Appendix C: Biographies of the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee

Dr. Dan Cass

Vice President, Medical and Chief Medical Officer at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto

Dr. Cass obtained his Bachelor of Science in 1984, and his Doctor of Medicine in 1988, both from the University of Toronto. After completing his internship at Toronto General Hospital, he entered the Royal College Residency Program in Emergency Medicine in Toronto, which he completed in 1993. He is an Associate Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Cass worked as a staff Emergency Physician at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto for 16 years, from 1993 to 2009, for 10 of which he was Chief of Emergency Medicine. He became an Investigating Coroner in 2007, and in November, 2009, he left St. Michael’s to become the Regional Supervising Coroner for Toronto West. In 2010, he was appointed Chair of the Patient Safety Review Committee of the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC), a position he held for nearly five years. In 2012, Dr. Cass was appointed Deputy Chief Coroner—Investigations for the Province of Ontario, and from January to July, 2013, served as Interim Chief Coroner for Ontario. Dr. Cass provided leadership for two special death reviews (Cycling Death Review, and Review of Ornge Air Ambulance Transport Related Deaths), and presided over a number of coroner’s inquests.

In March, 2015, Dr. Cass joined St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto in the role of Vice President, Medical. In addition to his administrative role, Dr. Cass has a clinical practice in Addiction Medicine.

Throughout his career, Dr. Cass has successfully taken on a broad range of clinical and administrative leadership roles at the local, regional, provincial and national level. He has been recognized for his commitment to undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education with a number of teaching awards, and has led and participated in multiple clinical research projects.

Warren Hoshizaki

Director of Education, District School Board of Niagara

As Director of Education for the largest school board in the Niagara Region, Warren Hoshizaki leads a dedicated staff of over 3,000 teachers and 1,300 support staff with one goal in mind—improving student learning.

An educator for almost 40 years, Warren is a great believer in the power of education to help all students achieve their goals in life. He learned at an early age the need to help others and he has implemented many innovative programs throughout the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) to support students and their learning.

Warren is keenly aware of the impact that concussions can have, not only on professional athletes, but also on students who are injured pursuing their love of sports.

Under Warren’s direction, the DSBN has been at the forefront of developing a school board policy and administrative procedures on concussions in an effort to educate teachers, coaches, students and parents about concussions and mechanisms to manage them.

Warren is a huge supporter of the provincial government’s decision to develop and lead an Ontario Concussion Strategy and proudly served on its Healthy Schools Initiative — A Working Table Committee on Concussions.

Paul Hunter

Manager, National Coach Development, Rugby Canada

Paul Hunter is employed as Rugby Canada’s Manager National Coach Development, having previously served as a Rugby Development Officer with Scottish Rugby. Rugby Canada’s coach development is targeting ongoing development of coaches. In addition, teaching coaches on leadership responsibility for youth rugby development programs.

Paul has always ensured that player welfare is Rugby’s number one priority for everyone involved, including players, parents, coaches, referee’s and administration, Paul strongly believes that everyone in sport has a responsibility to make sport safe. Paul attended the Minister’s Roundtable on concussions as some of the Coroner’s Report related directly to Rugby Canada.

Susan Kitchen

Executive Director, Coaches Association of Ontario

Susan is the Executive Director of the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO). She has led the CAO through its formative years to become a credible, multisport organization that serves the coaching community and enjoys the confidence of three levels of government partners.

Susan is currently serving on the Minister’s Advisory Panel for GAME ON, the Ontario Government’s Sport Plan of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, as a result of various administrative and volunteer roles in the Sport and Recreation sector. She recently joined the Board of Directors of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), appointed by the Federal Minister of Sport. Previously, she served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Coaching Association of Canada (2008-2013).

Susan has remained active in the sport of rowing for 30 years. She is an NCCP trained Coach, in able-bodied and Para, and certified RCA Umpire. Susan has applied her knowledge and experience from the sport of rowing to build an enduring, relevant and responsive team at the CAO.

Louise Logan

National Project Director, 2020 World Congress on Safety & Health at Work

Louise Logan is past President & CEO of Parachute, and currently National Project Director for the 2020 World Congress on Safety & Health at Work. She is also the President of Logan & Associates Inc., a company focused on enabling leadership, public policy and strategy for social change. Louise has over 20 years of leadership experience advancing complex business, public policy, health, and social issues.

