Kristin Côté (she/her)
KGA Co-Coordinator since 2010
Why is KGA important?
Kristin is passionate about working with community and KGA partners to create more equitable opportunities for people to be physically active. She is excited about KGA initiatives such as the grade 5 & 9 ActivPass, KGA Month, KGA volunteer ambassadors, and the KGA website, all of which provide unique opportunities for people to initiate, maintain, and adopt more physically active lifestyles and access the resources and education they need to get started.
Fun Fact – Favourite way to be physically active?
Kristin loves being active outdoors with others, especially hiking, canoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Ashley Johnson (she/her)
KGA Co-Coordinator since 2015
PhD Candidate
Why is KGA important?
Kingston Gets Active (KGA) is the community hub for physical activity in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A). For Ashley, the key to KGA’s success is its collaborative structure. The collaborative includes representatives from various organizations across different sectors working towards the shared goal of an active and healthy KFL&A community. Some of the benefits to this structure include: increased networking, information sharing, larger target populations to be reached and minimizing duplication of efforts.
Fun fact – Favourite way to be physically active?
(1) tap dancing – she spent 20+ years as a tap dancer both recreationally and competitively, and
(2) roller skating – Ashley’s original derby monicker was ‘PHDestroyer’, but when she transferred to Niagara from Kingston, she earned the name ‘Kingston’, and it stuck.
Lara Paterson (she/her)
Board Member, Co-Chair
Emily Ferguson (she/her)
Board Member, Secretary
PhD Student, Kingston Ringette Association
Why is KGA important?
KGA is essential because it brings community partners together to make physical activity and play more accessible for everyone in KFL&A. The COVID-19 pandemic changed how people engage in physical activity, and organizations like KGA are invaluable in helping individuals reconnect with active living in their community. This not only allows them to experience the physical benefits of exercise but also to enjoy the positive effects it can have on mental health and social connection.
Fun fact – Favourite way to be physically active?
Emily enjoys staying physically active by playing sports such as ringette, lacrosse, and field hockey, as well as walking her dogs.
Tracy Vallier (she/her)
Board Member
General Manager, Kingston Branch
YMCA of Eastern Ontario
Why is KGA important?
KGA is important to Tracy because it brings together community partners and members who share a common goal of building a more active and connected community. It creates opportunities for people to discover and try new activities, fostering inclusion and healthy living. For Tracy, promoting active lifestyles is part of her everyday life. KGA supports her mission by encouraging movement, learning, inclusion, and collaboration throughout the community.
Fun fact – Favourite way to be physically active?
Emma Lambert (she/her)
Board Member
Manager, Sports Partnerships
Tourism Kingston – Sport Hosting Office
Lucie Lévesque (she/her)
Board Member, Co-Chair
Professor
Why is KGA important?
KGA connects people and organizations who have a vested interest in promoting physical activity for all Kingston and area community members. It is a networking hub that allows us to share information, ideas and resources. It offers learning and training opportunities for post-secondary students and provides ways for movement-lovers to connect with each other.
Fun Fact – Favourite way to be physically active?
When she is not teaching fitness classes, Lucie loves to be outdoors biking, walking, running, or hiking.
Andras Switzer (he/him)
Board Member
Aquatics Coordinator, Recreation & Facilities
Loyalist Township
Why is KGA important?
Andras values the importance of providing accessible recreation and leisure opportunities for all, while lowering the intimidation factor of adding physical activity to daily life. KGA’s work with the Grade 5 and Grade 9 ActivPass, KFL&A Gets Active Month, web resources, and our student ambassadors from Queen’s University all come together to motivate, educate, and ease the transition to a more active lifestyle for people in our communities. Together, we can all take steps toward improving both individual and community health!
Fun Fact – Favourite way to be physically active?
Andras can’t hide his love for swimming—after all, he runs aquatics for Loyalist Township! Outside of aquatics, his favorite ways to stay active are taking walks with his husband and dog or doing quick HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts on his water rower at home.
Karley Salsbury (she/her)
Board Member, Treasurer
Manager, Recreation Sport and Club Programs at Queen’s University Athletics & Recreation
Why is KGA important?
Karley loves how KGA keeps the #YGK community active at all stages of life. KGA partners with amazing organizations that provide opportunities to learn/try a new activity, maintain and commit to an active lifestyles. KGA not only values physical activity but building community and connection.
Fun Fact – Favourite way to be physically active?
Fitness classes! Karley loves the motivation from an instructor and her peers to push herself to the next level.