Mission Staff for Commonealth Games announced by CGC

June 22, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FROM COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA

OTTAWA, June 21, 2010 – The Mission Staff for Canada’s 2010 Commonwealth Games is now complete with the announcement today of the members of its Health and Wellbeing Team. Led by Dr. Navin Prasad, the medical unit joins a group of dedicated volunteers made up of experts in operations, sport science and communications, all of whom will travel to Delhi, India for the 2010 Commonwealth Games October 3-14, 2010. 

“This outstanding group of health professionals will help us create the right conditions for Canadian athletes and coaches to produce best-ever performances,” said Scott Stevenson, CGC’s Director of Sport. “The Commonwealth Games are a proven, valuable stepping-stone for many Canadian athletes en route to other international, Olympic and Paralympic success. The Health and Wellbeing Team for Delhi was put together following in-depth discussions with National Sport Organizations to ensure the staff’s expertise aligns with their athletes’ needs.”

The Games will feature more than 4,000 world-class athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and territories, competing in 19 different sports. Canada, which finished third overall at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia, is expected to send a highly competitive team of approximately 400 athletes, coaches and volunteers.

“Commonwealth Games Canada’s leadership team is delighted with the addition of these capable professionals to our staff,” said Martha Deacon, Chef de Mission for Team Canada 2010. “The depth and breadth of their experience in the health field—and their passion for and dedication to sport—will contribute in countless ways to the success of our world-class athletes.”

Dr. Prasad, who has an extensive background in sports medicine, is a veteran of five major international Games and has been the primary care sports medicine physician for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League for the past 13 seasons.

Members of the Health and Wellbeing Team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games

Leads: Antoine Atallah (Clinic Manager), Isabel Grondin (Chief Therapist)

Doctors: Dr. Bruce Davidson, Dr. Andy Marshall, Dr. Janet McKeown

Therapists: Surinder Budwal, Robert Dunlop, Leigh Garvie, Natalie Ghobrial, Jason Peeler, Robert Powls, Andrea Reid

Massage therapists: Alain Bellemare, Jennifer Pendray

Please see the attached Backgrounder for biographies of the Health and Wellbeing Team members.

About Commonwealth Games Canada

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of Commonwealth Games Canada is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth, by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool.

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BACKGROUNDER

Biographies

Antoine Atallah (Montreal, QC) – Clinic Manager. As Medical Mission Manager for the Canadian Franchise Holders Working Group, Antoine oversees the operations and logistics for all Medical Missions at Multi-sport Major Games, including the Commonwealth Games. During competitions, he serves as Manager of Team Canada’s on-site medical clinic. Antoine has taken part in events including six Olympic Games, as well as the Pan-American Games, Paralympics and Jeux de la francophonie.

Isabel Grondin (Mill Bay, B.C.) – Chief Therapist. Isabel is a practicing Physiotherapist and Certified Athletic Therapist who focuses on the assessment and rehabilitation of sports injuries. In addition to working with various Junior “A” hockey teams in B.C., she is Chief Therapist for Rugby Canada and Skate Canada and has volunteered her time during many national and international athletic competitions, including the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Doctors:

Dr. Bruce Davidson (Kamloops, BC) – Bruce is an Emergency Physician and Trauma Team Leader at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C. and also works as a Sports Medicine Consultant. In addition to his work as a Physician at B.C.’s Sun Peaks Ski Resort, Bruce has served on the medical teams of single and multi-sport events in Canada and around the world, most recently as Chief Medical Officer during the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver, B.C.

Dr. Andy Marshall (Ottawa, ON) – Andy is a Sports Medicine specialist who serves as Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon to the Department of National Defence in addition to being on staff at two Ottawa-area hospitals. His extensive experience at athletic competitions includes stints as a member of the Canada Summer Games Health Care Team in 1999 and as a member of the Health Sciences Team during the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Dr. Janet McKeown (Vancouver, BC) – Janet is Director of the Health Clinic at the University of British Columbia, a Family and Sports Medicine Physician and a Medical Consultant to the Canadian Centre for Sport—Pacific. The former Lead Team Physician for Swim Canada, Janet provided athlete medical care for Biathlon and Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Therapists:

Surinder Budwal (Puslinch, ON) – Surinder is Head Athletic Therapist for the Canadian National Wrestling Team and has provided his services across an array of sports and sport settings, including the Junior Pan American Games in 2009. A partner in a private multidisciplinary practice in Kitchener, ON, Surinder also owns PRO Therapy International, which offers athletic therapy services—including field coverage—for various sport organizations.

Robert Dunlop (High River, AB) – Robert served as Chief Therapist during the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia and was a member of the medical staff at various other national and international events, including the Sydney and Nagano Olympics. A co-owner and Clinician at Summit Sport Therapy in High River, AB, Robert spent 12 years as Team Therapist to the Canadian Men’s Field Hockey Team.

Leigh Garvie (Edmonton, AB) – The president-elect of the Alberta Physiotherapy Association, Leigh has served as Canadian Team Therapist at more than 50 regional, national and international sporting events throughout her career—including five Olympics and three Pan American Games. An award-winning Masters Level Swimmer, Leigh completed the Canadian Ironman Triathlon in 1993.

Natalie Ghobrial (Langley, BC) – Natalie has worked with elite athletes in clinical settings and in the field at events such as the 2009 World University Games, where she provided therapy and first aid to the Women’s Soccer squad. The Head Athletic Therapist at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC, Natalie also works with the Canadian National Women’s Softball team.

Jason Peeler (Winnipeg, MB) – An Assistant Professor in the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Medicine, Jason conducts research in clinical orthopaedics and sports medicine. Jason was a Dedicated Team Therapist with Athletics Canada for 10 years, and has also been a member of the medical teams at events including the Pan American Games, Canada Winter Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Robert Powls (Vernon, BC) – A partner in Powls Witter Spine & Sports Physical Therapy in Vernon, BC, Robert was a member of the Canadian Medical Team at both the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, B.C. and the 1990 Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Robert, an instructor with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, also served at Olympic Games in Athens, Nagano and Atlanta.

Andrea Reid (Vancouver, BC) – Andrea is a Sport Medicine Physiotherapist at the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre in Vancouver. A former competitive gymnastics coach, Andrea has worked with athletes competing in sports ranging from Sledge Hockey to Volleyball. In 2009, she was physiotherapist to the National Women’s Field Hockey Team during the Champions Cup II.

Massage Therapists:

Alain Bellemare (Montreal, QC) – Alain provided massage therapy services at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia (2006) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1998). Also a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s core medical team during the 2004 Athens Olympics, Alain has logged more than 15,000 clinical hours at Physiothérapie du sport du Québec and worked with elite athletes such as sprinter Bruny Surin and kayaker Caroline Brunet.

Jennifer Pendray (Sidney, BC) – A self-employed Registered Massage Therapist, Pendray was a member of the Canadian Core Medical Teams at both the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2007 Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro. Since 2006, she has served at numerous national and international events as Team Therapist for Diving Canada and also teaches Sports Massage at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy.