2020-2021 AGM – From Impossible to Possible
JEAN R. DUPRÉ, NEW CHAIR OF INS QUÉBEC
THREE NEW DIRECTORS JOIN THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWING POSITIVE RESULTS FOR 2020–2021 IN SPITE OF THE PANDEMIC
At its annual meeting held on June 17, the Institut national du sport du Québec (INS Québec) published its 2020–2021 annual review report entitled “From the impossible to the possible,” which highlights how the organization has seized new opportunities and continued its growth over this last year, despite the pandemic. Following the meeting, the Board of Directors appointed Jean R. Dupré as the Institut’s Chair, taking over the role from Tom Quinn, O.C.
The year was marked by constant endeavours to provide high-performance athletes with the best conditions possible under the circumstances to allow them to prepare for the Tokyo and Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. To achieve that, athletes had to remain healthy and a great deal of effort was put in to preventing, limiting and countering the risks of catching and spreading COVID-19. Thanks to the roll-out of the “INS Québec Protocol,” which set out a comprehensive and rigorous health strategy, no outbreaks were recorded after 69,579 visits to any of the 58 authorized training areas.
Although the response to the pandemic has been central to activities over the last year, INS Québec has continued to operate successfully in other areas. The Institut continued its related to safe sport, set up the Concussion Interdisciplinary Clinic, furthered its work on the evolution of its organizational culture, confirmed a three-year funding agreement with the Gouvernement du Québec for the components of the INS Québec Network, opened new avenues for research and innovation, and set up its new Communication and Marketing Department.
Statements
“INS Québec is ready for the next step. Among the challenges facing the INS Québec, there is an obligation to maintain focus in seeking the best solutions to develop knowledge and know-how to propel athletes to the highest peaks. To be able to achieve our ambitions, there is also the challenge of self-sustaining revenue generation. Increasing visibility and influence will contribute, but it will be necessary to be bold and inventive. They’ve already proved it time and again, but the people who live, develop and promote INS Québec are key to our growth and success. I have no doubt that they will take the INS Québec to new heights and I’m proud to have been able to represent such a strong and exceptional team.” »
Tom Quinn, O.C.
Outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors“Succeeding Tom Quinn is both an honour and a challenge. I’d like to congratulate Tom on his achievements and thank members of the Board of Directors for their confidence. I’m incredibly excited to be taking up this role at a time when the INS Québec has been able to continue its growth in spite of the pandemic. Since March 2020, the INS Québec has been able to demonstrate its true relevance through its leadership, knowledge and the expertise of its team. And as an organization, this has delivered positive and resolutely forward-looking results thanks to the innovative outlooks, lessons and relationships that have all combined for the greatest benefit of athletes and players in the sporting community.” »
Jean R. Dupré
Chair of the Board of Directors“Although the pandemic has completely overturned the way we do things and monopolized much of our time, our team has managed to continue much of its activity. Last year has also helped to strengthen sharing and collaboration among members of the sports community. Because there was a more important objective than those of our own organizations, this unprecedented level of coordination has proved a real “Game changer”. A new energy has taken hold; our community will never be the same again.” »
Gaëtan Robitaille
President and Chief Executive Officer
Departure of Tom Quinn, O.C.
Tom Quinn, O.C., Chair of INS Québec since 2014, will be stepping down from the Board of Directors after nine years of service, a period marked most notably by the opening of the INS Complexe at the Olympic Park, the expansion of the INS Québec Network, the diversification of revenue sources and the growth in services offered to athletes and the high-level sporting community.
The position will be filled by Jean R. Dupré who has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2018. President and CEO of the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal since June 2012, Jean has worked in non-profit management, project planning and organizational management for 30 years. Prior to this, he was the Director-General of Speed Skating Canada for 15 years, before becoming CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
At the General Meeting, members accepted the recommendation from the Nominating Committee to appoint three new directors: Emilie Bundock, Mélanie Marois and Jean-Philippe Normandeau. The mandates of Benoît Huot, Nathalie Joncas and François Racine were also renewed. The Board of Directors is completed by Bernard Petiot, Francine Champoux, Marie Pinsonneault and Yann Paquet.
An introduction to the new directors
Me Emilie Bundock
Partner, Fasken
A lawyer by profession, Ms. Bundock practises primarily in the fields of environmental and indigenous law, and assists clients in matters of ethics compliance and government relations. She also has several years of experience as a director in various organizations. Passionate about physical activity from a young age, she has boundless admiration for high-level athletes.
Mélanie Marois
Director, Operational Performance, Human Resources and Communications, Desjardins
Widely known as a professional tennis player and commentator for RDS, Ms. Marois has a management coaching qualification, an MBA in corporate management and a post-graduate degree in public relations. Her wide variety of skills include strategic and management support, information security, project management and deployment of technology solutions, process management, operational risk management, communications and human resources. She was an athletes’ representative at the Conseil du sport de haut niveau de Québec, now known as Excellence Sportive Québec-Lévis (ESQL).
Jean-Philippe Normandeau
Chief Operating Officer, Incendo
Prior to joining Incendo, Mr. Normandeau served as General Manager, Financing and Tax Credits at the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec (SODEC), where he was responsible for the merchant bank portfolio and the administration of cultural tax credits. A seasoned executive, he oversaw international development activities for the Quebec television industry and promoting Quebec’s tax benefits to Hollywood film studios.