The move West
Like many who’ve made the West Coast home, Chrissie is originally from Toronto, ON. She moved to BC to complete her UBC undergraduate degree, and fell in love with the west. Following the birth of her son she made the move to the Sea to Sky area. In her words, “Eight years later, I still pinch myself every day when I step outside and take a look around.”
Volunteering with Sea to Sky
Chrissie first got involved with the club during the pandemic as a way to get outside with her family. After her first season with the club she jumped into coaching her kids (nudge, nudge for anyone considering it), and over time got more involved on the administrative side of the club. We count our lucky stars that she joined the team and her amazing skills are being put to good use on the board.
Beyond the club
When Chrissie isn’t zooming around on her skis she loves to spend time with her family, play outside, and is currently very involved in building a girls rugby program in town. She has spent the last eleven years working at Slack (a tech company), in a variety of roles, most recently as a leader on the Research team. Alongside that, she runs a leadership coaching and consulting practice focused on strategic planning, team effectiveness, company culture, and individual leadership.
Q&A with Chrissie
We caught up with Chrissie after a ski to get answers to some burning questions…
What’s your favourite thing about volunteering with Sea to Sky Nordics?
The people. Getting to know families, parents, coaches, and volunteers, and then seeing the community come to life on Sundays. It’s really special to see what you can create when people are excited to show up and connect.
Skate or classic?
Well every time I go out on skate skis I wonder why I’m doing this to myself…but I do love the exercise. Though nothing beats the peacefulness of a classic ski!
Can you tell us about how you started skiing and what you love most about the sport?
I grew up downhill skiing in Ontario (oy!), and Nordic skiing was completely new to me when we moved to Squamish. Let’s just say it was very humbling. What I love most now is how it gets you outside in the winter, how accessible it is for families, and how it blends movement, nature, and community.
What’s your favourite post-ski snack?
A thermos of chili. And gummies, of course.
If we “google” your name, what will we learn…?
You’ll probably find my work in tech, employee experience and leadership research, and executive coaching; everything I do professionally is centered on how people work together, lead well, and build strong teams. If you go deep you might find some stuff about a washed up rugby and squash player. 🙂
Why are you such a social butterfly? (Let’s organize a party… 🙂!)
Ha! Let this be your reminder to come to our 2026 party on February 28th! But really, I just genuinely love bringing people together. Whether it’s around sport, work, or community, I get a lot of energy from creating spaces where people can connect, feel welcome, and have fun together.
What her co-volunteers say about her
“I got to know Chrissie through our shared admin work for the Nordic Club,” says Jo Gorton, our XC program lead. “What initially felt like it might be a daunting project actually turned into a great experience—primarily because I got to know Chrissie and her lovely family. Chrissie’s intelligence, humour, and big-picture vision bring so much energy to the club; we are incredibly lucky to have her!”