List of Candidates for BC Hockey Board of Directors
Occupation: Retired
Place of Residence: Kamloops, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Diploma in Marketing Management (University of British Columbia)
Board Experience: Ashford has 14 years of board experience with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, including four years as Chair of the Board.
Additional Skills and Information: Ashford has over 40 years of experience in marketing, communications, association management, human resources, regulatory affairs, board governance, project management, advocacy, and tourism and hospitality.
Occupation: Professor
Place of Residence: Whistler, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Bachelor of Science (Brock University)
- Master’s of Science (University of British Columbia)
- Doctor of Philosophy (University of British Columbia)
Board Experience: Cote has been a member of the BC Hockey Board of Directors since 2020. She also served as the President of Whistler Minor Hockey Association from 2018 to 2019.
Additional Skills and Information: Cote is a current professor at Trinity Western University’s School of Human Kinetics and lecturer at the University of British Columbia’s School of Kinesiology. She has previously worked for organizations such as Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
Occupation: Planning Analyst
Place of Residence: Whistler, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies (University of Victoria)
- Advanced Diploma in Renewable Resource Management (British Columbia Institute of Technology)
Board Experience: Creery has 14 years of volunteer board experience with organizations such as the Whistler Community Foundation, Whistler Minor Hockey Association, and Whistler Youth Soccer Club.
Additional Skills and Information: Along with his previous Board experience, Creery has worked with local government since 2004, gaining financial acumen and political sense. He also has decision making skills through his work in Protective Services and Bylaw Enforcement.
Occupation: Consultant
Place of Residence: Vancouver, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Bachelor’s of Political Science (University of British Columbia)
Board Experience: Evans currently serves as the President of the Calgary Young People’s Theatre Society. He also has previously served as the President of the UBC Student Union, one of the largest student organizations in North America.
Additional Skills and Information: Through his previous experiences, Evans has a deep understanding of non-profit governance and policy. He currently works as an organizational strategy consultant at Deloitte, advising multi-billion dollar organizations on business design. A lifelong hockey player and referee, Evans is also a former member of BC Hockey’s High-Performance Officiating Program.
Occupation: Student
Place of Residence: North Vancouver, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Human Kinetics/Sport Management (St. Francis Xavier University)
Board Experience: MacKillop serves as the Director of Communications for the Sport Management Society at St. Francis Xavier University.
Additional Skills and Information: MacKillop has served with North Shore Winter Club from 2020-2021 as Assistant Coach with the Female U13 team and Assistant to the Director of Hockey Operations.
Occupation: Financial Advisor
Place of Residence: Kelowna, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Certified Financial Planner (FP Canada)
- Registered Retirement Consultant (CIFP)
Board Experience: Scott Millard has served on numerous non-profit boards in the past, including being a part of the Kelowna Minor Hockey Association Board from 2017-2019.
Additional Skills and Information: Millard is a Certified Financial Planner and has experience in operations, helping business owners expand their business while providing succession planning. He has two sons involved in minor hockey in the province.
Occupation: Hockey Coach/Aftercare Worker
Place of Residence: Duncan, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Criminology Studies (Vancouver Island University)
Board Experience: Swustus currently sits on numerous committees within the Cowichan First Nation.
Additional Skills and Information: Swustus has four years of experience as an elected official for Cowichan Tribes, the largest First Nations band in B.C. He coaches with Salish Storm Hockey, an program geared towards introducing Indigenous youth to the game of hockey.
Occupation: Operations Manager
Place of Residence: Vernon, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
- Business Administration (Western University)
- Tourism & Recreation Business Management (Fanshawe College)
Board Experience: Vischschraper currently served as a director with the Greater Enderby Chamber of Commerce. He has served as a board member with Greater Vernon Minor Hockey Association and Merritt Minor Hockey Association
Additional Skills and Information: Vischschraper is a high-level official in both hockey and basketball and officiates at the USports level. In October 2023, he was awarded Business Leader of the Year at the Greater Vernon Business Awards.
Occupation: Director of Athletics
Place of Residence: Windsor, ON
Education and Certifications:
Associate of the Ontario College of Arts (Major – Advertising)
Master of Arts in Leadership (University of Guelph)
Board Experience: White has served on the BC Hockey Board of Directors since 2018, and assumed the role of chair of the board in 2022. White also has experience with Hockey Canada as she currently serves on their Governance Committee and was the former chair of their Female Hockey Policy Committee.
Additional Skills and Information: White is the Director of Athletics at the University of Windsor. She has formerly worked with the athletic departments at Western University, Vancouver Island University and Toronto Metropolitan University. She has an extensive coaching background, which includes time spent behind the bench with the Canadian National Women’s Under-18 and Under-22 programs, along with the National Women’s Team.
Occupation: Educator (Retired)
Place of Residence: Prince George, B.C.
Education and Certifications:
University of Victoria - Teaching (Psychology/History)
Board Experience: Henderson joined the BC Hockey Board of Directors in 2014, and has also served as the chair of the BC Hockey Nominating Committee and Indigenous Work Group/
Additional Skills and Information: As a former educator, Henderson taught at the elementary and secondary levels, as well as a principal at the elementary school level.