MONTREAL—One of Canada’s most accomplished Kata athletes, Claudia Laos-Loo (British Columbia), has been elected by her peer group to serve a three-year term on Karate Canada’s Board of Directors.

The 2023 Pan American Games bronze medallist from British Columbia will share athlete director responsibilities on the Board with Daniel Sanchez Griborio.

Laos-Loo has represented Canada internationally at both the senior and junior levels where she is a podium contender each time she enters a competition. The Surrey, B.C. resident also spends considerable time giving back to the community. The Starbucks-sponsored athletes and Barista, who is anxious to share her experience on the Athlete Council, is also a volunteer Karate instructor, and an aspiring secondary school teacher.

A handful of new faces will be joining Laos-Loo on the Board of Directors for three-year terms of their own.

Accomplished New Brunswick-based Karate official, instructor, administrator and athlete, Katheryn Douglass, will share her knowledge and experience with respect to policy development while beginning her first tenure on the Board.

She will be joined by another adult competitor at the national level, Andreas Kuntze (British Columbia). The Richmond, B.C.-based litigation lawyer and past-President of Karate BC., was re-elected for a three-year term. Kuntze, who is an international referee for Canada, has fostered the growth of Karate at all levels while promoting athlete-centric sport governance.

Yogen Mungroosing (Quebec), a WKF 8th Dan, is well-known in Canada’s karate community, having officiated as a WKF Judge A and Referee of high-performance athletes both internationally and domestically was also re-elected to a three-year term. When not on a tatami, Mungroosing has held a number of managerial positions in the aviation industry over the last four decades.

Vanessa Restrepo (British Columbia) rounds out the new-look Board. Originally from Colombia where she not only represented her country but did so winning medals internationally, Restrepo has gained the respect around the world as a competitor, coach and friend of many. She is currently employed by the RCMP in British Columbia and is anxious to help shape the direction of Karate Canada.

The five newcomers to the 11-member Board of Directors were elected during the organization’s Annual General Meeting, September 28. They will join previously elected Board members: Craig Vokey  (Ontario) (President); Danny Morin (Quebec) (Treasurer); Daniel Sanchez Griborio (Ontario) (Athlete Director); Patricia Karl (Alberta); Blake Paterson (Ontario); and Oleg Raileanu (Ontario).

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