Dayna Spiring’s resumé positively glows and so it is little wonder that the Canadian Football League’s Board of Governors would want her input at their annual meetings this week in Arizona.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are already aware of her skillset, as she has been on the club’s board since she was elected through a public nomination process two years ago. Now the CFL has a new and fresh voice as well.
Spiring, currently the President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, is the first female representative to sit on the CFL board since former Ottawa Rough Riders GM Jo-Anne Polak in 1989-91.
“It’s really exciting to be a part of this,” said Spiring during a break from the meetings in Phoenix. “Being on the Bomber board is an honour and being able to represent them on the national stage is an even bigger honour. It’s just very exciting.”
Spiring is at the meetings as an alternate governor, along with Jeff Martin, Chair of the Blue Bombers Board of Directors, and club President and CEO Wade Miller. Asked about finding her place among what has been traditionally an ‘Old Boys’ Network’, Spiring laughed heartily.
New CFL Board of Governors member, Dayna Spiring, with Mayor of Winnipeg Brian Bowman.
“I think there was a concerted effort to change that,” said Spiring. “We’ve got a great group that is incredibly supportive. If you look at the board of the Winnipeg Football Club, there is a lot of diversity on it and credit to the organization for recognizing the value in that.
“The CFL may be a little slower to come to the table, but today is Day 1.”
Spiring has extensive experience at the management level, having served as the Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel with the Canadian Wheat Board, and she continues to work as a director for other Manitoba companies like Manitoba Hydro and Winpak Ltd.
“Everyone brings something different when they join a board of directors,” said Spiring. “You learn from all the experiences you have and as President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, I see a lot through that lens as well. Everyone brings their own perspective to the board and boards are effective because they are diverse. You want people with different backgrounds and different points of view, and we’ve got that.
“Part of me sees this as an honour,” Spiring added.
“Rightly or wrongly, it’s been 25 years since the CFL had a woman at the board level.”
“It’s been very much an ‘old boys’ club’. And so as much as I’m flattered, the other side of my brain says ‘Hey, it’s 2017… let’s move on.’ Both are fair. I’ll just say I’m thrilled to be here and thrilled to be a part of this. And the fact that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the first in a quarter century or so is something we, as Winnipeggers, can be proud of.”
