Gail Hamamoto

Gail Hamamoto joined Special Olympics Canada as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with over 30 years of experience in and on the field of Sport. A passionate advocate for equity in sport for athletes with a disability, for the last 11 years, Gail served as the Executive Director of BC Wheelchair Sports Association.

Gail is also currently the Vice-President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and is CPC’s representative on the Board of the 2010 Games Operating Trust stewarding the financial legacy from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In addition, Gail serves on the Board of World Wheelchair Rugby, and was co-chair for the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships and chairs the Canada Cup International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament held every two years at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Gail has organized multiple national and international events in wheelchair rugby, tennis, and athletics, focused on creating legacies that include increased awareness, schools programs, equipment, communications, and sport development.

Finally, Gail was the co-creator of the Bridging the Gap Program that removes barriers to participation in sport for individuals with disabilities, supporting their ongoing participation, and was leading the development and implementation of the Indigenous Bridging the Gap Program. Gail also currently serves on the Board of OneAbility, the Greater Victoria Collaborative for Adapted Sport and Physical Activity.

Gail holds a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and a Graduate Diploma, Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.

Charles Bordeleau, Chair of the Board of Directors for SOC stated that “Gail’s proven leadership, her vision and her passion for athletes with an intellectual disability will be tremendous assets to the Special Olympics movement in Canada and Internationally.”