Picture: Lynsey Yates (left) pictured with the Squashabout at Dunfield team at the 2019 Ontario Masters Championships.
It is a tremendous pleasure to announce the appointment of Lynsey Yates, to the position of Executive Director for Squash Ontario.
As Executive Director she will be responsible for shaping the roadmap and steering the team by initiating and delivering key strategies through a collaborative workplace. Leading day to day operations to optimize process, improve programming and tools, create and foster relationships within the squash community. Her immediate focus is to find ways to build back squash in Ontario, and help both clubs, coaches, players and officials “return to play” even better.
Lynsey has eight years of experience working in sport development at the provincial level, first with Ontario Sailing as an instructor and team lead, next with Row Ontario as an outreach project manager, and more recently at Squash Ontario as the Communications and Operations Manager. Here she had success in developing Squash Ontario’s outreach plans and gaining additional funding to support its objectives. She also partnered with many clubs, leagues, and organizations to support the development of women and girls, young adults, elementary and high school students, and more recently, children with disabilities. This work has had a direct positive impact on Squash Ontario’s athlete pathway, tournament participation numbers, and confirmed alignment with Ministry priorities, increasing potential to access more base funding in the future.
With four years at Squash Ontario and six years on the squash court, Lynsey has been a frequent fixture at Ontario championships, sanctioned tournaments and Toronto league matches. This has given her the opportunity to meet and work with so very many members of the squash community. With big shoes to fill, Lynsey is “excited to build on existing successes of the organization with new strategy and initiatives to ensure the growth of squash in Ontario” and is looking forward to connecting with Squash Ontario member clubs and stakeholders in the next few months to start rebuilding after this unfortunate pandemic year. She also hopes to one day graduate from a “B” player to an “A” player, but she’ll have to wait until next year for that.
“Squash Ontario is thrilled to welcome Lynsey to her new role”, said Bob Mansbridge, President of Squash Ontario. “As Executive Director Lynsey will be able to lend her expertise and build on her knowledge of our environment for squash in Ontario to benefit the entire squash playing community. Proactive and results focussed, Lynsey is a great fit to build on the momentum created by her predecessor. Under her leadership, and working closely with Lauren Sachvie, they will ensure that the right resources are brought to the table to ensure that squash (post COVID) will once again thrive in Ontario.”
Her predecessor, Jamie Nicholls, has been a great help through this transition and we thank him for leading Squash Ontario through five years of increasing success. Newly appointed to Squash Canada’s Director of Athlete Performance position, he will have close ties to Squash Ontario in this new capacity, not to mention an office in the same building!
Lynsey Yates will continue to be based out of Toronto, assuming the role of Executive Director, commencing December 14th, and can be reached at lyates@squashontario.com.