Nine Participants Selected For Women In Football Program
TORONTO (April 29, 2022) – The Canadian Football League (CFL) and KPMG LLP (KPMG) are proud to welcome the first cohort of participants to the Women in Football Program. Each of the CFL’s nine member clubs will welcome one woman to join their football operations or business administration departments for a four-week development opportunity coinciding with the start of training camp on May 15.
“We’re thrilled to open our doors to these talented women,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. “I know our teams will create a meaningful and immersive educational experience for our participants. Wherever their careers take them, we hope they reflect on this program with a clear sense of positivity and purpose.”
In addition to the program’s football-centric elements, KPMG will offer participants on-going support and mentorship focused on skill-development in business-focused settings.
“Congratulations to the inaugural class of the Women in Football program,” comments Regional Managing Partner, Ruth Todd of KPMG. “Mentorship and providing opportunities to women is a key component of our firm’s professional development strategy, and we look forward to working alongside the CFL to support the participants as they explore future careers in sports and business.”
Jessica Szabo, Account Director, Global Partnerships, and Co-Chair of the league office’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee, sees the program as an important stepping stone – not only for its participants and their professional development, but also the CFL.
“We look forward to tracking the progress of the first cohort and learning from the teams’ and participants’ experiences. We’ll continue to work closely with KPMG to explore new ways to deepen the program’s impact to reach and empower more women as we grow the game across the country.”
WOMEN IN FOOTBALL PROGRAM PRESENTED BY KPMG – 2022 COHORT
(Team: Name | Hometown | Area of focus)
- Montreal Alouettes: Andreanne Dupont-Parent | Montreal | Football Operations
- Ottawa REDBLACKS: Meagan Ferguson | Stratford, P.E.I. | Coaching
- Toronto Argonauts: Deidre Donaldson | Brampton, Ont. | Football Operations
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Paige Ottaviano | Port Colborne, Ont. | Football Operations
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Taylor MacIntyre | Cambridge, Ont. | Coaching
- Saskatchewan Roughriders: Amanda Ruller | Regina | Coaching
- Calgary Stampeders: Tara McNeil | Calgary | Strength and Conditioning
- Edmonton Elks: Elisha Torraville | Calgary | Football Operations
- BC Lions: Olyvia Hoban | Calgary | Equipment Management
ABOUT THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Built on a foundation of more than 110 years of football tradition and history, the Canadian Football League features nine teams, millions of fans and a commitment to service to the community, as well as, elite sport. To stay up to date with CFL news, visit CFL.ca.
ABOUT KPMG IN CANADA
KPMG LLP, a limited liability partnership, is a full-service Audit, Tax and Advisory firm owned and operated by Canadians. For over 150 years, our professionals have provided consulting, accounting, auditing, and tax services to Canadians, inspiring confidence, empowering change, and driving innovation. Guided by our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Courage, Together, For Better, KPMG employs more than 10,000 people in over 40 locations across Canada, serving private- and public-sector clients. KPMG is consistently ranked one of Canada’s top employers and one of the best places to work in the country. KPMG in Canada has been recognized as one of Canada’s top diversity employers 15 years in a row.
The firm is established under the laws of Ontario and is a member of KPMG’s global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a private English company limited by guarantee. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. For more information, see home.kpmg/ca.
