Alexa Loo
Chartered Accountant, Olympian
Growing up in Richmond helped shape the person I am today. From: elementary school at Thomas Kidd to Kigoos swimming at Steveston Pool, Cheerleading and Annual Club at McRoberts Junior High to Pedalheads and Babysitting Basics at South Arm Community Centre, graduation from McNair Senior Secondary to Junior Council at City Hall, those Richmond experiences shaped me.
After high school, I went to UBC, rowed, swam varsity and got a Bachelor of Commerce. I worked for KPMG in Abbotsford and downtown Vancouver and achieved the Chartered Accountant Designation (now the CPA - Chartered Professional Accountant).
Taking Shakespeare's advice, to "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may", I followed my passion of snowboard racing. Snowboarding took me to 2 Olympic Games, 5 World Championships and 11 National Titles. Snowboarding also took me into the political arena - where my training as a CA began to really pay off - I started as an Athlete Representative for snowboarding in Canada and went on to lobby the Federal Government for a Minister of Sport, then we lobbied that Minister for better governance by tying Federal sport funding to athlete representation on the boards of the sport bodies. Athletes finally had a seat and a vote at the tables that affected their sport! I presented to the House of Commons Finance Committee and lobbied the Minister for more sport funding, successfully securing an increase of $7million per year for 1,400 athletes.
I continued on in sport politics to help shape policy nationally and internationally with the Canadian Olympic Committee, International Ski Federation (FIS), International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). My work with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) included volunteering at the 2004 Paralympics. Working closely with people with disabilities opened my eyes to accessibility issues and how cities can address the physical realm to be more inclusive.
After retirement from sport, I returned to accounting, became the mother of two fabulous boys and got my Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads. Now, as a Councillor in Richmond, I ensure that our kids can have the same opportunities in a safe and inclusive community that I had, so that they may achieve their potential and follow their passions.
Growing up in Richmond helped shape the person I am today. From: elementary school at Thomas Kidd to Kigoos swimming at Steveston Pool, Cheerleading and Annual Club at McRoberts Junior High to Pedalheads and Babysitting Basics at South Arm Community Centre, graduation from McNair Senior Secondary to Junior Council at City Hall, those Richmond experiences shaped me.
After high school, I went to UBC, rowed, swam varsity and got a Bachelor of Commerce. I worked for KPMG in Abbotsford and downtown Vancouver and achieved the Chartered Accountant Designation (now the CPA - Chartered Professional Accountant).
Taking Shakespeare's advice, to "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may", I followed my passion of snowboard racing. Snowboarding took me to 2 Olympic Games, 5 World Championships and 11 National Titles. Snowboarding also took me into the political arena - where my training as a CA began to really pay off - I started as an Athlete Representative for snowboarding in Canada and went on to lobby the Federal Government for a Minister of Sport, then we lobbied that Minister for better governance by tying Federal sport funding to athlete representation on the boards of the sport bodies. Athletes finally had a seat and a vote at the tables that affected their sport! I presented to the House of Commons Finance Committee and lobbied the Minister for more sport funding, successfully securing an increase of $7million per year for 1,400 athletes.
I continued on in sport politics to help shape policy nationally and internationally with the Canadian Olympic Committee, International Ski Federation (FIS), International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). My work with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) included volunteering at the 2004 Paralympics. Working closely with people with disabilities opened my eyes to accessibility issues and how cities can address the physical realm to be more inclusive.
After retirement from sport, I returned to accounting, became the mother of two fabulous boys and got my Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads. Now, as a Councillor in Richmond, I ensure that our kids can have the same opportunities in a safe and inclusive community that I had, so that they may achieve their potential and follow their passions.
