He has presided over the committee since 2017
The Canadian Paralympic Committee has re-elected Fasken partner Marc-André Fabien as president for a third term, confirming the committee’s new board of directors.
The announcement was made at a special general meeting held in Ottawa, with 28 national sport organization members voting Fabien into the role. He began leading the committee in 2017 and will now continue to do so until 2029.
For over 20 years, he has been a board member, fundraiser, and supporter of the Paralympic Movement in Canada.
“I am honoured to have been elected to serve as president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee for four more years. It is an immense privilege to work alongside all of our sport members and partners, and of course Canada's incredible Paralympians, to grow the Paralympic Movement across our great nation,” Fabien said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing our significant work together to advocate for the importance of sport in Canadian society.”
He highlighted the various ways in which sports impacted Canada, “from instilling Canadian pride through the performances of the athletes on the international stage, helping the economy, creating a healthier Canada, and promoting inclusion, accessibility, and equity.”
Fabien is a litigation and dispute partner at Fasken’s Montréal office who focuses on commercial and shareholders’ disputes, securities litigation and penal proceedings, and litigation involving federal, provincial and municipal bodies. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal of Québec, the Superior Court, administrative tribunals, and the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. In 2012, the Barreau du Québec awarded him the Lawyer Emeritus distinction; he also received the Ensemble Diversity Award, the University of Montréal Law School Alumni Association Award and the Senate’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation Medal.
Paralympian Karolina Wisniewska ran against Fabien for the committee’s presidency. The CPC board’s vice president will be elected during the board’s first meeting at the end of next month.
Dane Jensen and Brenda Plowman join the board for the first time, serving from 2025 to 2029. Meanwhile, Judy Joseph-Black, Peter Lawless, and Michelle Stilwell return to the board for the 2025-2029 term.
Dominique Breton and Phill Gibson will commence two-year terms on the board as new members from 2025 to 2027. David Masse, Cindy Ouellet, and Ian Troop return for the 2025-2027 term.
The board’s athlete representatives will be Jeremy Hall and Heidi Peters, who were named the Canadian Paralympic Athletes' Council chair and vice-chair, respectively. International Paralympic Committee's governing board and Athletes' Council members Chelsey Gotell and Josh Dueck will retain their seats on the CPC board.
Nominations committee chair Ellen Waxman headed up the board nominations process.
