Irene McNeill
The only female International Race Officer in Canada since 2012, Irene McNeill has been a ground breaking female race official. Her presence within the arenas of the Canadian and International Race environment has made the sport accountable for the lack of female participants both as racers and as officials. Irene began sailing after graduating from university. Starting in keelboats and then catamarans, she crewed for many years. As a racing sailor, she wanted to know how sailboat races were conducted which began her officiating career. Being a founding member of Leapsailing has enabled Irene’s vision for equity to be a reality.
Congratulations Irene!
We all know Irene as an enthusiastic promoter of sailing especially encouraging women to participate. Particularly notable has been her advancement of women in Race Management. She is a tireless volunteer, teacher, and administrator of so many of the components of sailing and race management. Her leadership has improved the value of sailing both in Canada and abroad.
Irene was appointed Canada’s first female International Race Officer by World Sailing in 2012. She has run many international regattas in Canada, the US, the Caribbean and Europe. Along with Sail Canada, she has championed many initiatives to increase the number of women in race management and improve skills development. Irene has served on or chaired committees at Sail Canada, Ontario Sailing, and Canadian Olympic Regatta Kingston (CORK). Most notable, she was Chair of the Race Management Committee and currently sits on the Sailing Appeals Committee of Sail Canada.
I know we are all extremely proud of Irene to be honoured with the Order of Canada in recognition of her admirable contributions to sailing in Canada and around the world.
Congratulations Irene!
Aurora 'sailor, racer, mentor, trailblazer' to be inducted into Order of Canada
Longtime sailing advocate Irene Y. McNeill among 80 Canadians to be celebrated with the prestigious recognition.... Read more
