5th Annual Athletics Ontario Race Director Summit

Paving the pathway to a smooth and healthy recovery from the last challenging two years in the running event industry, we are excited to announce our 5th annual Athletics Ontario Race Director Summit will again be in person this year!

Once again we open this as an opportunity for race directors and the many key influencers in our running industry sport event community to collaborate on best practices in effective running event hosting, marketing, management, safety and execution.

Hosted at the beautiful Centennial College Event Center, known for plentiful areas for fireside chats and breakouts, in addition to their phenomenal menu of food, the space will allow for a comfortable and collaborative day.

As always, the day will end with a social cocktail hour, sponsored this year by WealthSense!

REGISTRATION CLOSES SUNDAY MARCH 31, 2022 11:59 pm

Location: Centennial College Event Centre

(Accommodation options listed below)

Cost: $90.00

(includes HST; also breakfast, lunch, refreshments, cocktail hour and snacks)

NCCP Coaches will receive 1PD point for attending the in-person event

Live Virtual Access: $35

COVID-19 related information

We are very proud to host an in person conference. Exactly like yourselves, we took the financial risk to host this in-person event, knowing how valuable it is to be present on the day. Fear not, we are under the jurisdiction of Centennial College Event Centres' COVID-19 strict regulations, all guests will be required to wear a mask while at the Summit (when not eating or drinking), and also required to be fully vaccinated (2 doses - 14+ days after second dose, and will be required to show proof of vaccination at registration). Speakers will be on a platform, and well-distanced and will not be masked while speaking, in order for clear communication.

Live Streaming

We are very happy to host an in-person event this year. We certainly would prefer to have you in-person as this event is very interactive, and a fabulous way to interact with the running industry, participation is also now available via live streaming, for those who are not able to join us in Toronto.

SCHEDULE (subject to minor changes)

8:00 - 8:30 Registration

8:00 - 8:45 Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 8:45 START: Athletics Ontario Intro & Steve Fleck

8:45 - 9:30 Kate Van Buskirk KEYNOTE

9:30 - 10:30 Kevin Jones, Charlotte Brookes, Albert Ngai (safety & event logistics),

10:30 - 10:45 Break

10:45 - 11:15 Race Roster

11:30 - 12:00 Jen Cerullo (sustainability)

12:00 - 12:45 Lunch

12:45 - 1:15 Jeff Rowthorn (lessons from the trails)

1:15 - 2:15 Peter Cosentino (sponsorship) + Q&A

2:15 - 2:30 Break

2:30 - 3:30 Michael Ramsey (marketing) + Q&A

4:00 - 5:00 Athletics Ontario Town Hall, open forum

5:00... Cocktail hour & appetizers

Emcee

Steve Fleck, Race and Event Announcer

Steve Fleck is one of the leading Endurance Sports Race/Event Announcers in North America. Each year he is on the Microphone at over 35 running, cycling and triathlon races. He's also an in-demand Commentator in the fast-growing Live Streaming Sports webcasting business, for running, and cycling races - working closely with both Athletics Canada and Cycling Canada in this area. He's been involved in running, triathlon and cycling in one way or another since his mid-teens, as a participant/competitor and in business. He lives in Aurora, Ontario with his wife, and their dog Gravy!

Keynote Speaker

Kate Van Buskirk

Olympian | Host and Producer of The Shakeout Podcast (Canadian Running Magazine) | Athlete Director at Athletics Canada | Coach with Sheridan College

Kate Van Buskirk is an Olympian, journalist, coach and advocate. Her athletic achievements include a Commonwealth Games bronze medal (2014), a former Canadian indoor record (2018), and membership on the Canadian Olympic Team (2020). Kate has enjoyed her numerous roles in the world of sports media and broadcasting, including coverage of Ontario and Canadian Championships, and the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. She is also the host and producer of The Shakeout Podcast with Canadian Running Magazine. Kate is a cross-country coach with the Sheridan College Bruins, as well the Female Athlete Director with Athletics Canada.

Facilitators

Kevin Jones, Odyssey Medical

Kevin Jones is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Odyssey Medical. Odyssey provides event medical and risk management services for the mass gathering industry in Canada. Kevin has extensive experience in risk management, emergency communication and event operations. Kevin’s experience spans from remote wilderness expeditions to large scale urban events. He has lead event medical programs for many large obstacle course events, live music events and triathlons. Building on a background in insurance and education, he is committed to evidence based decision making and systems development.

Charlotte Brookes, National Event Director - Canada Running Series

Since 2012, Charlotte Brookes has been the Event Director for the Canada Running Series and climbed her way up from Participant Services in 2005 to this role. She is responsible for organizing and managing the entire event and the CRS team across the country, which includes the IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. To successfully manage the event, her main focus and role on race day is Emergency Management, Crisis Communication and Event Dispatchers through their Event OperationCentres. It is the only Command Centre in Toronto that is operated by a private company and brings together all the different City agencies into one room to make quick and collaborative decisions on race day. Most recently, she received the Industry Leader Under 40 Award from the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security at the National Sports Safety Conference in July 2017 and has been asked to be on a panel for Safety and Security at the Running USA conference this coming February.

