The 2026 Sport Edmonton Annual General Meeting was hosted Monday evening at the Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre. The venue, which was opened to the public earlier this year, served as a fitting backdrop for what can be achieved when partners come together to achieve shared goals, in this case the Alberta Velodrome, World Triathlon Edmonton, and City of Edmonton.
With an eye to the future, Sport Edmonton is excited to play an increasingly important role in advancing sport and recreation for Edmontonians, as a plan for strengthened governance, diversified revenue, and greater impact for the City was unveiled.
The AGM was kicked off by a keynote address from Steve Hogle, Fun Advisor for the Edmonton Riverhawks, on how the baseball club has successfully brought fun to RE/MAX Field, all while building community.
New Membership Model
As part of Sport Edmonton’s ongoing evolution, a paid membership model was unveiled. The model, which was the culmination of several months of consideration and refinement leading up to the AGM, creates two membership classes: organization and individual.
The main focus of the new model is to clearly define Sport Edmonton’s members, ensuring the organization increases its focus on delivering member services, while enhancing clarity around the members Sport Edmonton serves.
Key benefits to both organizations and individuals include:
Organizational Membership:
- Includes 2 individual memberships with full individual benefits
- Voting rights at general meetings (1 vote per organization)
- Access to funding opportunities and grants
- Discounted extra tickets to events
- Promotion and visibility (website listing, annual spotlight, decal)
- 5 hours of expert support annually (for non-profits)
Individual Membership:
- Free ticket to general events + discounts on premium events
- Eligible to run for the Board of Directors
- Opportunities to join committees, working groups, and collectives
- Access to exclusive partner event invitations
Members looking to secure their paid membership and accompanying perks can get their new membership by visiting SportEdmonton.com/Memberships.
Bourdeau Elected Board Chair
After six years, including leading the organization’s transition from the Edmonton Sport Council to it’s current form as Sport Edmonton, James Rosnau’s time as Chair of the Board of Directors concluded.
Rosnau was critical in Sport Edmonton re-positioning itself within the sport and recreation sector. His insights will remain available to the Board of Directors, sitting as a non-voting advisor to the Board.
Taking over as Chair will be Stephen Bourdeau, who was elected by the Board of Directors immediately following the AGM. The CEO of Do North Events arrives with two decades of expertise in special events and project management on local, national, and international stages—including contributions to two Olympic Games. His two-year term as Chair commences as Sport Edmonton continues important work ahead of the upcoming four-year municipal budget cycle.
Along with Bourdeau, three Board nominees were confirmed by the membership at the AGM, as Dave Jamieson, Doug McLean, and Robynne Thompson all officially commenced two year terms after previously being appointed to fill Board vacancies earlier this year.
A full list of Sport Edmonton’s Board of Directors can be found here.
Vision ‘27: Driving Community and Economic Impact
Sport Edmonton Chief Executive Officer Evan Daum, who took over for now City Councillor Reed Clarke in October of last year, presented a vision for Sport Edmonton heading into a new four-year budget cycle.
Daum’s efforts have focused on strengthening relationships with City leadership, supporting members, forming key partnerships, and clarifying governance and organizational direction. This strategic groundwork has already led to tangible progress, including a memorandum of understanding with the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, collaboration with the Edmonton Arts Council, and the continued growth of the Business of Sport series.
Looking ahead, Sport Edmonton’s vision centers on two core pillars: community development and economic impact. Sport is positioned as a powerful tool to connect communities, expand access—especially for youth—and create lasting benefits through legacy projects tied to events. At the same time, there is a clear opportunity to elevate Edmonton as a leading destination for grassroots sport events in Western Canada, driving tourism and local economic activity through better coordination, funding, and partnerships. Supporting this work will be a stronger emphasis on data, including the development of an Impact of Sport report to clearly demonstrate the sector’s value.
This vision depends on a highly engaged, member-focused organization. A transition to a paid membership model will prioritize tangible benefits, including exclusive events, funding access, and dedicated support, ensuring members remain central to all decisions. At the same time, securing stable and diversified funding—from municipal, provincial, federal, sponsorship, and membership sources—will be critical to long-term success. Ultimately, strengthening Sport Edmonton means creating more opportunities, resources, and impact for the entire sport and recreation community.
Revised Bylaws
In addition to unveiling a new membership model, Sport Edmonton approved new bylaws, as part of an increased focus on laying the governance foundation for future growth and advocacy with the City of Edmonton for a greater role in achieving council’s strategic priorities in the areas of sport and recreation.
The bylaws were reviewed in-depth by Sport Edmonton’s Board of Directors, along with multiple external reviewers, notably representatives from the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, illustrating the benefits of cross-organizational collaboration.
Special General Meeting: June 15, 2026
Monday saw interim financial statements presented by Board Treasurer Jas Gill, with the organization running once again on a lean budget in 2025.
The next meeting of Sport Edmonton is scheduled for Monday, June 15, when the organization will host a Special General Meeting to formally approve 2025 audited financial statements.
Capping it off with a ride
It wasn’t all business Monday night at Coronation, as a group of Sport Edmonton members were treated to a cycling certification course by Alberta Velodrome.
Stay tuned for some fun content from that event, and be sure to check Alberta Velodrome’s website for more opportunities to get certified and enjoy a world class indoor cycling venue right in your own backyard.