The PacificSport Columbia Basin Society is pleased to announce David Ellis from Fernie will be its inaugural Executive Director.

The society’s goal is to advance sport and physical activity in the Basin. It promotes health by encouraging Basin residents to participate in physical activities, and aims to provide and support services and programs for participants, athletes, coaches and volunteers.

“Having resided in the Elk Valley for the majority of my life, I have enjoyed and witnessed the power of sport and participation in physical activity—whether it is competitive sport or participation in the variety of recreational pursuits offered in the Columbia Basin,” said Ellis. “I’m excited to be involved in an organization focused on supporting excellence and athletic development—from grassroots to podium—while ensuring opportunities for all individuals to participate in physical activity are realized.”

Most recently Ellis has been a high-performance advisor for Own the Podium, a national program that helps Canadian athletes excel at the Olympic and Paralympic games. He also worked for Alpine Canada Alpin for 15 years, including as Athletic Director for Ski Cross and Director of Sport Science.

Neil Muth is Chair of the society’s Board of Directors. “We’re happy to be bringing on an individual with the vision and skills to build and expand the organization’s services, and who is passionate about developing opportunities for sport and physical activity in the Basin.”

The society was founded in March 2015 and is receiving funding of $1.1 million over three years from Columbia Basin Trust and ViaSport. (Read more at cbt.org/sport.) Ellis is looking forward to working with the society’s Board to develop a strategic plan this fall.