Ontario Soccer has elected two new members and re-elected two members to its Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Members (AMM) on Saturday.

Elected to the Ontario Soccer Board of Directors are Brenda Brown (Pickering) as Vice-President, Fabio Costante (Windsor) as Regional Director – West and John Hyland (Markham) as Independent Director. Gerry Gentile (King City), who had been recommended as by the Nominations Committee, was confirmed as the Designated Director.

“I would like to welcome back our returning Board of Director members and as well thank the new Board Members for joining our table. Their work will help set strategy and guide this organization through not only this difficult time but for the years to come,” said Peter Augruso, President and Chair of the Board of Directors. “This election demonstrated our willingness to come together and overcome the distance between us caused by COVID-19. Ontario Soccer is stronger because of it and we will continue to work towards solutions as we navigate through this crisis.”

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s AMM has been split into two parts over two separate weekends. The June 12 and 13 AMM portion was conducted by online video. A second portion of the AMM will take place Sept. 12 in accordance with current government health orders at that time.

“I commend our membership for continuing to work through the challenges of this difficult period,” said Johnny Misley, Chief Executive Officer. “With the recent announcement of Return to Play and now the completion of the 2020 elections, we will return our focus to ensuring a safe return to the fields this summer for all our participants.”

In the Ontario Soccer governance structure, the business of Ontario Soccer is conducted by a Board of Directors, composed of 12 elected individuals and one senior executive.

Previously the Board had been made up of 21 representatives from each District Association, as well as an elected executive of seven for a Board total of 28.

The District Soccer Associations are now represented by a Provincial President’s Forum. The Forum is composed of the President, or designate representing each District Association in Ontario and it submits recommendations to the Ontario Soccer Board of Directors and the CEO on a number of soccer game related matters.