Wednesday, May 3, 2017
by Simon Fraser Athletic Communications

BURNABY, B.C. - Theresa Hanson, the current athletic director at Simon Fraser University, will be inducted into the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame in the Builder Category for her service to the organization as the athletic director at Langara College.

Hanson served on the CCAA Executive from 2000-05 as the Vice President of Finance & Administration and chaired the Finance Committee (2000-05) and the Eligibility Committee (2000-04). Hanson also served as the British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA, now PACWEST) President.

"Theresa is a highly-motivated professional who sets a very high standard for herself and is not one to back down from a challenge," said Jake McCallum, Director, Athletics & Intramurals at Langara College. "Having been fortunate enough to work with Theresa, I was able to see on a daily basis her passion for post-secondary athletics."

Her passion was not only evident in her work at Langara, but extended to the many contributions she made at the provincial and national levels. Hanson worked tirelessly to create opportunities and enhance the student-athlete experience.

"Her work ethic, professionalism and seemingly never-ending energy was infectious and earned her the admiration of her colleagues at the provincial and national levels," said McCallum.

Hanson's tenure at Langara began when, at 29, she decided to change careers from the financial industry to sport administration. She never looked back.

"It was one of the best decisions I have ever made," said Hanson. "When I first walked in to my office at Langara, I knew that I was starting a lifelong career that I would love."

While at Langara, Hanson hosted CCAA Nationals twice – the 1997 Men's & Women's Basketball Championships and the 2000 Men's & Women's Soccer Championships.

Hosting CCAA National Championships were extraordinary experiences, ones she has always treasured. The 1997 event was particularly memorable for Hanson, who was 8-and-a-half months pregnant at the time.

"It was a herculean effort on the part of so many people to pull it off and it made hosting three years later look easy," she said.

Regardless of the long hours and heavy lifting that go into hosting Nationals, the positive profile to Langara and the CCAA is immeasurable according to Hanson.

"Most importantly, it provided an amazing experience and life long memories to student-athletes," she said. "And that truly is the measuring stick of our jobs – making a positive difference in the lives of our student-athletes."

In 2013, she was appointed the Chef de Mission for Canada at the University Games in Kazan, Russia. The following year, Hanson was inducted into the Greater Trail Home of Champions Registry.

Today, Hanson believes she is a better athletic director and an even better person because of her time at Langara and in the CCAA. Her fondest memories, to this day, are the people she met along the way.

"The CCAA taught me that the foundation of every job, regardless of profession, is to value the people.  And it is that simple philosophy that has been a pillar throughout my career," said Hanson.

"I truly am the lucky one to have been part of the CCAA and its extraordinary organization."