Hi, I’m Lara (she/her)

The founder of Spark Solutions. I’m a sport management consultant with a deep belief that well-run organizations deliver lasting impact in their communities.

I work with nonprofit sport and recreation organizations that want to operate well: improving governance, generating strategy, and delivering better programs, for the athletes on the field and the volunteers behind the scenes.

Professional Accreditations

Master of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo
LEGO® Serious Play® Methods & Materials trained facilitator
Bikablo® Basic & Advanced Visualization training

Professional Member, Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals
Member, Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK)

Why I do this work

Sport has always been personal for me. It’s where I found connection, growth, and a sense of community.

First as a participant, and later as an administrator, official, and volunteer. Sport has shaped how I show up in the world, and I’ve seen firsthand how sport can build people and communities. I’ve also seen its detrimental effects if we get it wrong.

That’s why I started Spark Solutions: to enable organizations to do the behind-the-scenes work that leads to meaningful, lasting change in sport.

Why I’m different

You know your organization can function better. And improve processes for your athletes, coaches, officials, and the communities you serve.

But between planning for next season, handling funding, and juggling the day-to-day realities of nonprofit work, carving out time for thoughtful, visionary planning often takes a backseat.

That’s where I come in.

At Spark Solutions, I work alongside sport leaders and organizers like you to unpack complex challenges, create clear strategies, and build governance, operations, and engagement frameworks that support long-term community impact, not just short-term fixes.

I understand the realities, constraints, and complexities nonprofit organizations face.

I have worked in many different roles at every level, including locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally. I’ve been part of both tiny clubs and the Olympic Games. I’ve lived in both rural and remote communities and large metropolitan cities in Canada.

Clients choose to work with Spark Solutions because we:

Blend strategic thinking with practical realities
Create collaborative and engaging processes
Stay grounded in what’s doable, not just ideal
Center the participant experience in everything we design

The Process

Every organization is different and every solution should be too. I guide clients through structured but flexible consulting projects that move from discovery to implementation, with participant voices and organizational realities at the core.

This work isn’t just about fixing problems. It's about dreaming boldly, deciding wisely, and building systems that truly support the people they’re meant to serve.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

Inclusion Statement

Innovation thrives on diversity of thought. At Spark Solutions, we are dedicated to contributing to a culture of inclusion, where all voices are heard, valued, and empowered.

We are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone we work with, affirming all individuals regardless of their intersecting identities—including ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, weight, or socio-economic background.

This commitment is put into action through ongoing learning, seeking diverse perspectives in our work, and aligning with evolving best practices in EDIA, and truth and reconciliation. In sport and physical activity, we unequivocally support the full participation of all individuals in the manner they want to participate. Specifically, this includes trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse individuals and their full participation in the gender(s) in which they identify.

Our guiding principle is absolute: inclusion for the majority at the expense of any minority cannot be justified. This belief is foundational in our work.

Land Acknowledgement

Spark Solutions is situated on Treaty Six Territory, which encompasses the traditional territories of numerous First Nations, including the Cree, Dene, Nakota, Saulteaux, and Ojibwe, and the Homeland of the Métis Nation. My ability to work and live here, in Saskatchewan and Canada, is a direct benefit of policies of expulsion and assimilation of Indigenous peoples during the time of settlement and Confederation, and since. The harms of these policies continue to ripple in society and in Indigenous communities today. I work to acknowledge and understand this history and the current experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and for this understanding to inform the work that we do, so that we can stop perpetuating the damages of colonization and white supremacy, and second, to begin to repair them.