Norma Foster, 7th Dan, president of Canada JKF Wado Kai and the first woman to be appointed to the World Karate Federation Referee Council, has been elected president of Karate BC.
She succeeds Charles La Vertu, 6th Dan, of CASK Shai in Victoria, who did not seek re-election after serving on the Karate BC board for 12 years, the last four as president.
Sensei La Vertu is proud that Karate BC is developing a karate program that promotes inclusivity, teamwork and empowerment for people with disabilities.
The program will include competition categories for zone and provincial competitions in kata and kumite for people with disabilities.
Sensei Foster was the first woman to become a WKF referee and kata Judge, paving the way for other woman around the world who hoped to pursue these aspects of karate at the International level.
She was appointed the first Chair of the WKF Gender Equity Committee, which is known as the Womens’ Sport Committee.
Also elected as Member at Large was Richard Mosdell of Victoria.
Re-elected to the board were Treasurer Ken Corrigan of Prince George, Membership Director Andreas Kuntze of Vancouver, and Director at Large Rick Penner of Kelowna.
