Canada’s sport tourism industry will benefit from the leadership and experience of Grant MacDonald and Rick Traer in their new roles with Sport Tourism Canada.
As announced at our annual general meeting in April, effective today MacDonald has assumed the new role as Chief Operating Officer of Sport Tourism Canada. Current CEO Rick Traer will retire from his role at the end of July, taking on the new role of CEO Emeritus.
MacDonald is one of Canada’s leading sport tourism and major event professionals who brings 30+ years of experience to his role as Chief Operating Officer Working with host cities, host organizations and host venues, he has established a reputation as a trusted and knowledgeable leader of organizations and major projects. A member of STC’s Board of Directors from 2007 to 2019, he served as Chair from 2011-14. In 2020, Grant chaired Sport Tourism Canada’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force and he has been the Head of Consulting for Sport Tourism Canada since 2019. Grant will be focused on sport tourism’s role in Canada’s recovery from the community to international levels.
Contact Grant at: gmacdonald@sporttourismcanada.com
Meanwhile, Traer will continue to represent Sport Tourism Canada internationally as CEO Emeritus. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Event Hosts (IAEH) and will continue to lead Team Canada delegations to international conferences to promote Canada as a preferred host for international sport events.
Traer’s announcement in April was highlighted with a special video tribute honouring his more than 20 years at the helm of the organization and his immense impact on sport tourism in Canada. Rick’s family also offered their congratulations and wishes for the next chapter in Rick’s memorable career.
In addition to MacDonald and Traer, the organization continues to engage several consultants who are responsible for managing various STC programs and services. To meet the entire team working on behalf of the sport tourism industry in Canada, visit our website or keep an eye on social media over the summer as we re-introduce the STC team members.
Thank you to both Grant and Rick for their contributions in building Canada’s $6.8 billion sport tourism industry. We look forward to seeing what is next, as the industry works to bounce back from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.