About Bingham Cup Ottawa 2022

President

Jean-François Laberge

From being a professional lifeguard to a CSIA Levell II ski instructor, to competing in all manner of sports, Jean-François does not recall a day when sports were not part of his life. He joined the Ottawa Wolves seven years ago and participated in four Bingham Cups, including Nashville as Captain of the team. Jean-François is fully bilingual. Professionally, he has worked on Parliament Hill, been a Lecturer at the Faculty of French Common Law of Ottawa University and until recently was a Partner and Head of the Litigation Group at Low Murchison Radnoff LLP, one of Ottawa’s oldest law firms. Jean-François currently splits his time between Toronto and Ottawa as Practice Lead & Discipline Counsel for the Law Society of Ontario.

VP Tournament

Carl Pilon

Carl Pilon is a foreign service officer with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. It was only a few days after he arrived on posting in San Francisco in 2005 that he joined the Fog, with whom he played for two years. Upon his return to Ottawa he and his husband founded the Wolves, who played their first season in the Eastern Ontario Rugby Union in 2009, and their first Bingham Cup in Minneapolis in 2010. After being assigned to Stockholm, he joined the newly formed Berserkers, with whom he played until 2014. Upon returning to Ottawa in 2015 he reintegrated his Wolves family. His greatest achievements in rugby, apart from helping two IGR clubs get off the ground, is scoring winning tries (as a prop) in two different Bingham Cups for two different teams, in Minneapolis for the Wolves and Manchester for the Berserkers.

VP Finance

Dave Rose

Dave Rose first started playing rugby with the original players that formed the Ottawa Wolves RFC. He then served on the Board as Vice President, President and most notably was coach of the men’s side for 3 seasons. Dave currently sits on the Board of the Eastern Ontario Rugby Union as the Vice President Finance and Administration and has been in that position for the last 7 years. He also served for 2 years on the Audit Committee of Rugby Ontario.

VP Volunteers

Alysha Puro

Although very new to playing rugby herself, you’ve definitely see a Alysha kicking around the sidelines and at most Ottawa Wolves events over the last 3 years. Alysha grew up in Northern Ontario and was introduced to rugby in 2019 when her fiancé joined the team. Now, at 32 years old, playing her first season as the Ottawa Wolves tighthead prop, Alysha has found an unfathomable passion for rugby and an incredible community with the Ottawa Wolves.

VP Events

Craig Sklenar

Craig has been involved in the rugby community since 2007. Joining the Chicago Dragons, Craig’s leadership of the team included two years as Fundraising Chair and two years as President. He helped guide the club through reorganization and growth leading to today’s robust club. Craig’s passion for rugby and commitment to the LGBTQ2A Community provided the drive to support organizations like Calgary Pride. For two years, Craig led the efforts to engage elected officials and government bodies as Director of Government Affairs for the organization. His role on the board also included the co-direction of the parade itself, organizing over 150 entries, 4,500 participants of an event that attracted over60,000 people on the day itself. This included coordination with local events management and city staff to ensure the safety and organization of the parade was executed without issues. Craig brings this broad experience to the Ottawa Wolves Bingham Board and is excited to host our IGR family in 2022.

Charbel Choueiri

Charbel has been involved in Rugby since joining the Ottawa Wolves in 2009. He served as Events coordinator on the Ottawa Wolves Board of Director and Treasurer for many years. Prior to working as an Executive Assistant to a Senior Canadian Government official, Charbel was the events coordinator for the Canadian AIDS Society from 1998 until 2003. During that time, he planned and organised various International Symposiums and managed the AIDS Walk Canada across the country. He was also a member of the organising committee of Capital Pride from1999 to 2001.

VP Community

Nadine

Nadine has been an active player with the Ottawa Wolves Rugby Football Club since2014, and has served on the Wolves’ Board of Directors for the past 4 years, including in her current role of President. Since emigrating from Lebanon as a child, Nadine has found a true home in Ottawa’s thriving sports community as a competitive athlete and taking on leadership roles in rugby, volleyball, basketball, fencing, and, most recently, Olympic lifting and powerlifting. Nadine also has over a decade of experience as a high-performance volleyball coach for teenage girls. She has sought to harness her leadership and experience in athletics, women’s empowerment, and her sense of community and diversity as a way to not only focus on strengthening and driving the expansion of the Ottawa Wolves’ men’s and women’s side but also strengthen its relationship within the LGBTQ2+ community. Off the pitch, you will probably find Nadine nursing a scotch and her most recent rugby injury.

Communication Manager

Nicholas Roy Gregor

As a person who struggled with mental health growing up as well as always having struggles with my own belonging and fitting it, the team nature and family aspect of rugby just clicked with me. I not only found new friends, but I also found a part of myself. The Bingham Cup represents everything that rugby was for me growing up, identity, belonging, support, honourability and pioneering. I could not think of a worthier cause that I would be winging to donate my time to so that others internationally can find the same inclusion that I found. As a student who is aspiring to be a lawyer, I feel that is a duty of mine to pass along the virtues that rugby taught me to all that I can.

Communication Manager

Matthew Fyfe

I am studying communications and media studies at Carleton University I am currently in my fourth year of school and heading into my second year of rugby at Carleton. I’m truly excited to volunteer as part of the communication strategy team for the 2022 edition of the Bingham Cup in Ottawa!

Communication Manager

Angus Lau

I’m currently studying financial economics at Carleton University and am in my first year and heading to my second year with Ravens Rugby. I’ve been playing rugby since grade 7 I’m very excited to volunteer for the Bingham Cup as part of the communication strategy team to give back to the rugby community.

Volunteer Manager

Anna Dodge

A word from Anna: "I am currently about to enter my last semester of my Health Science degree at the University of Ottawa. I'm originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, but was drawn to Ottawa largely due to the welcoming rugby community present here. I have been a work-study for the uOttawa Women's Rugby team for almost 4 years now, primarily focusing on academics, community outreach, and fundraising. I am looking forward to another summer full of rugby this year!"

Volunteer Manager

Sarah White

A word from Sarah: " am a fourth year Human Kinetics student at the university of Ottawa. I am also a member of the GeeGees Women's Rugby Team at the University. I started playing rugby when I was 10 years old for my hometown club the Peterborough Pagans. I instantly fell in love with the aggression of the game and community it creates. I am very thankful for all that rugby has taught me and I am excited to with the Bingham up this summer."

Volunteer Manager

Ngozi Mosindi

A word from Ngozi: "I am a third year Criminology student at the University of Ottawa. I am originally from Ottawa, and started playing rugby through my high school, St. Petes. I instantly fell in love with the community I found through rugby, and is one of the reasons I decided to stay home to pursue my studies. I am extremely excited to see such a large international competition take place here, and am looking forward to the involvement I will have."

VP Volunteer

Bailey Leemans

Born and raised in Ottawa, Bailey has watched a variety of sports develop and grow in the area. Growing up you would have found her on a soccer field most days of the week. Being an avid sports fan she chose to pursue a degree in Sports Management at Brock University, where she met her future husband, who brought Rugby into her life. After a few years on the sidelines, the wonderful community that is Rugby, welcomed her to the Ottawa Wolves Womxn Team. She is happy to dust off her event management skills to ensure this wonderful community has an exceptional tournament.