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For Immediate Release
August 13,2024
CFLPA Appoints Peter Dyakowski as the Association's Interim Executive Director
Toronto, ON. - The Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Dyakowski as the interim Executive Director. Dyakowski, a highly respected former CFL player and long-time advocate for athletes' rights, will assume the role at the end of September following the departure of Brian Ramsay.
Dyakowski enjoyed a very successful 11-year CFL career while playing with two organizations across the league. His experience as a player and his deep understanding of the challenges faced by CFLPA members, make him uniquely qualified to lead the Association during this transitional period.
"We are delighted to have Peter step into this important role", said CFLPA President, Solomon Elimimian. "His dedication to the betterment of our members, combined with his extensive experience and leadership qualities, make him the ideal person to lead the CFLPA at this important time. We are confident that the Association will continue to succeed under Peter's leadership."
Dyakowski has been an active voice in the CFLPA for many years. After serving as a player representative with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2013-2015, Peter was elected to the CFLPA's Executive Board as Treasurer, a position that he excelled in from 2016-2024. Serving in various capacities within the Association has given Peter a deep understanding of the organization's operations and the issues facing its members.
“I am honored to take on this role and to have the opportunity to serve all CFLPA members in this capacity,” said newly appointed Interim Executive Director, Peter Dyakowski. "The CFLPA has a long history of advocating for it's players’ rights, and I am committed to ensuring that we build on that legacy."
The CFLPA will begin an extensive search for a permanent Executive Director in the coming months. In the meantime, Dyakowski will work closely with the CFLPA’s leadership team, staff, and membership to ensure a seamless transition and to continue advancing the Association's key initiatives.
About the CFLPA: The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) is the union for professional football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Since 1965, the Association has worked to establish fair and reasonable working conditions while protecting the rights of all CFL players. In addition to negotiating and enforcing the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the CFLPA provides a variety of member services, builds corporate and community partnerships, and works diligently for the betterment of its membership. For the latest news regarding the CFLPA, please visit www.cflpa.com or follow us on social media @CFLPA.
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For More Information - CFLPA Media Contact:
Brendan Heisler, CFLPA Office | b.heisler@cflpa.com | (647) 453-4848
For Immediate Release
August 8th, 2024
Toronto, ON. - The CFLPA announced today that Executive Director Brian Ramsay is pursuing a new opportunity and will leave the organization effective at the end of September.
The CFLPA’s Board of Directors will be naming an Interim CFLPA Executive Director in the near future. CFLPA President Solomon Elimimian as well as the other current members of the Board of Directors, Administration and its roster of special Advisors will remain in place and continue to guide the Association. "I would like to thank Brian for his tireless advocacy on behalf of our membership as we have seen new heights as an organization under his leadership. I am excited for Brian, and I wish him every success," said Elimimian.
“It has been a true honour to serve each and every member of the CFLPA for the past nine years,” said Brian Ramsay. “Today, the CFLPA sits firmly on top of a strong foundation and is led by a great Executive with clear vision as well as strong and dedicated player representatives. I am proud that we always listened closely to the players and for the many achievements we’ve had together on behalf of the players.”
Ramsay joined the CFLPA as its first full-time Executive Director in 2016 and immediately made positive changes that encouraged a more active and engaged membership whose input helped steer progressively stronger bargaining teams during collective negotiations in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Ramsay continued, “This was not an easy decision but it's being made with the confidence that the CFLPA has a very bright future with powerful leadership and significant momentum to keep moving forward.”
