2008 News and Information
John Mills Takes Helm at Richmond Oval
04 September 2008The Richmond Oval Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of John Mills as General Manager for the Richmond Oval effective September 8, 2008.
Mills will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Richmond Oval, which will officially open to the public in December of this year. The Richmond Oval will be home of long track speed skating for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
“John Mills is a talented leader with the skills and experience necessary to help us achieve our vision of the Oval as a world leading venue for sport that delivers outstanding community benefits to the people of Richmond,” said Michael O’Brien, chair of the Richmond Oval Corporation board of directors.
Mills has a distinguished career in senior management in sport and related fields. For the past two years, he has served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism, Sport & the Arts for the Province of BC with responsibility for sport, recreation and ActNow BC.
From 1998 to 2006, he was President of the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA), whose mandate is to promote Canadian Olympic winter sport excellence. CODA supports national sport organizations, encourages educational opportunities, and subsidizes the operation of unique training and recreational facilities used by the nation's top athletes and the general public. Mills was also Executive Director and President, Sport BC from 1988 to 1997.
“The Oval will be the premier venue of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and a major contributor to sport, recreation and wellness in the decades following,“ said Mills. “I am honoured to play a lead role in achieving the vision which the City of Richmond and the Richmond Oval Corporation have for this remarkable facility.”
Mills will report to the Oval’s Chief Executive Officer George Duncan. The Richmond Oval Corporation was established earlier this year by the City of Richmond to operate the facility and is overseen by an 11-member board of directors.
The Richmond Oval will open later this year. In the pre-Games period, the Oval will be used for speed skating training and competition, along with extensive community sport, recreation and fitness programming. Post-Games, the facility will become a multi-purpose centre of excellence for sports and wellness, offering a broad array of sport, recreational, health, cultural and community programs.
