U SPORTS proudly announced Monday that Ben Matchett, Director of Athletics for the University of Calgary Dinos, has been appointed as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission for the Lucerne 2021 FISU Winter Universiade.
Matchett will represent Canada for the fourth time at a FISU World University Games (WUG) having previously served as Communication Manager both at the Naples 2019 FISU Summer Universiade and the Granada 2015 FISU Winter Universiade. He was also a Communications Officer at the Belgrade 2009 FISU Summer Universiade.
“It’s always an honour to represent your country, and I’m grateful to be given this opportunity for Lucerne 2021.” “International opportunities are key to a rich student-athlete experience, and I look forward to working closely with the Mission Staff and the rest of the delegation to provide the best possible experience for our athletes in Switzerland.”
Ben Matchett - Chef de Mission
The announcement comes Monday as U SPORTS, the National University Sport Federation of Canada, celebrates the sixth annual International Day of University Sport as proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and marked every Sept. 20 since 2016.
Matchett’s Mission Staff also includes Mary MacDonald and Lia Taha Cheng, both of whom served as Manager of Sport and International Programs with U SPORTS from 2009-16 and 2016-17, as Assistant Chef de Mission and Operations Manager, respectively. Rounding out the group are Communications Manager Stéphane Jobin of Université Laval, and former Bishop’s Gaiters Digital Coordinator Clare Webb as Communications Coordinator.
“Ben is the perfect choice to lead our Canadian delegation in Switzerland,” said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, Chief Sport Officer at U SPORTS. “After directing Team Canada’s coverage in the Summer of 2019, and gaining impressive operational experience over several years with the Dinos, he has earned the opportunity to take the next step with our International Program. We are excited for him to be able to represent us with pride in a safe environment in December.”
The medical staff is led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Janet McMordie of Lakehead and Chief Therapist Jacques Lavergne, and also includes physician Dr. Erika Persson (Alberta) along with therapists Nadine Smith (Carleton) and Andrea Prieur (York).
TEAM CANADA MISSION STAFF
| Position |
Name |
Affiliation |
| Chef de Mission |
Ben Matchett |
Calgary |
| Assistant Chef de Mission |
Mary MacDonald |
U SPORTS |
| Operations Manager |
Lia Taha Cheng |
Royal Canadian Legion |
| Communications Manager |
Stéphane Jobin |
Laval |
| Communications Coordinator |
Clare Webb |
Bishop's |
| Chief Medical Officer |
Dr. Janet McMordie |
Lakehead |
| Chief Therapist |
Jacques Lavergne |
U SPORTS |
| Physician |
Dr. Erika Persson |
Alberta |
| Therapists |
Nadine Smith |
Carleton |
| Andrea Prieur |
York |
All procedures involving Team Canada's participation in the Games with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic will be determined by the U SPORTS national office, under the guidance and recommendations of U SPORTS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Taryn Taylor, Dr. McMordie and Lavergne, as well as FISU and the Lucerne 2021 Local Organizing Committee.
“Our top priority will always be the health and safety of our student-athletes and the entire Canadian delegation,” added Matchett. “Led by our outstanding medical team, we will work diligently with FISU and the Organizing Committee to ensure that the proper protocols are in place, and ensure the safety of our student-athletes.”
Mission Staff Biographies
Chef de Mission: Ben Matchett, Calgary
| Ben matchett |
| Chef de Mission |
| Calgary |
Ben Matchett was appointed as the eighth athletic director in Dinos history in July 2021. Entering his 20th season with the program, Matchett has been part of 13 U SPORTS Championships over his career. He has also served on both the Canada West and U SPORTS Board of Directors as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
As a graduate from the University of Calgary, Matchett completed his Masters degree in Education at the University of Washington in 2014.
Assistant Chef de Mission : Mary MacDonald, U SPORTS
| mary macdonald |
| Assistant Chef de Mission |
| U SPORTS |
Mary MacDonald currently runs a private sport consulting business, where in addition to working with U SPORTS, her clients have included the Canadian Olympic Committee, Biathlon Canada, Bowls Canada and the University of Ottawa varsity athletics department.
Previously, MacDonald held the title of Executive Director of Archery Canada from 2017-2020, and U SPORTS Manager of Sport & International Programs from 2009-2016, where she led all of Team Canada’s planning and preparations for six different FISU Universiades. She also held positions with the University of Ottawa in Student-Athlete Services and U SPORTS in Member Services & International Programs between 2006-2009.
MacDonald is a graduate of Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in leisure sciences and the University of Ottawa with a Master of Arts degree in human kinetics (concentration in Sport Administration).
Operations Manager : Lia Taha Cheng, Royal Canadian Legion
| Lia taha cheng |
| Operations Manager |
| Royal Canadian Legion |
Lia Taha Cheng serves as the Senior Program Officer at the Royal Canadian Legion where she manages their sport portfolio, including the annual National Youth Track and Field Championships.
