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Local leaders at the heart of the BC Games

When a community is awarded the Games, a nominations committee, led by the local mayor, identifies community leaders to form the Board of Directors. The Board for each BC Winter and BC Summer Games then forms its own Society.

The Board is organized into 14 planning areas (Directorates). The work in the Directorates is overseen by a Director and managed by committee chairs (75+ chairs in total). Collectively, the Directors and Chairs lead as many as 3,200 community volunteers as they undertake to plan and stage the Games.

Message from the President

It is a tremendous honour to serve as President of the Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games.

The BC Summer Games represent so much more than competition. They are an opportunity to celebrate young athletes from across British Columbia, showcase the strength of our community, and create lasting memories for participants, families, volunteers, and visitors.

Kelowna is incredibly proud to welcome athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters to our region. With 19 sports taking place across the Central Okanagan, the Games will highlight not only athletic excellence, but also the dedication of volunteers, sport organizations, community partners, Indigenous partners, sponsors, and civic leaders who are helping bring this event to life.

As we move through the final countdown to the Games, I continue to be inspired by the people behind the scenes. From our Board of Directors and Directorate Chairs to the hundreds of volunteers already stepping forward, this event is being built by people who care deeply about youth, sport, community, and the power of shared experience.

The Games will leave a legacy that extends far beyond a few days of competition. For many athletes, this will be their first opportunity to compete on a provincial stage. For volunteers, it will be a chance to contribute to something meaningful. For Kelowna and the Central Okanagan, it is an opportunity to show the very best of who we are.

On behalf of the Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games Board of Directors, thank you to everyone who has contributed their time, energy, expertise, and support. We are excited to welcome the province to Kelowna and to help create an unforgettable Games experience.

With gratitude,
Devin Rubadeau
President

Board of Directors

Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games

Devin Rubadeau

Devin Rubadeau

President

Devin Rubadeau has been a dedicated member of the Okanagan College community for over a decade, serving as Faculty, Chair of the Business Department, and most recently as Director of Strategic Enrolment Management and International Education. In Fall 2025, he will return to the classroom, bringing with him a deep commitment to student learning and institutional leadership.

Beyond the college, Devin has made a significant impact in the world of sailing. For more than 30 years, he has served as the Sailing Director and Head Coach of the Central Okanagan Sailing Association. His leadership has extended to coaching and organizing roles in over a dozen BC Summer Games, the Canada Games, and several World Championships. He has also played a key role in hosting major regattas, including Canadian, North American, and World Championship events. In addition,

Devin has contributed to the broader community through board service with more than a dozen nonprofit organizations over the past several decades.

Gail Given

Gail Given

Vice President

Gail Given is a former Kelowna City Councillor, serving three terms (2011-2022) as well a former School District 23 School Trustee. Her board experience includes 7 years as Chair of the Regional District of Central Okanagan and Chair of the Regional Hospital District Board. She previously worked in retail management for Hudson’s
Bay in Kelowna and Penticton for 30 years.

In Kelowna, Gail now works for Tourism Kelowna, an organization she previously served as a volunteer board member. Gail has been a longtime supporter of youth sport through her family’s participation and looks forward to further enhancing this support.

Alan Budde

Alan Budde

Director of Access Control

Alan Budde has extensive government experience at the federal, provincial and municipal levels, taking on a range of leadership roles. He served with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for 22 years in a variety of domestic and overseas posts including responsibilities for helping secure the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg and 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler.

In 2014, Alan moved on to the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) to assist this newly formed organization with the important mandate of police oversight. In 2020, he joined the City of Kelowna as the Security and Business Continuity Manager, establishing a corporate security program for the City, including the Kelowna Security Operations Centre. Alan also serves as a Board Member for the KF Centre for Excellence and the Barry Lapointe Foundation.

Dr. Rick Oliver

Dr. Rick Oliver

Director of Accommodation

Dr. Rick Oliver retired from his position as Assistant Superintendent of Central Okanagan Public Schools at the completion of the 2022 school year. During his 33-year career, Rick was a teacher, counsellor, vice principal, and principal at the middle and secondary school levels prior to taking on district-level responsibilities for the school district.

