WIIKWEMKOONG—Marian Jacko of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory (WUT) has been re-elected to the Hockey Canada board of directors
“I am excited (to be re-elected) to the board,” Ms. Jacko told The Expositor. “I had been on the organization’s transition board of directors for the past 11 months, where we had to reflect on recommendations that had been made (by the Hon. Thomas Cromwell, on leadership renewal, sport safety, good governance and financial transparency and accountability for Hockey Canada). We implemented most of the recommendations, including changes in the election process (which saw the chair of the board appointed by the elected directors, rather than the previous practice of being elected by the members).”
Ms. Jacko was re-elected along with Grant Borbridge and Jonathan Goldbloom. Hockey Canada’s 13 members elected the organization’s new volunteer board of directors (made up of nine members). Ms. Jacko will serve for a two-year term.
The board appointed Mr. Goldbloom, a resident of Montreal, as its chair, and he will serve in the role for a three-year term.
“I am very proud of the meaningful progress that our transition board of directors made in leadership renewal, sport safety, good governance and financial transparency and accountability for Hockey Canada,” said Mr. Goldbloom. “We have a strong foundation to build upon and I am eager to work with my new colleagues and Hockey Canada’s leadership team to continue to advance the sport that we love as Canadians.”
Ms. Jacko noted that as for her role with the Little Native Hockey League (LNHL), “on November 19 the LNHL held an emergency executive meeting. I let the executive know that I was prepared to resign (as President) and fulfill the role of past president.”
The LNHL executive decided to expand Ms. Jacko’s leave of absence as president. In her place, the vice-president, Chico Ralf will serve as the acting president until further notice.
“While on leave and not on the LNHL executive, Marian will continue to volunteer to help with the planning and coordination of the upcoming 50th anniversary LNHL taking place in March 2024,” a release explained.
“So, I will still be able to volunteer at the LNHL,” said Ms. Jacko. “I will still be involved in the event and I am looking forward to the 50th anniversary celebrations.”
Ms. Jacko is the Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Indigenous Justice Division of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. Prior to this role, she was appointed by Order-in-Council as The Children’s Lawyer for Ontario, where she spent nearly 20 years representing and advocating for the personal and property rights of children and youth.
Ms. Jacko has spent her entire 24-year legal career tirelessly working on behalf of children and Indigenous peoples.
She raised her eldest child as a single parent while earning three university degrees, including a master’s degree in social work and a law degree from the University of Toronto. While working full-time as a lawyer and raising three children, Ms. Jacko obtained her Master of Law degree from York University in 2005.
Ms. Jacko strongly believes in community service, serving on many non-profit organization’s boards and advisory committees over the years. She also joins a volunteer board of mentors with the Future of Hockey Lab whose work is committed to values-based social innovation and culture change while growing the game of ice hockey.
Ms. Jacko has over a decade of coaching experience having coached at the Little NHL over many years, at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and the Ontario Summer Games. She had been the head coach of the U18A team in North York. However, “I am no longer permitted to coach (as a member of the Hockey Canada board). Last year I was allowed to finish the season because the team was already so far into the season. This is the first year I haven’t been a hockey coach for a long time. I do miss it. But I’m looking forward to being a director on the Hockey Canada board.
