Eight Team Canada athletes join Smith School of Business this spring
Posted on March 26, 2026
Toronto/Kingston, Ont. – Smith School of Business, alongside the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and Game Plan, is pleased to announce a new cohort of Team Canada athletes joining the Smith community.
Eight Olympic, Paralympic and national-level athletes have been selected to receive Game Plan Awards, supporting their transition from high-performance sport into the next phase of their careers. Through these awards, they’ll pursue graduate-level business education at Smith, enrolling in the Executive MBA Americas, Executive MBA – The National Program, and Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship programs.
Congratulations to:
Julie Steggall, Freestyle Skiing (Executive MBA- The National Program)
Tamara Tatham, Basketball (Executive MBA Americas)
Poonam Sandhu-Mooker, Field Hockey (Executive MBA Americas)
Phylicia George – Athletics/Bobsleigh (Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
Adriana Portuondo – Judo (Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
Stephen Calkins – Swimming (Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
Cesar De Guzman – Bobsleigh (Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
Eitel Houedakor – Para Judo (Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
These incoming students join a growing community of more than 375 Team Canada athletes who have studied at Smith through its professional graduate programs and Certificate in Business. Smith is honoured to serve as the Official National Business Education Partner of both the COC and CPC, and a Founding Partner of Game Plan, Canada’s holistic athlete-support network.
“Smith is proud to support athletes from Canada’s national teams as they build the skills they need for success beyond sport,” said Lynnette Purda, Dean (Interim), Smith School of Business. “Their experience with teamwork, leadership and resilience adds tremendous value to the classroom. We’re excited to welcome this group and continue working with Game Plan to create opportunities for athletes to grow and thrive.”
Smith’s academic awards are a key part of Game Plan’s broader mission to help athletes succeed on and off the field of play. Through this partnership, Smith provides financial support to current and former Canadian National Team, Paralympic and Olympic athletes across its professional graduate programs and Certificate in Business offerings.
“We are proud to support our athletes as they take intentional and meaningful steps toward their future, investing in their growth through education with Smith School of Business,” said Cara Button, Senior Manager, Game Plan. “We are deeply grateful for this partnership, which helps make these opportunities possible and creates a lasting impact beyond sport.”
About Smith School of Business:
Smith School of Business at Queen’s University is renowned for its excellence, innovation and leadership in business education. From establishing the first undergraduate business degree over a century ago to creating groundbreaking programs and courses in emerging areas, Smith is at the forefront of preparing students for the business marketplace. In addition to its rich tradition of academic and teaching excellence, Smith is known for delivering an outstanding learning and development experience. Personal attention, individual and team coaching, opportunities for specialization and a deep commitment to student success characterize the Smith experience.
About Game Plan:
Game Plan is Canada’s holistic athlete-support network. Its nationwide team of world-class experts and specialized advisors empower national athletes with practical ways to live healthy, balanced, and personally successful lives at every stage of their journey. Game Plan’s growth-centred programs, structured services, and everyday resources are custom designed to support the total well-being of every individual athlete.
Established in 2015, Game Plan is a globally leading initiative which functions in collaboration with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN).