Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that Scott Kelly will be joining the organization in the newly created role of Chief Sport Officer (CSO). The CSO will be an integral part of Cycling Canada’s senior management team with overall responsibility for leading all elements of Cycling Canada’s sport programming, ensuring seamless progression from development levels through national team programs in alignment with the organization’s long-term strategic plan. Working in close collaboration with High Performance Director Kris Westwood, the CSO will be a key leader in facilitating cohesion and integration across the system and in building a culture of collaboration and excellence within the framework of a safe, inclusive and sustainable sport community.
Kelly has been a vital and active member of the Canadian cycling community for the better part of the past 15 years. He comes into this role having spent over a decade working on the UCI World Cup mountain bike circuit with professional teams such as 3 Rox Racing, Clif Pro Team and the Norco Factory Team, as well as with the Canadian National Team. He has led Canada’s national cyclo-cross team program in a volunteer capacity since 2013 and has experience working at over 20 world championships in mountain bike, road, track as well as cyclo-cross. He was part of Canada’s mission team at both the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2012 Olympic Games and recently served a two-year term as a Director at Large on Cycling Canada’s Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled to welcome Scott to our team,” said Cycling Canada Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Jeffries. “In addition to tremendous passion and enthusiasm, he will bring to this position a proven track record of program management, exceptional team building and leadership skills, as well as an important breadth of perspective from having worked across so many different branches of our community. No doubt he will be a great asset for our entire organization as we work towards our mandate of holistically developing the sport across all cycling disciplines from coast to coast.”
“In Canada, we have talented and driven athletes, coaches and support staff. We have incredible clubs, development programs and professional teams. We have world-class cycling facilities and events. We want to work alongside, and build meaningful relationships between Cycling Canada and all of our stakeholders; whether they be athletes, coaches, clubs, professional teams, provincial sport organizations, funding partners or cycling fans. We want to become the best version of Cycling Canada possible and it’s only by working together that we’re going to make our ambitions a reality. We have some big goals as an organization, and I’m convinced that if everyone takes a pull at the front, we can achieve great things. I’m truly excited to do my part to help us get there” said Kelly.
In addition to his experience within National Team and professional cycling ranks, Kelly has spent time within the provincial development environment as a staff member with Alberta Bicycle and as a member of the high performance and events committees with Ontario Cycling. He is a Chartered Professional Coach, has worked within Cycling Canada’s partner network of Canadian Sports Institutes and has also been the co-owner of an independent bike shop in Dundas, ON since 2012.
Kelly will start in his role on February 1st and will be based out of the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, ON.