Jackie Morisette Named President of the Canadian Men’s Senior Team

Jackie Morisette, born in Saskatoon, developed a love for football at a young age. When she was eight years old, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies made a presentation at her school. After winning a pair of tickets and convincing her father to take her to a game, she became a lifelong football fan.

In 2008, Morisette became involved in the administrative side of minor football so her son could play. She began with the Fort McMurray Ravens as an administrator, later serving on the board as a director and then vice-president. At the same time, she also worked administratively with the Fort McMurray Football League, running its peewee program and operating a football initiative on the Janvier Chipewyan Prairie First Nation alongside Mr. Leroy Fontaine and his foundation, which helps make football accessible to First Nations players.

In 2014, Morisette took on the role of game day coordinator with the Fort McMurray Monarchs, a semi-pro team in the Alberta Football League. She served in that position for five years, helping the organization win two national championships.

In 2019, she stepped away from football to devote more time to her pursuit of the arts. In 2024, she was approached about taking on the role of Director of Logistics with Canada’s Senior Men’s National Football Team.

She recalls it as a difficult decision.

“I understood the time commitment this would take and how much work would need to go into revamping a team that hadn’t played on the international stage for a while. I went back and forth on it for a long time. In the end, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get back on the sidelines. I am glad I made that decision. Administrative work is often a thankless job, but this group of players and staff made a point of making me feel valued. Seeing how much it meant to them, and how they grew as people through the experience, made it all worthwhile.”

Following the inaugural season, which ended with the team bringing home the GNC Cup - the first world men's tackle competition in a decade - attention quickly turned to the year ahead.

“Knowing Daniel Woloshin was stepping down as president because of personal time constraints, and with Coach Maddox wanting to focus more on the on-field aspects of the organization, I had a decision to make. Stepping into this role is not where my comfort lies. I enjoy the anonymity of behind-the-scenes work. As an Indigenous woman who grew up in a racially charged environment, I still struggle at times with putting myself in positions open to public scrutiny. In my artistic pursuits, I have had to confront and work through that, and it helped lay the foundation for me to take on this role. Paired with a supportive board, staff, and team members, I hope I can give this position what it deserves.”

When asked why she feels so passionately about tackle football, Morisette said its inclusiveness and community impact are what matter most.

“I think it’s important to preserve and build the sport because it is inclusive of every body type. In my years of working in football, the aspect I enjoy most is the value it brings to the communities these players come from. What many people don’t see in senior men’s football is the trickle-down effect. These players take these experiences and skills back into their communities to help mentor and train younger athletes. The stronger we are at the base level, the stronger Canadian football becomes.”

Morisette was elected president of the organization at its AGM this past February.