About

Governance

Behind the Football Canada team is an experienced group of people that help represent our members’ interests.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of Football Canada is a policy governance board. The Board of Directors is composed of the President, nine (9) directors-at-large. All of these positions are elected positions, each consisting of a maximum of two (2) consecutive 3-year terms; however the President may serve two terms as a director and immediately commence serving two terms as President. The President is elected every three years and the directors – at – large positions are three year terms with three vacancies every year. Additionally, the elected BOD may appoint one (1) Director to serve until the next annual general meeting.”

Jo Anne Polak
Jo Anne Polak
Chair of the Board (appointed)

As Chair, Polak brings over three decades of executive experience in communications and public affairs. She most recently served as Senior Vice-President of Corporate and Employee Communications at Canada Post, capping a 17-year tenure with the Crown corporation. Prior to that, she was Senior Vice-President of Corporate Communications at Hill & Knowlton Canada (now Burson) for 14 years. This corporate pedigree, combined with decades in public affairs, positions her to expand Football Canada’s commercial partnerships, strengthen stakeholder engagement, elevate the organization’s national profile, and enhance the way Football Canada defines and communicates its narrative across the country. 
A well-known figure in the Canadian football community, Polak made history in 1989 when she was appointed General Manager of the Ottawa Rough Riders, becoming both the first woman to hold an executive role in the Canadian Football League and the first female general manager of a professional sports team in North America. She was recently inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in the Builder–Builder category in recognition of her lasting contributions to sport in Canada. 


Jodi Tavares
Director (elected)
Elected: 2025, Term Ends: 2028

Tavares brings over 15 years of executive leadership experience across the public, non-profit, and academic sectors, alongside a decade of dedicated volunteer service in Canadian football. She currently serves as Executive Director of ARUCC MyCreds/MesCertif, overseeing a national digital credentialing network supporting hundreds of institutions and government agencies across the country.
A long-time advocate for athlete-centred governance, Tavares has held numerous football leadership roles, including President of the Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Football Association (OWIFA), President of the York Region Football Association, President of the Ontario Fall Football League, and Co-Chair of the York University Football Parent Booster Club. Her efforts have strengthened youth development structures, enhanced institutional alignment, and expanded opportunities for girls and women in football.


Barry Taitinger
Director (elected)
Elected: 2024, Term Ends: 2027

Taitinger comes to Football Canada as a seasoned financial executive with extensive experience in driving growth, fostering innovation, and managing high-performing teams within the financial services sector. As Managing Director of Corporate Finance, Prairies at BMO, Barry has consistently delivered transformative insights and measurable results. His deep connection to football stems from a lifelong passion for the sport, beginning as an athlete, including five years of varsity football at the University of Alberta. Following his playing career, Barry guest coached at U of A spring and summer camps, eventually committing to six years of coaching, progressing from flag football to community and high school levels. Most recently, he contributed as a guest coach at the 2024 Team Alberta U18 selection camp in Calgary. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Barry is known for his ability to align business development with community engagement. Barry’s strategic acumen will play a key role in Football Canada’s efforts to elevate the sport and expand its reach.

Arash Madani
Director (elected)
Elected: 2024, Term Ends: 2027

Madani, from Truro, Nova Scotia, is a nationally recognized sports reporter who has covered football from both sides of the business, first as a communications director for CFL clubs in Ottawa and Winnipeg before jumping back in front of the TV cameras as a national sports reporter with Sportsnet. In 2017 he won the George Gross Award from Sports Media Canada as the country’s top sports broadcaster. Madani also served the community in volunteer capacities as a member of the Program Advisory Council for Centennial College’s sports media program and as a moderator of Football Canada’s Diversity Task Force series in 2020-2021.

Tyler Mazereeuw
Director (elected)
Elected: 2025, Term Ends: 2028

Mazereeuw is an executive with over 20 years of diverse experience focused on revenue growth and innovation in the sports and entertainment industry. He has held senior roles across properties, agencies, and brands, including the CFL, IMG, and Molson. Recognized as a thought leader and named one of Canada’s “Top 5 Under 40” winners, he is known for his strategic approach to fan engagement and business development. Tyler served as the Chairman of the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada and, most recently, as the Chief Commercial Officer for the Canadian Football League, leading revenue and marketing strategy across broadcast, sponsorship, licensing, brand strategy, digital, and marketing. He is currently President of the CEBL.

Dale Williams
Director (elected)
Elected: 2025, Term Ends: 2028

Williams brings more than two decades of experience in national and professional sports marketing to the Board. He currently serves as Global Sports Marketing Manager at CCM Hockey, where he oversees athlete strategy, product promotion, and diversity initiatives across the company’s international roster. Williams has previously held leadership roles with Reebok, RW&CO., the Montreal Alouettes, and the University of Winnipeg. 
His work in both football and hockey has consistently prioritized athlete engagement, brand visibility, and inclusive access to sport. Williams will continue supporting Football Canada’s efforts to grow the game and deepen its reach among athletes, fans, and communities across the country. 



Célestine Chartier
Director (elected)
Elected: 2025, Term Ends: 2028

Chartier, a Montréal-based lawyer, rejoins Football Canada’s Board following prior service in its governance. A civil litigator with the City of Laval and former criminal defence lawyer, she brings legal expertise and a strategic, policy-driven approach to governance, particularly in municipal and regulatory matters. 
Her longstanding involvement in football includes national-level competition, coaching, and program development. Chartier continues to coach with the Spartiates du Vieux-Montréal and has founded a local league to expand access and participation in the sport. She has also served on the boards of other organizations with a focus on leadership and inclusion. 



Phil Zigby
Director (elected)
Elected: 2024, Term Ends: 2027

Zigby brings exceptional expertise in board governance, strategic planning, and public administration. His tenure with Football Ontario included roles as President, Treasurer, and Director of Governance, during which he spearheaded unprecedented membership growth and financial stability. In his current role as Client Services and Performance Specialist Contract Manager for the City of Guelph, Phil oversees multimillion-dollar budgets and leads sustainability initiatives. Phil also served on the Board of Governors for Football Ontario, contributing to governance, financial strategy, and organizational growth. His visionary leadership in both sports and municipal governance will be a vital asset to Football Canada’s continued modernization.

Tara Mrakic
Director (elected)
First Elected: 2025, Term Ends: 2028
Mrakic, a celebrated flag football coach and advocate for diversity from Lasalle, Quebec has been the Vanier College Cheetahs Flag Football team head coach since 2011. During that time, she earned Coach of the Year honours from the Réseau des Sports étudiants du Québec (RSEQ) three times while rebuilding the program and developing a community for Flag Football in the area. A graduate of the Business Administration and Management program at Vanier College, Mrakic has also committed her time and efforts to increasing representation for women and members of the BIPOC community through her work as the Executive Secretary of the Black Canadian Coaches Association (BCCA) and her involvement in their Black Female Mentorship Program. 

Board Minutes

.

Stay In Touch

Join our mailing list

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest news and updates.


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact