The Canadian Basketball Officials Commission (CBOC) has recognized Michele O’Keefe, NC’s associate director, Athletics and Recreation, with a 2020 CBOC Executive Award of Merit for her significant contributions to the committee.

“This award is for the work we did to bring the Canadian basketball officials under the umbrella of Canada Basketball,” said O’Keefe, who began her professional career with Canada Basketball in 1994 and held various positions with the organization, including president and CEO, before joining NC in 2018. “It was long overdue and an important step forward for the sport.”

The CBOC, under Canada Basketball, is a committee that promotes, advocates for and provides a transparent, accountable and consistent governance structure for the organization, administration, growth and development of basketball officiating and basketball officials throughout Canada.

“The award is special to me as I know how hard the volunteers work around officials development and to now have employees working on this critical portfolio is fantastic,” said O’Keefe.

O’Keefe is also the newly elected chair of SPORT4ONTARIO’s Board of Directors. The provincial sport organization announced a new slate of directors, including O’Keefe, in a December release.

SPORT4ONTARIO is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of sport and physical activity in Ontario. The focus of the new board will include working with staff and officials at the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, and other government leaders to implement strategies to help revive the sport sector as it adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m honoured to be working with SPORT4ONTARIO as the sports world continues to find its way through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said O’Keefe. “We know sport is a unifying factor for many, and I look forward to contributing to a new way forward for young athletes and sport organizations across Ontario, including right here in Niagara.”

O’Keefe is also among a small group of Canadian athletic leaders who sit on world sports boards, serving on FIBA Americas Board since 2010 and FIBA’s Central Board since 2014. Locally, she currently serves as board member of the 2022 Canada Summer Games Host Society.