Our Team

Jaclyn Guenette - Executive Director

Jaclyn Guenette is the Executive Director of the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) and a proud member of the Otipemisiwak Métis Nation of Alberta. She brings experience in Indigenous sport systems, organizational leadership, governance, and partnership development.

In her new role with ASC, Jaclyn looks forward to working alongside Provincial and Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies, Indigenous communities, governments, sport organizations, and other partners to support Indigenous participation, leadership, and wellness through sport. Her approach is grounded in relationship building, collaboration, accountability, and respect for the knowledge and priorities of Indigenous communities.

Before joining ASC, Jaclyn served as Executive Director of the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta. In that role, she led provincial programs, partnerships, and initiatives supporting Indigenous athletes, coaches, officials, youth, and communities. Her work included strengthening organizational operations and governance, supporting culturally grounded programming, and building relationships across Indigenous communities and the broader sport system.

In 2023, Jaclyn served as Chef de Mission for Team Alberta at the North American Indigenous Games in Halifax. She supported a delegation of more than 500 athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff participating in 16 sports. Team Alberta earned 82 medals and finished fourth overall among participating jurisdictions from across North America.

Before transitioning into executive sport leadership, Jaclyn spent approximately 15 years working in healthcare. She is a Registered Social Worker and Designated Capacity Assessor with professional experience in dementia, acquired brain injury, safeguarding, ethics, and complex decision-making. She also contributed to Alberta's provincial pandemic response team.

Jaclyn is the author of I Smile for Grandpa, a children's book that has received four international book awards and has been published in English, French, German, and Dutch. She holds a Strategic Leadership Development diploma from the University of Calgary and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration.

Krista Hodder - Senior Programs and Events Coordinator

Krista is Mi'kmaw and was born, raised and is raising her family in Membertou First Nation, Nova Scotia. She developed the first comprehensive physical activity strategy for a Mi'kmaw community in the province, has brought the strategy to life and supported its sustainability. Krista has built partnerships inside and outside of the community resulting in significant changes, including leadership development and policy changes. Krista was named to the 2016 CAAWS Most Influential Women List in the Builder category. Krista is also a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certified coach and has her certification from the Aboriginal Coaching Module (ACM).

Jacob Ruest - Aboriginal Coaching Program Coordinator

Jacob was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario. As a youth, Jacob took a strong interest in the game of lacrosse. This led to many opportunities, including playing and coaching "the Creator's Game" in Mohawk communities such as Akwesasne, where lacrosse is believed to be a gift to Indigenous people from the Creator. These experiences greatly enriched his respect for Indigenous culture and traditions and ultimately shaped Jacob's life; today he plays professional lacrosse with the Albany FireWolves in the National Lacrosse League and is a sought-after engagement speaker and coach with youth in First Nation communities in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Quebec. He also continues to coach. Jacob earned a Master's in Human Kinetics with a concentration in Sports Management from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Robert Morris University, where he also played Division 1 lacrosse. Jacob looks forward sharing his knowledge of the sport landscape and applying his experience in building positive coaching and support systems for Indigenous athletes while at the ASC.