Esport Canada Welcomes Nathan Koblun as New Board Member and Chair of the Education National Council

Winnipeg, Manitoba, January 22, 2024 - Esport Canada, the national convening body for esports in Canada, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Koblun as the newest member of its board and Chair of the Education National Council.

Nathan Koblun, educator at École Dugald School in the rural town of Dugald, Manitoba brings a wealth of experience and passion for esports in education to Esport Canada. Known for his innovative approach to middle years education and exceptional ability to engage student learning and achievement, Nathan is recognized for his outstanding contributions to the development of middle school esports programs across the Manitoba. Koblun's holistic approach to esports in school has propelled his programs to incredible renown for both size and caliber of player development.

The programs and initiatives Koblun is best known for intentionally blend game mechanics and strategy with physical and mental conditioning, providing students with a well-rounded esports experience. His programs extend beyond gameplay, encompassing professional development for coaches, wellness workshops, student streaming/broadcasting, and interviews with professional players to enrich student experience while building capacity among teacher-coaches.

Nathan Koblun's appointment to the Esport Canada board follows the departure of Jim Gagne, a founding board member. Gagne has transitioned to a coaching position for his local CEGEP and collegiate teams, in addition to continuing his current teaching and coaching responsibilities for the middle years and senior years teams at Centre de services scolaire de la Côte-du-Sud.

“Under Jimmy Gagne’s leadership as Director of Education, Esport Canada EDU has witnessed remarkable growth, from the expansion of the EDU council to orchestrating the highly successful Fall 2022 National EDU middle years and senior years competition”, says Nathan. “Jimmy’s unwavering dedication has been instrumental in fostering esports integration among provincial educators in Western Canada. As I step into this role, I am committed to building on Jimmy’s legacy, placing a renewed emphasis on national competition and fostering a vibrant EDU community.”

Currently serving as the Director of Middle Years for the Manitoba School Esports Association, Koblun has been instrumental in securing a substantial provincial grant for the esports program at École Dugald School to support the expansion of their existing program to include a first-of-its-kind Esports Hub and training facility.

“Drawing from my extensive experience at the local, provincial, and national levels of scholastic esports, I am eager to propel Esport Canada EDU to new heights. Esports is a dynamic arena that holds immense potential for our students, and I am excited to leverage my expertise to further develop this space as a safe environment for students across Canada."

Esport Canada is excited for the wealth of knowledge and experience that Nathan Koblun brings to the organization. His dedication to fostering comprehensive esports programs aligns seamlessly with Esport Canada's mission to advance the esports landscape across the country.

"We are thrilled to welcome Nathan Koblun to Esport Canada's board, acting as Chair of our Education National Council," said Melissa Burns, Chair & CEO at Esport Canada. "Nathan's commitment to esports in education, combined with his experience in developing sustainable programming in both urban and rural Canadian settings, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our ongoing efforts to further develop esports programming for schools across the country."

Esport Canada extends its heartfelt gratitude to Jim Gagne for his foundational contributions and wishes him ongoing success in his coaching endeavors and continued position on the Education National Council as a representative for Québec.

About Esport Canada

ESPORT CANADA is a federally registered not-for-profit and the national body for Canadian esports that works in partnership with its members to promote the growth and development of esports participation and excellence at all levels of play, for all Canadians. We advocate for the development of talent in Canada and opportunities to work and thrive in Canada, while striving to create equitable opportunities for all Canadians to engage and excel in esports. For more information, visit: EsportCanada.org

For inquiries, please contact:

Media - Kendryx.Linscott@EsportCanada.org

Education - EDU@EsportCanada.org