Interim president Charmaine Crooks is facing a challenge in the upcoming Canada Soccer election. Crooks was appointed to the position after Nick Bontis stepped down from his role in February, citing the need for change to achieve labour peace with the Canadian national teams. Her opponent is Rob Newman, a former vice-president of Canada Soccer.
The election will take place at the organization’s annual meeting in Saint John, N.B. from Thursday to Sunday, with voting scheduled for Saturday. The role of president is the top elected position within Canada Soccer. This year’s meeting comes amid significant change within the organization, with Earl Cochrane having recently stepped down as general secretary, and former Canada captain Jason deVos named interim general secretary.
Crooks was scheduled to appear before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Parliament Hill on Thursday but will now testify before the parliamentary committee on May 11. Other prominent figures who have already testified before the committee include former president Steven Reed, as well as Canada captain Christine Sinclair and fellow national team players Sophie Schmidt, Janine Beckie, and Quinn.
There are 85 votes up for grabs among the members at the annual meeting, with 25 coming from players, Canada’s leagues and professional clubs, referees, and coaches. The remaining 60 votes are divided primarily by geography, with 10 each for Ontario and Quebec, eight each for Alberta and British Columbia, four each for Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, three each for Manitoba and Nova Scotia, and two each for Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. Three director elections will also be held during the meeting.
Overall, the election promises to be a pivotal moment for Canada Soccer as it looks to navigate a changing landscape and continue to build on the progress made in recent years.