NAIG host society appoints CEO for 2020 Halifax competition
By Sam Laskaris
HALIFAX – Kevin Sandy recently landed himself a rather prestigious job. Sandy, a member of the Cayuga Nation (Wolf Clan), was recently hired by the Mi’kmaw Sport Council of Nova Scotia, to be the chief executive officer (CEO) for the 2020 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) host society.
The 2020 NAIG, which will be staged in Halifax, will run July 12-18. The Games are expected to feature about 5,000 athletes who will compete in 15 sports.
“I was recruited via LinkedIn,” Sandy said. “I didn’t even know about it. I didn’t see any of the postings for it.”
Sandy had lived in southern Ontario in the Six Nations community of Ohsweken the majority of his life. But in July of 2017, he moved with his wife Sue and their two children to the northern Ontario town of South Porcupine, located about 10 kilometers east of Timmins.
After he was offered the plum NAIG job, Sandy was more than happy to accept it.
“It’s kind of a natural extension of what I do with my own company,” he said.
Sandy’s personal business specializes in planning, developing and facilitating traditional games and contemporary sports. It also offers active living workshops and hosts cultural sports tourism events.
Though Sandy’s appointment was only officially announced with a press release this past Friday, his first day as the CEO of NAIG’s host society was Nov. 26.
After telecommuting the first week, Sandy began his start in the office in Halifax on Dec. 4 and officially moved on January 7. But since his contract only runs until July of 2020, he didn’t uproot his family from South Porcupine. That’s partly because his wife has a pair of businesses there—she has a psychotherapy practice and runs an equine assisted learning program.
Plus the couple’s eldest child, son Aamisk, is in his final year of high school studies. The couple also has a daughter, Menaywaywyn, who is in Grade 1.
Sandy already has plenty of experience working with big-time sporting events.
This past April, he was part of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia. He shared life teachings through songs, dances and oral traditions, as well as stick ball games during the opening ceremonies and Games themselves.
Sandy was also the sport manager for lacrosse for the 2017 NAIG, held primarily in Toronto. And he also served as the business cultural co-ordinator for the 2015 Pan Am Parapan Games in Toronto.
Sandy is thrilled he’ll once again play an instrumental role in a major sporting competition.
“This is the largest multi-sport cultural event in Atlantic Canada history,” he said.
The 2011 Canada Winter Games, which were staged in Halifax, had featured about 3,000 athletes.
“I love the opportunity,” Sandy said. “And I love the east coast as well.”
More than a decade ago, he had spent a few weeks in Halifax. That’s because he had served as the general manager of the Iroquois Nationals men’s lacrosse team that captured the silver medal at the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, an international box lacrosse tournament.
Sandy is also thrilled the 2020 NAIG will be hosted in Mi’kmaw territory. Nova Scotia has 13 Mi’kmaw First Nations.
“It’s an excellent opportunity to share their beautiful way of life and their culture,” he said.
The NAIG were first held in 1990 in Edmonton. The 2020 Games will mark the 10th edition of the competition.