Carla Qualtrough Named New President of Swimming Canada Board
Carla Qualtrough has been elected president of Swimming Canada’s Board of Directors, among six new board members.
The appointments were made at a board meeting this month. Zack Chetrat will serve as vice president. Suzanne Weckend is the new secretary. Jennifer Button, Rachel Nicol and Janet Morrison were elected to the board.
They join existing board members Mark Fraser, Justina Di Fazio and Luc Bisaillon. Former president Sue Owen, Migan Megardichian and Matt Dans have had their terms end.
Qualtrough is a Paralympic medalist and disability advocate. The 55-year-old native of Alberta won three relay bronze medals at the 1988 and 1992 Paralympics. She is a member of the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame. She has received the Bruce Kidd Athlete Leadership Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
She was a Member of Parliament from 2015-25 for Delta, British Columbia, and served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Minister of Accessibility; the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion; and the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity.
“I’m honoured to serve as President of Swimming Canada and give back to a sport that has shaped my life as an athlete, Paralympian and leader,” Qualtrough said in a press release. “This is an important time for Canadian sport, and I look forward to working with our Board, athletes, coaches, staff, members and partners to build on Swimming Canada’s strong foundation and support success at every level, from community pools to the Olympic and Paralympic podium.”
Chetrat, 36, spent four years on the Athlete Council before joining the Swimming Canada board in September 2022. He swam for 16 years, representing Canada internationally, with a pair of medals from the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
“I began volunteering with Swimming Canada to give back to the sport and the community that has given me so much in life,” Chetrat said. “After four years as a Board Member, I am excited to take on the role of vice president. The next few years are a critical period as we approach the 2028 Olympic Games and navigate the changing sport environment in Canada. I am looking forward to building the sustained success of our organization by working with our Board, staff, and membership to make the most of these opportunities.”
Button was an Olympian in 2020. The 49-year-old former butterflyer has medals at the Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and Pan Pacific Championships. She has had a career of more than 20 years in philanthropy with the RBC Royal Trust and as the executive director of the Charitable Gift Funds Canada Foundation.
Nicol retired in 2024 after a distinguished career that included finishing fifth in the 100 breaststroke at the 2016 Olympics. She won relay medals at the World Championships (both long- and short-course) as well as gold in the 2023 Pan Am Games in the 100 breast. She became involved in safe sport and advocacy later in her career and also sits on the Athletes’ Commission of the Canadian Olympic Committee and Sport Integrity Canada’s Athlete Advisory Committee.
Morrison is an athlete, swim parent and Level V official with experience in a variety of levels of governance and administration in sport.
“Strong governance is essential to the continued growth and success of Swimming Canada,” Swimming Canada CEO Suzanne Paulins said. “This Board brings a valuable combination of sport experience, professional expertise and a deep understanding of our swimming community. We look forward to working together to strengthen our organization, support our members and create opportunities for athletes to succeed at every level of the sport.”
