National Race Director Summit

Saturday January 24, 20268:00am - 5:00pm (plus post event cocktails and appetizers 5:00-7:00pm) Centennial College Event CentreAgain in 2026, Athletics Ontario is excited to welcome race directors and key influencers in our running community to collaborate on best practices in effective event hosting, marketing, management, safety and execution in the running industry. Hosted at the beautiful Centennial College Event Center, with delicious food, and elaborate space to allow for a comfortable and collaborative day filled with knowledge sharing to help you execute the best race possible.As always, the day will end with a social cocktail hour, sponsored this year by Henley Financial and Wealth Management Inc!Location: Centennial College Event Centre Price: (includes HST, light breakfast, lunch, refreshments, cocktail hour and appetizers)$100 Until November 30, 2025$120 December 1 - December 31, 2025$140 January 1 - 16, 2026Live Streaming OptionWe know that nothing beats in-person collaboration for its opportunity to interact, engage, and collaborate. We also know that not everyone can attend in person. To ensure all those interested can benefit from the workshops/sessions, we are offering a live streaming option for those unable to join us in Toronto. $40 Live Virtual Access (recording will be made available for both virtual and in person registrants)General TimelineFinal schedule will be sent to all registered participants on Thursday January 22, 20268:00am: Registration, light breakfast, mix and mingle 12:30pm Full Lunch5:00pm Group Photo 5:00-7:00pm Cocktails and appetizers, mix and mingle sponsored by Henley Financial and Wealth Management Inc.EmceeSteve Fleck, Race and Event AnnouncerSteve 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 wifeFacilitators TBDSheryl Preston, Associate Manager Road & Trail Running Athletics Ontario Sheryl is the primary 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.Kate Van Buskirk, Road & Trail Running Coordinator, Athletics OntarioKate Van Buskirk is a 2020 Olympian who spent 17 years as a member of the Canadian National Team. During this time she was a 3-time Canadian Champion, set a Canadian record, and won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Prior to her professional career, she was an NCAA All-American and Team Captain for Duke University in North Carolina. Kate served as a member of the Athletics Canada Board of Directors from 2019-2022, and is a passionate advocate for mental health and gender equality in sport. In recent years, she has become a prominent voice in sport media: she is a CBC Sports analyst, a commentator for Canadian and American professional broadcasts, a live stadium P.A. announcer, and was the host and producer of Canadian Running Magazine's The Shakeout Podcast for 5 years. Kate is thrilled to continue her passionate work in helping to grow and improve athletics in Ontario through this role.
John Shep, Athletics Ontario Running Podcast Host

John Shep is a teacher, ultrarunner, and host of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast. The 2022 Athletics Ontario Media Award recipient for his work on the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, which explores the diverse stories of Ontario’s Road and Trail runners, John aims to reach those runners that we are not already reaching, to give voice to the underrepresented members of our community and bring these stories to the masses. As a runner, he has completed seven 100-mile races, including being the first of two to finish the Ontario Triple Crown of 100s in 2024 (Sulphur Springs Trail Race, Tally in the Valley and Haliburton Forest Trail Race).Growing up in the industry, John is a third-generation volunteer in Athletics. His grandfather, Peter Manning, a sprint and relay coach throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games levels, was inducted into the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame in 2017 as a Coach. His mom, Helen Manning, dragged John to Para-athletics events at the ripe age of six to post results and work the track clock. She is more importantly the current Chair of Athletics Canada and a former President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Paul Osland, CEO Athletics OntarioPaul 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.