Martha Deacon has vast expertise in the areas of education and sport. As an educator with a Masters of Education from Western University in London, Ontario, her career spanned over 30 years. She held various roles including teacher, consultant, university instructor, principal, executive officer, and superintendent.
Ms. Deacon served as an apprentice coach for both the 1994 Commonwealth Games and the 1999 Pan American Games, and was later named as Badminton team leader for the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. She also served Team Canada at various major international competitions, including as Canada’s Chef de Mission for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Ms. Deacon presently serves as a Director on the Canadian Olympic Committee and for Commonwealth Games Canada. She has held Executive Board roles with other organizations such as Badminton Canada, the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association, and the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre.
Her lifetime achievements have been recognized by many awards and accolades, including the Women of Distinction and Lifetime Achievement Award (YWCA) Waterloo Region, the International Olympic Committee Education and Youth Award, the Jules Nisse "Playground to Podium” award and an induction into the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame.
Ms. Deacon and her husband Bruce have two daughters, Kristine and Kailee.