Following the well-worn path of interprovincial migrants from Ontario to Alberta, Biathlon Canada is the latest organization to make the 3,000-kilometre trip on the TransCanada as it will relocate its headquarters from Ottawa to Canmore by the end of the summer.
Interim general manager Andy Holmwood said the move is a natural progression for the sport, as centralizing the organization will help Biathlon Canada connect with current partners, and find new ones in Alberta.
“Our athletes are here, our coaches are here, many of our partners are here, including Winsport, the Canadian Sport Institute and the Nordic Centre. There isn’t a compelling reason to be in Ottawa any more. We don’t need that immediate face-to-face access to our government partners in Ottawa,” Holmwood said.
The model follows that of Cross Country Canada, and will bring three to four jobs to the Bow Valley. The new offices will relocate to the Bill Warren Training Centre at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The move is the first big task for Holmwood in his new job with the organization. After 10 years as director of the Alberta Bicycle Association and five years as administrative manager with Biathlon Alberta, he’s excited by the new challenge.
“It’s a progression from the work I’ve been doing with Biathlon Alberta. Biathlon Alberta is in a really good spot. We’ve optimized operations and it’s now a well-run, well-organized, successful organization. I was looking to seek out a new challenge, and I’m happy with this position,” Holmwood said.
Chronically underfunded and staring down a $100,000 deficit this year, Holmwood said there is much work to be done with Biathlon Canada, but he’s busily making connections to better understand the national sports scene.
“The first year with a new organization like this, what a person wants to do is get to know the people involved. The whole world at the national and federal level is new to me. In a lot of ways, I started at the most challenging time of the year.” Holmwood said.
If anything, Holmwood has been good luck since taking over on Jan. 1, 2015. Nathan Smith won Canada’s first world championship medal since 1993, and the world cup team looks stronger than ever, with four skiers all posting top-15 results this season. Away from the range, Holmwood says there is more to be done.
“There is a lot of work to be done at Biathlon Canada. We have a very strong technical staff, as is evident with our results. Our role as management is to let those people do their jobs to the utmost, and get out of their way,” Holmwood said.
Since his position is still listed as interim, he’s holding onto his job with Biathlon Alberta for the time being.
