David Calder

Member
Athletes’ Commission

David Calder was elected as member of the COC’s Athletes’ Commission following the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Calder is a three-time Olympic rower who reached the podium at the Beijing Games. In fact, his was Canada’s first medal of those Games – a silver with Scott Frandsen, in the men’s pair event. It was Calder’s first Olympic medal after having also competed for Team Canada at the 2004 and 2000 Olympic Games.

Calder’s career in rowing includes a world title as part of the men’s eight team in 2003. He is also the veteran of four other senior World Championship events. Calder has won seven career World Cup medals, culminating with a gold medal in the men’s pair at a 2008 event in Lucerne, Switzerland. He was also world junior champion in 1996, two years removed from his first-ever international medal, a bronze at the 1994 Junior World Championships. He has captured multiple medals in national regattas as well.

Calder has many professional roles on the West Coast. He is senior project manager for innovation with the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. He is president of the board of the Victoria New Professional, a group that represents employees who have been in the public sector for five or fewer years. Past president of the board for the Island House Montessori School, Calder is currently a national spokesperson for Dynamic Opportunities For Youth. This is a national rowing program that uses sport to benefit youth in at-risk communities across Canada.

Calder is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor of arts in English Literature and Creative Writing. He is engaged in a career in motivational speaking, bringing lessons from the world of sport to schools, corporations and governments.