Rick has been and continues to be an active volunteer in the community, and he currently serves on the boards of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna and the Rotary Club of Kelowna Morningside. Rick’s sports and games experience includes many years of coaching middle and secondary volleyball and field hockey and several years of coaching with West Kelowna Minor Hockey.

Rick has volunteered for several Summer and Winter Special Olympics and was a member of the organizing committee for the International Children’s Games hosted by Kelowna.

Jackie Dueck

Jackie Dueck

Director of Administration

Jackie Dueck brings over 30 years of public sector financial leadership to the BC Summer Games. She is currently the Director of Financial Services at Okanagan College and previously held a variety of leadership roles at the City of Kelowna, including Controller.

Jackie has contributed at the national level through the Government Finance Officers Association’s Committee on Canadian Issues and is a dedicated community volunteer, having supported numerous events including the BC Winter Games. Her passion for sport and commitment to public service are at the heart of her involvement.

Renata Mills

Renata Mills

Director of Ceremonies & Special Events

Renata Mills is the founding Executive Director of Festivals Kelowna, a producer of community-focused festivals and events in Kelowna. She has been actively engaged in local events and activities in Kelowna for over28 years and fully understands the benefits of a vibrant, welcoming community, of which festivals and events activities play an important part in shaping the cultural and economic landscape.

Renata has many years of Organizing Committee and Board experience through local involvement with major civic events, including the 2005 Kelowna Centennial Celebrations, 2008 BC Summer Games, 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Community Celebration, 2018 Breakout West, 2019 55+ BC Games, and the 2022 Kelowna Made Festival. Renata sat on the inaugural City of Kelowna’s Arts & Cultural Advisory Committee, the United Way Investment Committee and Impact Teams and is the current President of the Downtown Kelowna Association.

Jock Tyre

Jock Tyre

Director of Food Services

Jock Tyre has been in the role as General Manager of the Kelowna Curling Club for over 30 years. The Club has a full-service restaurant and has hosted multiple National and International events. Jock has a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management and a drive to serve. Jock has coached at the 1999 Canada Games and worked at both the BC and Canadian Special Olympic Winter Games, as well as the BC Summer Games in Kelowna.

Jenelle Hynes

Jenelle Hynes

Director of Friends of the Games

Jenelle Hynes brings a wealth of experience in public relations, marketing, and community engagement, having worked across all three levels of government. Her career includes roles with the Canadian Armed Forces, the Alberta Government, the City of Kelowna, and the Kelowna International Airport. For the past five years,

Jenelle has served in the public sector as a senior administrator and Community Relations Director at the Vineyards Residence, a senior care community in Kelowna, where she continues to build meaningful partnerships and foster strong community connections.

Jenelle is no stranger to the BC Games movement. She previously held the role of Friends of the Games Director for the 55+ BC Games hosted in Kelowna in September 2019, contributing to the event’s success through stakeholder engagement and sponsorship development. Jenelle has a deep passion for community involvement and a proven track record in delivering results

Kevin Van Vliet

Kevin Van Vliet

Director of Logistics

Kevin Van Vliet is the Utility Services Department Manager at the City of Kelowna. He oversees the City’s water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste management service areas. During his 32 years of local government experience, he has managed major capital projects and provided leadership in intergovernmental initiatives, including the development of transit between Canmore and Banff and, currently, the merger of the Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District with the City of Kelowna.

Kevin is currently the Operations Section Lead with the regional Emergency Operations Centre, and his ‘games experience’ includes representing the City of Vancouver on the Environment Working Group of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic bid.

Michael Saad

Michael Saad

Director of Marketing

Michael Saad is a Professor in Communications at Okanagan College, where he specializes in public relations, crisis management and digital media. Prior to his career in academics, Michael worked extensively in community relations and stakeholder engagement through the non-profit and post-secondary sectors.

Specifically, Michael acted as the Community Relations Coordinator with the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario, as well as the Economic Development Coordinator with Nipissing University. Furthermore, Michael has done various marketing work for HR startup Manage With Success (now Folks HR), City of Barrie, Georgian College, and Ontario Northland

Nolan Rau

Nolan Rau

Director of Medical Services

Dr. Nolan Rau is a sports medicine physician based out of Penticton, BC who has previously worked in various roles with Canada Summer Games, Canada Winter Games, Hockey Canada, WHL, CSSHL, BCHL, KIJHL, Ironman, USports, and many other sport organizations as a medical professional. He actively provides medical care for many athletes in a variety of sports and is excited to help coordinate the medical side of BC Summer Games.

