Football Canada Appoints Eva Havaris as Chief Executive Officer
OTTAWA, ON — The Board of Directors of Football Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Eva Havaris as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 8, 2026.
Havaris joins Football Canada at a defining moment for the sport in Canada. With a strong tackle football foundation, and flag football set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the organization is entering a defining new era of visibility, participation growth, and international opportunity.
A nationally respected sport executive with more than 20 years of executive sport leadership experience and a longstanding record of volunteer service across Canadian sport, Havaris brings a proven ability to lead organizational transformation, modernize governance, strengthen national alignment, diversify revenue, and advance high-performance and sport development systems. Her career has included senior leadership roles across national sport organizations and professional sport, including service as Chief Executive Officer of Equestrian Canada and Taekwondo Canada, Senior Vice President at Tennis Canada, and a founding executive role with the Canadian Premier League.
Importantly, Havaris also brings direct Olympic leadership experience at the national federation level. As CEO of Taekwondo Canada, she led the organization through the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic cycle. Later, as CEO of Equestrian Canada, she led the national federation and Canada’s equestrian program through the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. That experience is especially relevant as Football Canada prepares to lead the sport into flag football’s Olympic era.
Most recently, at Tennis Canada, Havaris oversaw a national portfolio spanning participation growth, provincial and territorial alignment, fundraising, infrastructure strategy, Safe Sport, coach education, and pathway integration. Her leadership contributed to more than $7.5 million in new revenue, the largest donation in the organization’s history, significant new federal investment, and major infrastructure expansion, alongside nationally recognized work in equity, inclusion, and Safe Sport. That body of work helped shape one of the most significant periods of growth and national impact in Tennis Canada’s recent history and earned broader recognition across Canadian sport, including as a Top 25 Women of Influence honouree in 2023 and a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.
In its national search, the Board identified the need for a CEO who could unite a diverse sport system, build strong teams, strengthen governance, secure sustainable funding, and connect participation growth with high-performance ambition. Havaris’ experience aligns directly with that mandate. Across her career, she has worked closely with boards, government partners, Olympic stakeholders, provincial and territorial organizations, and commercial partners to deliver measurable progress while leading with integrity, accountability, and a deep commitment to inclusive sport.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express how pleased we are that Eva Havaris will lead Football Canada into this next chapter,” stated Board Chair Jo-Anne Polak. “Her track record speaks for itself, and we are confident she is the right leader to unite and mobilize the football community as we seize the Olympic opportunity ahead. Eva is also a strong advocate for women and girls in sport. At a time when women are coming to football—and particularly flag football—in record numbers, her leadership will help ensure they continue to find in our sport a place where they are welcomed, supported, safe, and able to thrive.”
“I am honoured to join Football Canada at such a pivotal time,” said Havaris. “This is a significant and energizing moment for Football Canada and for the future of the sport in this country. The opportunity ahead is clear—to strengthen and align the national football system, support athletes, coaches, officials, and member organizations across Canada, and help position the country for success as flag football enters the Olympic Games. Having previously led national sport organizations through Olympic cycles, I understand both the complexity and the potential of moments like this. I look forward to working with the Board, staff, provincial and territorial partners, and the broader football community to build on this momentum and help shape a strong, united, and sustainable future for football in Canada.”
Football Canada also extends its sincere thanks to Loring Phinney for his leadership as Interim CEO and for his commitment to supporting a smooth transition.
About Football Canada
Football Canada is the national governing body for amateur football in Canada and is responsible for the leadership, development, and promotion of the sport from grassroots participation through high performance.
Media Contact:
Emma McCamus
Manager, Marketing, Content & Brand
Football Canada
emccamus@footballcanada.com
647-614-2596
