Speakers

Keynote Address

Stephen Norris

Originally from England, Stephen is currently the Director of Sport Physiology & Strategic Planning at the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary where he is responsible for Canada’s Winter Olympic Sports Teams, as well as being Adjunct Assistant Professor of Applied Physiology within the Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) at the University of Calgary. He acts as a consultant to several national sports teams, teaches and supervises graduate students specializing in applied physiology and sport science, as well as having a heavy involvement in coach education.

Stephen’s research is centred upon the implementation of sport science into practical settings, particularly aspects to do with the planning, periodization, sequencing and monitoring of training. Stephen is primarily involved with ‘sliding and gliding’ sports (those on ice, snow and water) such as hockey, all disciplines of skiing, snowboarding, luge, skeleton, and bobsleigh, as well as having an interest in sailing and swimming.

Stephen is currently on the Board of Directors for Swimming Natation Canada, Cross Country Canada/Ski du Fond Canada and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, as well as being a strong advocate for sport and recreation both locally and nationally.

On a personal note, Stephen has extensive experience of harsh environmental situations and extreme human performances. He is an avid boardsailor, snowboarder, mountain biker and paraglider, and also enjoys squash, tennis and golf.

R. Tait McKenzie Scholar Address

Peggy Gallant

Margaret “Peggy” Gallant was born and raised in Pictou County Nova Scotia. She has a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University and a Masters of Science in Physical Education from Dalhousie University. She is currently a professor in the Department of Human Kinetics, St. Francis Xavier University.

As a varsity athlete at St. FXU, she competed in basketball and field hockey and was a member of the dance team. Today she is an avid recreational runner and dancer. As a coach at St. FXU, she won an AUS title in Volleyball and in Soccer and for her efforts in fostering the advancement of women in sport, is a member of the St. FX Sport’ s Hall of Fame in the builder category and in the coach category.

Her teaching career at St. FX has been in the areas of elementary school physical education, dance and the sociology of sport. In the research milieu, her current investigation is in sport leadership in all sport settings in the Province of Nova Scotia. In the wider community, she acts as a course conductor for the Coaching Association of Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program, a dance in- service leader for school teachers, and recently, was the chief negotiator for the first collective agreement between St. Francis Xavier University and the St. FX Association of University Teachers. For her contributions to St. FX and the wider community, she is the recipient of the prestigious St. FXU outreach award. She is married to Leo Gallant and has three sons.