Hosted at the beautiful Spruce Meadows, this premier event brings together the sport community to celebrate outstanding athletes, volunteers, and the power of sport for an unforgettable afternoon.
At Celebration of Sport 2026, we bring together leaders from across the sport sector to explore how major sporting events can strengthen and inspire grassroots sport.
A highlight of the event is an inspiring panel discussion exploring the journeys of athletes and leaders, and how grassroots sport drives the next generation of leadership, both on and off the field of play.
Don’t miss this inspiring and engaging preview of the next Winter Games!
Carlo Bruneau is a sport executive and community builder with more than 15 years of experience in amateur sport, recreation, and organizational leadership. As Executive Director of the Calgary Minor Soccer Association, he is focused on growing the game, expanding access to sport, strengthening partnerships, and advancing the facilities and infrastructure needed to support Calgary’s rapidly growing soccer community.
Carlo believes sport has the power to build confidence, connection, resilience, and leadership in young people. His work is driven by a commitment to collaboration, community impact, and creating meaningful opportunities for athletes, families, clubs, coaches, referees, and volunteers.
Through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and long-term planning, Carlo continues to help position soccer as a powerful vehicle for community development and youth leadership in Calgary.
Jay McNeil was appointed team President on January 23, 2024. The former Stampeders offensive lineman had returned to the organization on September 22, 2022, in the role of Vice-President of Business Operations.
McNeil played for the Stampeders from 1994 to 2007, earning Canadian Football League all-star recognition on three occasions and West Division all-star honours six times. McNeil was a member of Grey Cup-championship teams in 1998 and 2001 and was twice voted by teammates as the winner of the Presidents’ Ring for excellence on and off the field.
After his playing career, McNeil remained in Calgary and built a strong business career, leading sales and business operations for several companies including Trinidad Drilling, Tervita, Secure Energy and most recently in the role of COO for Cleantek Industries.
McNeil also maintained strong ties to football, serving as a trustee for the CFL Players Pension Plan and as Vice-President of the Canadian Football League Players Association. He also continued his association with the Stampeders, acting as a community ambassador for the team’s alumni association.
McNeil has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kent State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Fredericton.
Logan Ruzycki is an experienced flag football coach, former competitive athlete, and business professional dedicated to developing young athletes and growing the sport in Alberta. Having played flag football since the age of nine, he has spent the last six years coaching at both grassroots and provincial levels.
Since joining the Calgary Youth Flag Football League (CYFFL) in 2020, Logan has advanced to a Lead Coach role and has led multiple travel teams. Most recently, he guided the U14 team to a championship at the Edmonton Regional Tournament, helping athletes succeed both on and off the field.
At the provincial level, Logan has served as Head Coach of Football Alberta’s U14 Girls Flag Football Team for the past two seasons. Under his leadership, the program became the first Alberta flag football team to win a medal and the first in Football Alberta history to earn medals in consecutive years, helping establish Alberta as an emerging force in Canadian youth flag football.
Off the field, Logan graduated with honours from the University of Calgary with a double major in Finance and Political Science and a minor in Sociology. After working in corporate finance, he joined his family’s business, helping oversee operations across multiple retail locations in Alberta and British Columbia. Whether in coaching or business, Logan is committed to building high-performing teams, developing future leaders, and creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 10:45 AM | Registration Opens |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Networking & Lunch |
| 12:00 – 12:15 PM | Welcome |
| 12:15 – 12:40 PM | Awards |
| 12:45 – 1:25 PM | Panel |
| 1:25 – 1:30 PM | Closing Remarks |
| 1:30 – 2:00 PM | Networking |
Sport Calgary greatly appreciates the sponsors that support Celebration of Sport 2026.
The theme of the afternoon was Driving a Path Forward. With an engaging panel discussion exploring the journeys of athletes and leaders, we discussed how grassroots sport drives the next generation of leadership, both on and off the field.