Louise has been the inaugural President & CEO and architect of two organizational mergers in the non-profit sector. Past positions include President & CEO of the Public Services Health & Safety Association, and Director General of policy and regulation at WorkSafeBC.

In addition to the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee, Louise currently sits on the national advisory committee that worked with Parachute to develop the first ever 2017 Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport.

Louise holds a Juris Doctor, a Bachelor of Arts, and is a graduate of the Executive Program at the Ivey School of Business.

Gordon Stringer

Rowan Stringer’s Father

Rowan Stringer, Gordon’s 17 year old daughter, died in May 2013 after suffering three concussions in less than a week while playing high school rugby. The jury for the coroner's inquest into her death made 49 recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future and to ensure greater awareness and better treatment for concussion related injuries in Ontario.

Nepean-Carleton Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod introduced Rowan's Law in the Ontario legislature on November 25, 2015. Rowan's family launched a petition in support of the Rowan’s Law legislation at an Ottawa rugby field along with athletes, coaches, medical professionals and politicians.

It’s terrible and devastating to lose a child. What’s even worse is that Rowan’s death was preventable. This is why we’ve decided to do what we can to tell Rowan’s story, educate children, athletes and all involved in child and youth sport. Our goal is to help to prevent future injury and death from concussion. Creating legislation, Rowan’s Law, will help protect our youth and fulfill Rowan’s dream of helping children.

Stringer family

Kent Bassett-Spiers

CEO, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation

Since 1999, Kent has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. In 2014, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the Canadian Spinal Research Organization.

Kent has extensive experience in developing strategic linkages and partnerships, organizational restructuring and working with the Ministry of Health on policy and systems reforms.

His time with the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation has allowed him to be involved in many partnership activities with the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Rick Hansen Institute including the SCI Solution Network, Canadian Neurotrauma Research Partnership and recently with the Best Practices Implementation Project.

Elisabeth White

Nurse Practitioner, Neurosurgery Outreach SickKids

Elisabeth is a Nurse Practitioner for the Division of Neurosurgery. Her role encompasses Neurosurgical Outreach to support the continuum of care from hospital to community, providing education and support to patients, families and nurses on the management of diseases and disorders of the brain and spine along with transition and integration into adult neurosurgical care.

Elisabeth has been with SickKids since 1995 and has worked in various departments including the emergency department. With an interest in neurocognitive development, Elisabeth transitioned to the Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic working as a Nurse Practitioner with high risk neonates and toddlers with moderate to severe brain injury. In 2014 an exciting new role was established in Neurosurgery Outreach supported by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to improve neurosurgical care in Ontario. Elisabeth has been working in this role since its inception.

As a hockey mom, Elisabeth began educating people about concussions in 2014. With research interests in concussion, Elisabeth is currently involved in a pilot project with the University of Toronto and works as a Nurse Practitioner in the MacIntosh Concussion Clinic.

Dr. Charles Tator

Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto Division of Neurosurgery, and Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital Founder, ThinkFirst Canada Board Member, Parachute Canada

Dr. Tator graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Toronto in 1961. He performed graduate studies in Neuropathology from 1961 – 1965 receiving his Masters and Ph.D. Degrees from the University of Toronto before entering the Neurosurgery Training program in 1965.

He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1969. Dr. Tator joined the Neurosurgical Staff at Sunnybrook Medical Centre in 1969. Having served as Neurosurgeon-in-Chief at Sunnybrook from 1974–1984, Dr. Tator moved to The Toronto Western Hospital where he became Neurosurgeon-in-Chief from 1985–1988. He was appointed Chairman of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto for a 10 year term beginning 1989. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

He is currently Professor in the Department of Surgery at The University of Toronto, and Director of the Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital. His main clinical interests are in trauma of the nervous system, especially concussions and spinal cord injury. His research is dedicated to the study of injury prevention and recovery from concussions and spinal cord injury.

Chris Markham

Executive Director & CEO, Ophea

Chris Markham is the Executive Director and CEO of Ophea (the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association). Over the past 20 years Chris has worked with outstanding staff and volunteers to build the knowledge, ability and confidence of educators, principals, school board administrators, public health and community leaders to deliver quality health and physical education programs in schools and communities across Ontario.

Ophea manages the Ontario Safety Guidelines which represent the minimum standard for risk management practice for school boards and focus the attention of teachers, intramural supervisors and coaches onto safe practices, across all physical activities, in order to minimize the element of risk.

