Five Game Plan staff will support athletes, coaches, and NSOs as part of Team Canada’s Mission Team for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games!
Lisa Hoffart – Mental Health Lead
Cara Button – Family & Friends Lead
Amy Van Buskirk – Family & Friends Officer (Livigno)
Kellie Ring – Cluster Support Officer (Predazzo)
Annie Goncin – Transportation Officer (Canada-Based)
Lisa Hoffart (Mental Health Lead)
Lisa returns to the Canadian Olympic Committee’s (COC) Mission Team, this time stepping into the role of Mental Health Lead after serving as a Mental Health Practitioner for Paris 2024 and as Mental Health Lead for Santiago 2023. Lisa is a Registered Psychologist and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with over 16 years of experience in the field, as well as the current Game Plan Advisor at the Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan.
In her role as Mental Health Lead, Lisa will work closely with mental health practitioners and mental performance consultants to develop strategies, processes, and lines of communication to provide optimal on-site mental health and wellness support for all Team Canada athletes, coaches, and support team members throughout the Olympic Games. Her primary focus is to support Team Canada in coping with the extreme, unique challenges and rigors of performing on the world stage and all that may entail. As the point of contact for Mental Health Services, she will oversee, monitor, and support the team to protect and promote mental health and performance.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff as part of Team Canada at the Olympic Games. It is a privilege to help create an environment where people can perform at their best while also caring for their mental wellbeing. I look forward to working alongside this incredible community and contributing to a supportive and healthy performance experience.” - Lisa Hoffart
Read more about Lisa’s key role on the Mission Team.
Cara Button (Family & Friends Lead)
Cara Button (Senior Manager, Game Plan), has been appointed Family & Friends Lead for Milano Cortina 2026. This marks her fourth Olympic Games as a COC Mission Team member. In her role at Milano Cortina 2026, Cara will oversee the overall management of the Family & Friends program. Her priority will be fostering a positive, stress-free Olympic Games experience for the family members and friends of the Canadian Olympic Team. Cara will be based in Milan.
Amy Van Buskirk (Family & Friends Officer - Livigno)
Amy Van Buskirk (Manager of Athlete Experience and Game Plan Advisor at Canadian Sport Institute Alberta), joins the COC’s Mission Team to serve as a Family & Friends Officer in Livigno. Amy steps into this role with over 10 years of experience in athlete services and will be responsible for ensuring an enjoyable, easy, and memorable Olympic Games experience for the family members and friends of the Canadian Olympic Team in her cluster.
Kellie Ring (Cluster Support Officer - Predazzo)
After serving on the COC’s Mission Team for Paris 2024, Kellie Ring returns for Milano Cortina 2026 as a Cluster Support Officer in Predazzo. The current Program Manager for Game Plan will support the delivery of a wide range of COC operations within the Predazzo cluster at the Games.
Annie Goncin (Transportation)
Annie Goncin is the Manager of Athlete Services and Digital Media at the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta, where she plays a key role in supporting high-performance athletes. She joins the COC’s Mission Team for Milano Cortina 2026 as a Transportation Officer, bringing her strong organizational skills, expertise, and deep commitment to athlete experience. In this role, she will be primarily responsible for assisting and facilitating Team Canada’s transportation within the Games Clusters, from Canada, ensuring a seamless and supportive journey for athletes and staff.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games take place from February 6–22, 2026. Find schedules, team announcements, and everything you need to know on Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 page.
About Game Plan
Game Plan is Canada’s holistic athlete-support network. Its nationwide team of world-class experts and specialized advisors empowers national athletes with practical ways to live healthy, balanced, and personally successful lives at every stage of their journey. Game Plan’s growth-centred programs, structured services, and everyday resources are custom designed to support the total well-being of every individual athlete.
Established in 2015, Game Plan is a globally leading initiative which functions in collaboration with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN).