Organic Chemistry is the study of structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of natural compounds, making it the perfect theme and guide to your 2017 edition of Olympic Lab. At the inaugural Olympic Lab we discovered the necessary elements for success. Now we re-unite at the 2017 edition to create a custom formula for these elements — to combine the best-possible circumstances with the best-possible reactions and equal the best-possible results in PyeongChang. It’s organic chemistry in action, Team Canada style.
Internationally renowned coach and corporate consultant Philippa Bond is one of the sharpest thinkers in her field. Her seminars work with the combination of the mind, body and spirit relationship —the foundation ongoing personal and professional development.
Bond specializes in leadership training, facilitation skills, strategic thinking and management. She has worked with corporate executives to elite athletes. Bond is a proven educator with an enchanting style who is an inspiration to all who attend her programs.
Retired Canadian short track speedskater Isabelle Charest will be Team Canada's chef de mission for Team Canada at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang.
Having joined the national team in 1988, Isabelle Charest began her rise on the international short track speed skating scene in the early 1990s. She made her Olympic debut at Lillehammer 1994, winning silver as part of the 3000m relay. She followed that with appearances at Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002, winning a pair of bronze medals with the 3000m relay. At the latter, she recorded her best individual Olympic result, placing fourth in the 500m. Charest was inducted to Speed Skating Canada’s Hall of Fame in 1997. She served as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games as well as Assistant Chef de Mission at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Ashton Eaton is a two-time Olympic champion, holds two world records, and is the second decathlete to break the 9,000-point barrier. He earned gold at the 2012 Games in London and successfully defended the title at Rio 2016, tied the Olympic record in the process. Eaton is only the third Olympian to achieve back-to-back gold medals in the decathlon. He announced his retirement from the sport January 3, 2017.
Two time Olympic bronze-medal winning coach John Herdman knows the imperfect science of inspiration. He’s proven it to the “struggling squad” that carried itself to Olympic success under his leadership, but also to the country that team represents. Known for his expertise in helping high-performing, “abnormal” people unlock their own potential, his talks have become renowned.
“He’s one of the most motivational speakers you’ll come across,” Canadian goaltender Erin McLeod has said.
As head coach, Herdman led Canada’s women’s soccer team to bronze medals at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games after clinching the first Pan Am gold medal in Canadian soccer history at the 2011 Games in Mexico.
Captain, veteran and Canadian icon Christine Sinclair has called him: “The best coach I’ve ever had.”
Herdman also led the New Zealand national squad from 2006-2011 and acted as New Zealand’s director of football development, where he introduced changes that revolutionized how soccer is organized.
His messages emphasize the importance of developing a high-performance culture, overcoming adversity with grace and the role of leaders to inspire trust, confidence, and success, in any environment.
Defying the odds in pursuit of a peak performance is not unusual in the world of elite sport. But Vince Poscente’s story of recreational athlete to Olympic-level performer in just four years is the stuff of a motivational champion.
His testimony legitimizes an equation that can accelerate results.
With only four years of training behind him, Poscente earned the right to march with the Canadian team into the Opening Ceremony of the Albertville 1992 Winter Games in France. In the demonstration sport of speed skiing, Poscente hit 135 mph on skis — attaining an incredible personal dream. In doing so, he uncovered an achievement strategy that has since helped influential leaders and high-performing people define and reach their own massive goals.
A New York Times bestselling author of seven books, a leader and participant on six Himalayan expeditions and an internationally sought-after speaker, Poscente brings a high-energy perspective to people demanding elite performances from themselves.
He is identified as “the” expert on reaching goals, fast.
Penny Werthner is one of Canada’s most distinguished consultants in the field of sport psychology. She is a kinesiologist with excellent leadership skills and more than 30 years of distinguished experience in sport consulting, program management and academic leadership. An Olympic athlete herself in athletics, she has served as a sport psychology consultant for national and Olympic teams since 1985.
Rosie MacLennan made history at Rio 2016 when she became the first trampolinist to ever win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. She also became the first Canadian athlete to successfully defend an Olympic title at the summer Games and the first Canadian woman to win two gold medals in an individual event at the summer Games. Four years earlier, MacLennan had won Canada’s only gold medal at London 2012 where she performed the most difficult routine of the competition to earn a career-high score and Canada’s first-ever Olympic trampoline gold.
After her first Olympic triumph, MacLennan maintained her top international ranking, winning her first world title in 2013. She added another silver in 2014. After recovering from an injury, MacLennan was happy just to be able to compete at the 2015 World Championships, finishing fourth.
With eight Olympic Games to his name, Peter Jensen knows how to help athletes achieve high performance levels under intense pressure. He has earned a deep understanding of what it takes to be a successful leader of high performers and is a top-rated instructor in seven programs at Queen’s Smith School of Business including the Queen’s MBA and EMBA. An author of three books, Jensen combines fundamental leadership concepts with new ideas and ongoing insights from Olympic coaches and corporate leaders.
As a speaker, Jensen has the power to invigorate audiences through humour, personal experiences and concrete, actionable content. And, as a ‘developer of people’ his strength is in creating environments where people learn and grow.
The arrangement and relations between parts of something complex. In essence, our “structure” is the Olympic environment in PyeongChang. Its challenges, its scenarios, its nuances and advantages will all be part of how we will learn to create the best possible circumstances.
An essential or distinct quality of a thing. Our properties make us who we are. Understanding what these properties mean, why they are important and precisely when they must shine will be a critical part of finding our Olympic formula.
The act of combining elements to form a whole. We have proven we are stronger together. By establishing our shared goals, learning our inter-team dynamics and understanding our personalities, we will learn the best way to first unite each of our individual teams, then come together to create the ultimate Team Canada reaction.
An action performed or feeling experienced in response to a situation. How we react to any circumstance at Games will be defining. By creating the right reactions, we can learn to predict the unpredictable and control the uncontrollable, no matter what PyeongChang gives us.
The process of making ready for use. We will all be prepared, each in our own way. But by planning to respond together and visualizing adversity, we will amplify the preparation we have accomplished individually.
The Lab will officially begin at 12:30 PM on June 1, 2017, while registration will open at 10 AM at the Sheraton Eau Claire. Final sessions will wrap up at 3 PM on June 2, 2017. The full schedule can be found on the Schedule page.
For athletes and media attachés, the COC Media Summit takes place following the Lab on June 3-4, 2017. Find out more about the Media Summit on the Media Summit page.
Shuttles will be arranged for transfers from the Calgary Airport to the Sheraton Calgary Eau Claire.
All invitees are encouraged to stay at the official Olympic Lab hotel, including Calgary residents. Accommodation will be based on double occupancy at the Sheraton Calgary Eau Claire. Alternately, the option to book single rooms will be charged back later on at a rate of $95/night, subject to availability.
Canadian Olympic Team partner ATPI is happy to plan and book your flights. They will be contacting registered participants within the week after your confirmation of attendance.
Expenses associated with your stay will be covered by the Canadian Olympic Committee for the duration of the Lab. Accommodation booked outside of the host hotel will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Travel to Calgary that is not booked through the COC travel agents, including car travel and associated parking costs, will be reimbursed for economy travel up to a maximum of $750.00, with receipts. Travel booked using any rewards programs (e.g., Air Miles or Aeroplan) will not be reimbursed by the COC. All self-arranged travel details (dates, times, flight numbers, arrival time by car) must be submitted to tim.smith@olympic.ca as soon as confirmation of travel is available, and no later than May 10, 2017. Parking costs at the Sheraton Calgary Eau Claire will be covered by the COC. Mileage will be reimbursed as per COC policy.
Sport Partners will be charged a conference fee of $220 after the event.
A COC expense claim can be found here, and will be distributed via email post-event.
If you have any questions, concerns, feedback or just want to send a note, please feel free to contact us at cdnolympicteam@olympic.ca.
Endorphins
Inhibit the transmission of pain signals; they may also produce a feeling of euphoria.
A runners high.
Dopamine
Major role in reward-motivated behavior.
Makes Extreme Athletes Risk It All.
Serotonin
Feelings of well-being and happiness from Achievements
Oxytocin
Human bonds and acts of generosity in social recognition
Thank you. Your registration for the upcoming Olympic Lab 2017 is now confirmed. Our travel agency will be in contact with you within a week to book your flights (if required). If you have any questions or concerns please contact cdnolympicteam@olympic.ca.
Please note that emails from our travel agency can be mistaken for spam in some systems. Please check your junk mailbox accordingly. Also, when confirming your ticket please ensure that the name on the ticket matches the name listed in your passport.