports, playing and watching hockey is undeniably a part of who we are as Canadians,” Henderson said in a release.
“I am looking forward to working with our board and staff, our athletes, our members and local associations, our corporate and hockey partners, and our fans and participants to ensure that all Canadians have a personal hockey experience that is right for them.”
Henderson has plenty of background in amateur sports in Canada, including being named senior vice-president of marketing and revenue for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games organizing committee.
She’s also had extensive experience in marketing and branding from her time with Whirlpool Corporation, Colgate Palmolive Canada, Campbell Soup Canada and General Mills Canada.
Hockey Canada can use all the good press it can get, these days. In May 2022 it became public that the organization had paid a settlement to a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by members of the 2018 World Junior men’s team after an event in London, Ont.
It was alleged Hockey Canada didn’t hold its players accountable in the incident. The federal government at the time announced it was freezing funding to Hockey Canada, which it has since reversed, but with caveats in place to prevent incidents like the alleged 2018 assault and the handling of its aftermath don’t take place again.
Henderson checked all the right boxes, said Jonathan Goldbloom, who chaired the search committee. It was not a hire they took lightly, he added.
“Our search committee was comprised of stakeholder representatives including athletes, Members, partners and the Hockey Canada Foundation, and we are appreciative of the time that everyone devoted to the recruitment process,” Goldbloom said.
“We thank them for undertaking such an important task that will shape the future of Hockey Canada and hockey in Canada.”
