Gone in a ‘Mrak Minute’

Joel Mrak, the former Athletic Director at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), wraps up his six-year tenure this week on the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Executive.

Mrak, who served this past season as the CCAA VP Safe Sport, is now the Athletics Director at MacEwan University (U Sports).

“During his time on the executive and on the CCAA board, Joel was always the voice of reason,” said Vince Amato, CCAA President. “He always provided us with the insights that we needed when we needed them.”

Mrak joined the CCAA Executive in 2016 as a Director at Large from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). He then served as VP Marketing from 2017-21.

Under Mrak’s tutelage as VP marketing, sponsorship and promotion procedures were standardized and the CCAA brand was expanded within current and new partnerships – most recently the Torchbearers Scholarships, Presented by Hudl. The Torchbearer Scholarship initiative recognizes student-athletes that have gone above and beyond their academic and athletic commitments by giving back to their communities.

“Joel has been a consummate supporter of the CCAA brand and the value of the Association,” said Sandra Murray-MacDonell, Chief Executive Officer of the CCAA. “His time at the CCAA table may have been relatively short, but it was certainly impactful.”

At CUE, Mrak had his institution commit to safe sport training prior to it being mandatory and as an original member of the ad hoc Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, it was foreseeable and a natural progression, that he become the first CCAA Vice President of Safe Sport.

Mrak enjoyed challenging his student-athletes to give back to their communities, and the CUE Department of Athletics & Recreation came together during the 2020-21 season with the ’11 Days of Giving’ initiative. CUE earned the 2021 CCAA Community Service Award for its efforts.

Prior to his departure from CUE, Mrak was also the Host Chair for the 2019 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship in Edmonton, AB.

Mrak was honoured at the conclusion of the CCAA’s Annual General Meeting in Halifax, NS.

Media Contact:
Rodney Wilson / rodney@ccaa.ca
Manager, Communications & Events