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Wendy Shannon, new general manager of Sovereign Lake Nordic Club (submitted photo)
By Pete McIntyre
new leader

New GM and head coach for Sovereign Lake Nordic Club

Aug 6, 2023 | 9:45 AM

The Sovereign Lake Nordic Club has announced its new general manager.

Wendy Shannon moved to Vernon from Vancouver six years ago with her husband and two children and started working in the lodge in 2019.

“Wendy has a background as a military medic and brings excellent leadership talent, organizational skills, composure, and capability to Sovereign Lake Nordic Club (SLNC),” a news release from the club stated. “These attributes, along with demonstrated outstanding hands-on knowledge of SLNC, led her to become SLNC’s first operations manager last season and an ideal general manager to take SLNC forward in the future.”

Shannon is excited about her new position.

“The sense of community, rich history, and amazing people are the reasons I love SLNC and I am incredibly grateful to be part of the club’s future,” Shannon said.

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The new GM’s goals for SLNC include:

  • Ensuring opportunities in SLNC’s outdoor space and facilities are fully accessible to people from all backgrounds by reducing physical and economic barriers
  • Partnering with club members to strengthen SLNC’s role in the community
  • Guiding a strong professional SLNC team forward
  • Keeping the ‘Fun’ alive in Nordic skiing!
  • Continuing to be a smiling face around the lodge

“The board of directors took the time to ensure we were hiring the best person for the job. The board wholeheartedly believes Wendy is the best choice for GM as SLNC moves forward. We feel very good about this decision. We are confident in the club’s future with Wendy leading the way,” Cyndy Flores, chair of the SLNC’s board of directors, said.

Contact Wendy at gm@sovereignlake.com

Meantime, Darren Derochie has been appointed as cross country head coach for Sovereign Lake Nordic Club.

“Darren is a husband, father, Olympic athlete, long-time SLNC member and elite cross country (XC) coach with over 20 years of vast coaching experience,” the club said.

Derochie said he wants all their program participants to reach their goals and full potential.

“Right now in our club, there are unique opportunities to build upon the generous efforts and important progress that all coaches, athletes, and volunteers have made the past years to get us to this stage. Coaching is a huge privilege. I am truly grateful and stoked to be back in the thick of it and the joy of it all,” Derochie said.

Contact Darren at xccoach@sovereignlake.com

by Pete McIntyre
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