Eric Lindros

Former NHL hockey player and advocate for concussion research, care and awareness

Retired NHL great, Mr. Eric Lindros is a former Canadian National Hockey team member and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

As well as winning a Memorial Cup with the Oshawa Generals, Mr. Lindros has suited up for Canada nine times, winning four gold and two silver medals and being twice named "most valuable forward", accumulating 113 points in 94 games. Appearing in six NHL All-Star Games and the Stanley Cup Finals, he has won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award. Mr. Lindros suffered a series of concussions — at least eight by the time he retired in 2007.

In 2007, Mr. Lindros donated $5 million in support of London Health Sciences Centre. The gift was inspired by Dr. Peter Fowler, co-founder of the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic. Mr. Lindros credits the care he received at the clinic for helping extend his NHL career. As ongoing co-chair of the See the Line symposium, Mr. Lindros continues to make a difference with his support as an advocate of world-class sport concussion research, care and awareness.

Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC

Medical Officer of Health, Peterborough Public Health

Dr. Rosana Salvaterra has served as the Medical Officer of Health for Peterborough Public Health since 2008. Prior to coming to Peterborough, she worked in both Toronto and Stratford in similar positions. Before specializing in public health, Dr. Salvaterra worked as a Family Physician with marginalized, newcomer and low income populations. She has worked both internationally, and in First Nations communities in Canada.

Dr. Salvaterra currently holds an academic appointment with Queen’s University. She participates locally and provincially in issues pertaining to health equity, poverty reduction and opioid safety. The prevention of injuries and chronic diseases remain a focus of her public health work.

Jennifer Knox

President, Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA)

In her third year in a service leadership role with OFSAA, the previous two as Vice President, Jennifer works with hundreds of volunteer teacher-coaches to promote education through sport. OFSAA’s main priority is to work with volunteer teacher-coaches to provide 46 provincial championships and five festivals for Ontario's student-athletes. They also offer other programs and services that enhance school sport in the province. These include scholarships and awards, student leadership programs, coach development programs and resources, tournament sanctioning, and funding that is provided to support athletic programs at the school level. OFSAA takes proactive role in dealing with issues that affect students, coaches, schools and communities.

Jennifer is a Principal at Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute in Peterborough, Ontario, where she grew up. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts at Wilfrid Laurier University and teaching certification at the University of Maine. Jennifer has two children and has an avid interest in athletics.

Rosie MacLennan

Olympic gold medalist, Team Canada

Rosie MacLennan made history at Rio 2016 when she became the first trampolinist to ever win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. She also became the first Canadian athlete to successfully defend an Olympic title at the Summer Games and the first Canadian woman to win two gold medals in an individual event at the summer Games.

Four years earlier, MacLennan had won Canada’s only gold medal at London 2012 where she performed the most difficult routine of the competition to earn a career-high score of 57.305 for Canada’s first-ever Olympic trampoline gold medal. She had first gained multi-sport experience at the 2007 Pan Am Games where she won silver before stepping up to win gold at Guadalajara 2011. She successfully defended that gold medal at home at Toronto 2015, sharing the podium with teammate Karen Cockburn, after coming back from a concussion.

MacLennan made her world championship debut in 2005 and won her first medal, a bronze, in 2007. She added another bronze in 2010 before winning silver in 2011. After her first Olympic triumph, MacLennan maintained her top international ranking, winning her first world title in 2013. She added another silver in 2014.

After suffering her second concussion of the year when she was accidentally hit on the head by a car trunk, MacLennan was happy just to be able to compete at the 2015 World Championships. Choosing to lower the technical difficulty in her routine, she trained it for one week and finished just off the podium in fourth place.

Acknowledgments

Duane Jacobs
Special Advisor on First Nations Issues

The Committee would like to recognize and extend their thanks to Mr. Duane Jacobs for acting as a Special Advisor to the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee on First Nations issues.

Duane is a lawyer and a former lacrosse player. He has coached lacrosse for many years, including coaching the Six Nations Senior A Chiefs Team to the National Mann Cup Championship. Duane was recently inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Colin Gray

The Committee would like to thank Mr. Colin Gray for his work in drafting this report. Colin attended our meetings in order to best capture and reflect the Committee’s discussions, debates and decisions.