Jen Cerullo, Sustainable Event Operations and Management - Canada Running Series

TOPIC: What is a “sustainable event” and why is it important? Where to start with little time and no budget What’s next? The future of sustainability in athletic events

Jen has worked in athletic events for almost a decade, and currently works with Canada Running Series as an event manager for events in Toronto and Vancouver. She combines her event operations and management experience in road and trail races, triathlons, and consumer events, with her passion for sustainability, bringing to life new opportunities for the future of event sustainability. In her free time, she is completing a Master of Arts in Environmental Practice and is a member of the C40 Cities Women4Climate Mentorship Program.

Albert Ngai, Course Dynamics

Albert has been working in the race management industry for over 10 years and has been involved in course operations in numerous race series ranging from 5Ks to marathons. He has also been a runner in a good number of marathons, half marathons and 30K races over the years. In each event he operates in, Albert focuses on executing a course that is safe and easy to navigate. He is passionate about improving the runner experience. Albert currently runs his own company – Course Dynamics – which offers services in event consulting and course management.

Race Roster

Annie Melnik - Customer Success Manager

Julia Trovato - Director of Customer Success

Peter Cosentino

President DEC Sports & Entertainment | Co-Founder Inspire Athlete Management

Former VP Marketing with the Toronto Blue Jays, Peter started DEC back in 2003 as a sponsorship agency that focuses on market segmentation through lifestyle. Brands know DEC as a strategic resource from which to build out their sponsorship portfolios with quantifiable return on investment. DEC connects individual and team-sport athletes and lifestyle properties with brands who believe in their dreams, desires and influence to create powerful, compelling stories and activations. Properties trust DEC to represent them in the marketplace to brands who are looking for strong partnerships with exceptional value.

David Ramsey - Digital Director RedRhino Inc. & RhinoActive

Topic: The power and effectiveness of targeted and audience segmented email marketing to attract and retain previous years' runners.

RedRhino & RhinoActive are a joint marketing and development agency based out of London, Ontario. The Rhinos provide a variety of services to clients in the endurance industry with a particular focus on targeted email marketing campaigns and websites.

Jeff Rowthorn - Race Director, Happy Trails Racing

Jeff Rowthorn is an ultramarathon trail runner and the Race Director at Happy Trails Racing. With the help of an incredible team of loyal volunteers, he organizes 10 trail races across Ontario each year. Happy Trails Racing is proud to put on inclusive races where all runners have a place to explore the trails. Since their first event in 2017, Jeff and his team have witnessed a great deal of growth in the sport of trail running and are committed to providing trail enthusiasts with safe and welcoming opportunities where they can connect with the community and have a great time racing.

TOPIC: Paul Osland and Sheryl Preston from Athletics Ontario will provide updates from within the Ministry and Provincial Sport Organization with strategical priorities, and potential opportunities in the short and long term to help support Ontario's running event industry

Paul Osland, CEO Athletics Ontario

Paul has been a competitive athlete in the sport of athletics for a number of years. He was a member of the Canadian National team (1987-1992) at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and many other international events. He currently holds the Ontario Open Indoor 600m record, which he set back in 1985.

Paul brings a wide-range of experience in business development and corporate experience combined with his entrepreneurial venture capital experience, and these skills will help him drive the continued development and promotion of athletics in Ontario. Additionally, he has 25 plus years of progressively responsible leadership roles in both the business world and athletics community.

Sheryl Preston, Associate Manager Road & Trail Running Athletics Ontario

Sheryl is the organizer of this event. With Athletics Ontario, Sheryl helps to build bridges in the Road and Trail running community provincially, and nationally. She connects race directors, clubs, athletes and members with credible resources to ensure the safety and accuracy of events with the ultimate goal to increase participation in our sport of running. Providing provincial sanctioning and race day insurance is also a large portion of her role. As a retired Canadian national team rower and having completed over 20 road marathons/ultramarathons throughout Canada and the US, and as a member of a few running clubs in Ontario and BC, Sheryl deeply appreciates the positive impact that races and our connected running community can have.

Accommodation options nearby Centennial College Event Centre

1) Link to nearby hotels

Across the street from the venue, Best Western has offered a discount first come first serve to our participants. Call 416-430-0444 and ask for Rizwan and mention "Athletics Ontario" for the $179.00/ night + taxes/fees (reg $209)

2) Pan Pacific Toronto

(15 minute drive away) Phone in for contracted group rate: Toll free 1-833-437-7747

Group Name: "Athletics Ontario"

Dates: April 1-3, 2022

Deluxe (single/double): $149.00 per room per night plus 13% HST and 4% Mat. Triple occupancy at $169 and Quad occupancy at $189

3) Centennial College has 4 hotel rooms available for Friday and/or Saturday $110.00 per night (contact sherylpreston@athleticsontario.ca)