Sport is transformative. It’s a philosophy subscribed to by many who work in the industry, and Canada Games Council (CGC) President and CEO Kelly-Ann Paul is a big believer.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Kelly-Ann’s passion for sport was ignited at an early age.

“I played every single sport in elementary school, and I loved them all,” she said. “I was short, but I was fast – really fast.”

A dual-sport varsity athlete in rugby and athletics at Queen’s University, Kelly-Ann made her mark on the pitch and the track while completing bachelor degrees in science and physical and health education, along with a minor in French.

“I do feel that I developed significant leadership qualities through my roles in sport. I was co-captain for the Queen's University Golden Gaels rugby team and I decided to join track too for my last two years. I was super passionate about sport, always.”

At the time, Kelly-Ann didn’t envision sport as a career beyond school. But a summer internship with Sport Canada in 2002 opened her eyes to the world of sport administration, and the teams of people and structures at work behind Canadian amateur sport and its athletes.

Upon graduating, Kelly-Ann secured her first full-time gig in sport with the Canada Games Council in 2004. Twenty years later, she holds the top job in the organization.

There have been many highlights throughout her journey: an “absolutely magical” 2007 Canada Games in Whitehorse, the first Games held North of 60 with the Northern Territories cooperating on the hosting opportunity, working with national sport organizations across the system, and building the foundation of continuity and support for Host Societies through the transfer of knowledge program.

The broad spectrum of experiences while working with the CGC is something Kelly-Ann is grateful for. But the path to get to the top leadership role in the organization was not without its roadblocks.

“I just put my head down and I worked super hard,” she said. “And then I applied for every position that would open within the organization. I applied for all of them because I wanted to show that I wanted to grow.

“You have to believe in yourself. And you can't be dissuaded along the way. I believed in my heart that this is where I wanted to work. So I just kept going. Follow what your passion is, and you will succeed in whatever it is that you're doing. Go and do what drives you.”

Balancing her career with being a mom to three children requires some serious mental, emotional and physical gymnastics, and she admits that it’s tough as a woman in a leadership position. In addition to everyday work-family life balance, navigating pregnancy, exit and re-entry into the workforce is a significant undertaking.

“What I would tell you is I hung on for dear life during that period of creating and raising my family,” she said. “Society has not caught up to the role of the mom in leadership. But I do think that we're paving roads. You have to be bold and step into that space, even though it's not ready. The world is adapting.

“My husband is doing a good job trying to balance with me, and I feel a lot of support from our partners, staff and the Board. And I know my kids are proud of me. It's a big thing. They know that mom has a big job and my girls will say ‘maybe I can be a CEO’. You have to see it to believe it.”

Leadership, mentorship and inspiration are all elements Kelly-Ann strives to pay forward in her role as President and CEO.

“I want to be a role model for women in the sport system. I believe that I fit the mold with the Canada Games. I felt like the Movement could benefit from a young, passionate, athletic leader, and I'm an aspiring next generation administrator myself.

“I feel like I make myself available to people professionally, emotionally and mentally. I really try to make sure that I listen and I hear people, and make sure that there's a positive culture where people can be open. I want everybody to do their best. And I believe that everybody wants to do their best. So maximizing people's ability to make an impact on the Canada Games Movement is what I would like to do.”

As she marks two decades with the CGC, Kelly-Ann feels her work is not yet done.

“There's been significant growth in the organization since I started here. The Canada Games have gotten even more sophisticated and even stronger. And there's still more to do. My goal is to get the wheels spinning seamlessly at the top with our strategic plan and our mandate with government partners, which is my strength. So I feel like I have more to contribute.”

She is also hopeful as we see more women step into leadership roles within the Canada Games ecosystem.

“I'm just thrilled to see more women in leadership. Since I've worked here, more often than not I’ve been surrounded by men in leadership positions. They are all wonderful, inspirational, and exceptional leaders. But to see the balance shift, starting with Lyn Radford in 2019 as Host Society chair and now with co-chairs in Kim and Karl for 2025 – it's incredible. And now with myself at CGC, Karen Sherriffs at 2025 and Marie-Hélène St-Onge at 2027 all being female CEOs, it means a lot to me.

“It's really rewarding to see organizations believe in women in leadership.”