Rox Pollock

Rox Pollock

Director of Participant & Volunteer Services

Rox Pollock is a Campus Administrator at Okanagan College, specializing in event logistics, operations, and strategic space utilization. She leads initiatives that blend operational expertise with hands-on, experiential learning to create meaningful and well-executed programs.

With a strong foundation in outdoor education, Rox has designed and delivered programs that connect people through shared, active experiences. Her work has included supporting schools and community groups with outdoor sporting events such as mountain bike races and multi-day adventure races, bringing together safety, logistics, and participant experience. Rox is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging events that foster connection, learning, and community

Melina Moran

Melina Moran

Director of Protocol

Melina Moran is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Grants at the KGH Foundation, where she cultivates relationships to identify and advance projects that support healthcare programming and services. Melina has over 15 years of event and wedding planning experience, including two years as the coordinator for the City of
Kelowna Civic and Community Awards. When Kelowna hosted the 2008 BC Summer Games, she was responsible for planning and managing the Athlete’s Village as part of the Ceremonies Directorate.

Melina was born and raised in Kelowna and has volunteered her time to several organizations, including as a Director on the Board for Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers, the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club and, in 2024, joined the Emergency Support Services team.

Jennifer Callow & Jenn Naiman

Jennifer Callow & Jenn Naiman

Directors of Sport

Jennifer Callow is currently the Recreation Coordinator for UBC Okanagan’s Athletics and Recreation Department and has been entrenched in community sport for over two decades. She has an extensive history of supporting sport and recreation in her community as a coach, administrator, and advocate for several different sports across multiple municipalities. She has developed community programs for all levels, such as “parent-tot”, “learn to”, “try it”, “recreation”, and “high performance”, but her true passion lies within multisport games such as the BC Summer Games. Jennifer has had the honour of being involved with the BC Summer Games across a variety of roles, including coach, volunteer, chair, and board of directors for numerous Games.

Jenn Naiman has been the Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Student Life at Okanagan College since 2005. She is a proud honours graduate of the University of British Columbia, holding degrees in Physical Education and Exercise Science, along with a master’s in public health specializing in Social and Behavioural Science. With over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, Jenn is passionate about fostering student development through sport, recreation, and community involvement. In addition to her work at Okanagan College, Jenn has been actively involved in the Pacific Western Athletic Association as well as the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, contributing her expertise to support athletes and organizers across the province and the country.

Anthony Knezevic

Anthony Knezevic

Director of Technology

Anthony Knezevic currently serves as Associate Director, IT Service Delivery at UBC Okanagan. He brings 30 years of experience in enterprise IT, supporting a broad range of private and public sector organizations, including higher education and roles delivering managed services to government, aviation, telecommunications and banking industries. He is known for his practical leadership and service-focused approach. Beyond his professional work, Anthony is deeply engaged in his community. He is a licensed amateur radio operator and has previously volunteered in first-aid and search and rescue organizations. An avid outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys the natural beauty of British Columbia and is a strong supporter of local sports and community events, reflecting his commitment to both active living and community connection.

Jordan Perry

Director of Technology
Gail Prokopchuk

Gail Prokopchuk

Director of Transportation

Gail Prokopchuk is a seasoned transportation professional with over 30 years of experience in student transportation. Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership positions as both Director and Manager of Transportation for several school districts across Western Canada. Since December 2017, Gail has served as the Transportation Manager for Central Okanagan Public Schools (School District No. 23), where she is responsible for overseeing the safe and efficient transportation of thousands of students each day.

In addition to her professional achievements, Gail has made notable contributions through volunteerism. She served as Director of Transportation for the Alberta Summer Games, Winter Games, Seniors Games, and a split Summer Games, successfully coordinating complex logistics and ensuring smooth transportation of these events. She also led the Peace Regional Air Show Association as President, where her efforts in marketing and event promotion earned multiple international awards.

Steph Stefansson

Steph Stefansson

Operations Manager

Cover Image: Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com – Ken Hagen

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Territory Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) People, also known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, and recognize that our work in this province spans the territories of more than 200 First Nations, as well as Métis and Inuit communities.

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