Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors appointed Andrea Skinner to serve as the interim chair until the current term concludes in November. .“As a board we are listening to Canadians,” said Skinner in a Tuesday statement. .“We are working to make meaningful positive changes to the culture of the sport of hockey.” .Skinner’s appointment comes after former Hockey Canada board chair Michael Brind’Amour resigned on Saturday. .Brind’Amour was elected as Hockey Canada board chair in 2018. He said this change was necessary to help the organization move forward. ."I have listened carefully and intently to the comments of Canadians about the culture of our sport and our organization, and about our actions and leadership," he said. .Skinner was elected to the board of directors in 2020. She works as a partner lawyer at Aird and Berlis LLP, and she serves as the chair of the law firm’s diversity and inclusion committee. .The statement said recent events made people lose trust in Hockey Canada. It added the loss of trust is concerning to the organization as it has been diligent since its election in 2020 to fulfill its mission. .The current board is the first elected under updated bylaws requiring gender diversity. This board’s composition was enhanced because of an independent nominating committee recruiting people, including Skinner. .“I am proud of my lifelong commitment to hockey and am honoured to serve Hockey Canada as chair of the board; a board that includes men and women with a diversity of age and life experiences, and one that represents different ethnic and cultural communities, including indigenous Canadians, and the LGBT2Q+ community,” she said. .Hockey Canada announced Thursday former Supreme Court of Canada justice Thomas Cromwell will lead an independent review of the organization’s structures and systems following a series of sex scandals. .READ MORE: Former Supreme Court justice to lead Hockey Canada review.“This comprehensive governance review is a critical step to restoring trust with Canadians and ensuring we have the right people and systems in place to deliver on our action plan to improve Canada’s game,” said Brind’Amour. .“We have heard Canadians loud and clear and are committed to making the changes necessary to allow us to be the organization Canadians expect.”