Under Ramsay’s leadership, the CFLPA has:
- prioritized and improved player safety by advocating for data-driven rule changes that have resulted in reductions to serious injuries
- established and developed mental health and substance abuse programs for CFLPA members
- introduced new initiatives that have made equipment safer, including the adoption of minimum helmet standards
- negotiated a reduction in contact practices that resulted in 33% fewer head injuries in the first year of adoption
- extended rehabilitation coverage for football related injuries by five times the previously set time period
- formed and led a coalition of professional athletes (NHLPA, PHPA, PWHPA, NLLPA, NBPA, MLBPA, MLSPA) to pursue workers’ compensation coverage for all athletes in Canada
- introduced more wellbeing and workplace skills development supports for players and their families through the CFLPA Academy (85% of active players are enrolled in the Academy which means that more players than ever before will be better prepared for life after football)
- negotiated year over year increases to the salary cap while reintroducing revenue sharing and guaranteed contracts for the first time in CFL history
- ensured a more transparent and democratic Association by encouraging more members to be active and vocal, resulting in a union approval rating over 90%
- improved day to day business processes to put the CFLPA on stronger financial footing
- introduced strategic partnerships with some of the largest and most influential unions in North America including the United Steelworkers
- been partners in innovation through early adoption of technology designed to help grow the game
- held the CFL and its owners more accountable to the players
More details on Brian Ramsay’s future pursuits will be shared publicly in the coming days.
The entire CFLPA would like to thank Brian for his dedication and contributions to the Association and wish him and his family the very best.
About the CFLPA: The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) is the union for professional football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Since 1965, the Association has worked to establish fair and reasonable working conditions while protecting the rights of all CFL players. In addition to negotiating and enforcing the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the CFLPA provides a variety of member services, builds corporate and community partnerships, and works diligently for the betterment of its membership. For the latest news regarding the CFLPA, please visit www.cflpa.com or follow us on social media @CFLPA.
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For More Information - CFLPA Media Contact:
Brendan Heisler, CFLPA Office | b.heisler@cflpa.com | (647) 453-4848
The CFLPA Academy is working with former members who have transitioned out of sport and into new careers post-football.
CFL Players' Association members mandated the creation of the player development resource provided for all Active CFL players in 2016. Our team at the CFLPA Academy are ecstatic to announce we have just completed our most comprehensive, and successful off-season of programming ever.
The CFLPA and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have partnered to provide Academy members access to the polytechnic’s School of Continuing Education courses and programs through a tuition benefit program.
Additionally, CFLPA members’ spouses can also access this fantastic resource.
Beyond these amazing Academy benefits, SaskPolytech is also the presenting sponsor of #TeamCFLPA's Player HQ during Grey Cup week!
Enriched Academy is a financial education and awareness company that will provide important assistance to CFLPA Academy members in managing their finances while offering career guidance.
Members will benefit by enhancing their overall financial knowledge through informative, entertaining, and engaging learning programs!
Athabasca University provides learning for life. Through the achievements of its students, faculty and staff, AU stands out as a provider of high quality post-secondary education.
Eligible CFLPA Academy members (partners and spouses included) are entitled to receive FREE COURSE CREDITS as a result of this amazing partnership.
Many of us have long seen our sport as our primary identity, making the shift to new careers post-playing a bit uncomfortable and intimidating. That's why we're excited about teaming up with Shift Group, aiming to make this transition more seamless and less stressful. It provides an excellent avenue for retired athletes seeking a career with unlimited earning potential that fulfills our competitive nature.
Shift Group also helps with generally learning the key skills of motivating and influencing others to take action. Key for any job hunt in any profession, and a critical part of almost any role you land!
So, if you're looking for ways to enhance your sales skills or explore career placement opportunities, this could be an ideal opportunity for you!
In this course you'll hone competencies to excel in self, team, and organizational leadership within a sports context. Dive into real-world sport cases and challenges as your training ground.
Collaborate with your cohort and instructor to pinpoint your leadership strengths and chart a personal development path.
This course is open enrolment and enjoys a diverse learning community of sport leaders from practitioners, to sport administrators, officials, sport journalists, athletes, directors, agents and advisors.
Sincere and ongoing thanks to Dr. Jennifer Walinga, and the full Royal Roads University team for your collaboration, and continued hard work!
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