Previously, she held the position of Manager, Sport and International Programs at U SPORTS where she coordinated all Team Canada mission operations for the 2013, 2015 and 2017 FISU Summer and Winter Universiades. Following her departure from U SPORTS in 2017, Taha Cheng served as the Operations Manager for the 2019 FISU Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
Taha Cheng graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor of Science, specialization in Human Kinetics. She continued her studies at the University of Ottawa and completed her Baccalaureate in Education, immediately followed by her Master of Human Kinetics with concentration in Sport Management.
Communications Manager: Stéphane Jobin, Laval
| Stéphane jobin |
| Communications Manager |
| Laval |
Stéphane Jobin graduated from Université Laval in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Communication. He has been a Sports Information Officer with the Rouge et Or from 2010 to 2019, where he had an active role in the organization of numerous national championships, including three Vanier Cups (2010, 2013, 2015).
Jobin also has FISU Games experience, serving as Team Canada’s Communications Manager at the 2015 FISU Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea. He also served as Communications Officer at the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy.
Before joining Laval, he was the Editor-in-Chief for three weekly newspapers in the Ottawa region – L'Express d'Ottawa, La Nouvelle de Prescott-Russell and The Orléans Star. This experience allowed him to realize his dream and be selected to represent Transcontinental Media at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Communications Coordinator: Clare Webb, Bishop’s
| Clare webb |
| Communications Coordinator |
| Bishop's |
Clare Webb spent the last eight years as a member of the Bishop's Gaiters athletic department. Starting as a student intern, she was promoted to a full-time role as the Digital Media and Home Events Coordinator, following her graduation in 2017.
Webb is currently completing a post-graduate certificate at Toronto's George Brown College in Sport and Event Marketing.
This is her first time at the FISU World University Games.
Chief Medical Officer : Dr. Janet McMordie, Lakehead
| Dr. Janet mcmordie |
| Chief Medical Officer |
| Lakehead |
Dr. McMordie is a Sport Medicine physician originally from North Vancouver, B.C. but now based out of Orillia, Ont. She completed medical school, family medicine residency, and sport medicine fellowship at McMaster University and holds a diploma in Sports Medicine from the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM).
She was a member of the Medical Staff at the Taipei 2017 FISU Summer Universiade, Toronto 2017 Invictus Games, Red Deer 2019 Canada Winter Games, and the inaugural World Beach Games in Qatar.
Chief Therapist: Jacques Lavergne, U SPORTS
| Jacques Lavergne |
| Chief Therapist |
| U SPORTS |
Originally from Québec City, Jacques Lavergne graduated from Université Laval in physical Education in 1979 and in physiotherapy from medical school in 1982. He has over 30 years of experience, both in the field and clinically.
Laverge has served as a physiotherapist at the FISU Universiade on several occasions, most recently at Naples 2019. He has also been on the Mission Staff for the Canada Winter and Summer Games, as well as the Francophone Games. He began his medical career in hockey with the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques, while also serving the NHL All-Stars at the 1979 Challenge Cup, and Team Canada at four IIHF World Hockey Championships
Physician: Dr. Erika Persson, Alberta
| Dr. Erika Persson |
| Physician |
| Alberta |
Dr. Persson completed her medical degree at the University of Alberta in 2005 and followed this with her Pediatric Residency at the University of Alberta in 2009 and her Pediatric Sport Medicine Fellowship at the University of Manitoba in 2010.
She holds her diploma in Sport and Exercise Medicine from the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine. Dr. Persson is an Associate Clinical Professor in General Pediatrics at the University of Alberta and has her community Pediatric Sports Medicine Practice in Edmonton. She also is the current President-Elect the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine.
Dr. Persson has been part of numerous Team Canada health care teams including the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea; the 2016 Youth Winter Olympic Games in Norway and the 2015 and 2017 editions of the FISU Universiade. She has also been part of the medical team for the last four Canada Games and is a national team physician with Skate Canada.
Therapist: Nadine Smith, Carleton
| nadine smith |
| Therapist |
| Carleton |
Nadine Smith began her career as an athletic therapist at Carleton University in 1999, and has held the role of head athletic therapist for the past 14 varsity seasons.
Over the years, Smith has gained additional work experience at three Canada Games, as well as the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games.
Smith has several FISU Universiades under her belt, assisting the Canadian women’s hockey team to a gold medal at the 2009 FISU Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, before earning a silver medal with the team at the 2015 FISU Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain.
A native of Ottawa, Smith is a graduate of York University with a certificate in Sport Therapy and University of Ottawa with a degree in Human Kinetics.
Therapist: Andrea Prieur, York
| Andrea prieur |
| Therapist |
| York |
Andrea Prieur is a Certified Athletic Therapist who has a longstanding relationship with York University. Graduating from the Athletic therapy program over 20 years ago, she continued to stay directly involved and taught curriculum First Responder and was placement coordinator for a number of years.
Prieur has been fortunate to have past intercollegiate experience and currently co-owns two physiotherapy clinics. Her field and clinic skills have allowed her to be chosen to be part of the Canadian Core Health Care teams at multiple major Games including the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. She is currently a First Responder instructor and maintains her field skills by dedicating time to travel with the Canadian National Diving Team.
