Martha (Marty) Deacon

Coach and educator, Marty Deacon has had an extensive career locally, nationally, and internationally. She was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 2018 and is the first Senator to be appointed and serve in Waterloo Region since 1941.

Marty worked for the Waterloo Region District School Board as a teacher, consultant, administrator, and principal for 34 years, while also coaching and being an advocate for physical activity and amateur sports.

Beginning her badminton coaching career at Kitchener’s Granite Club, Marty started coaching high calibre athletes at the Ontario Games and the Canada Games in 1991. Marty was an apprentice coach at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. She went on to coach and lead teams at six different Olympic, Commonwealth, and Pan Am Games. In 2010, she served as Chef de Mission, leading Team Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

Currently, Marty serves as a Director on the Canadian Olympic Committee and on the Commonwealth Games Canada Board. Through her leadership, Marty has continued to showcase Waterloo Region and has involved local athletes and coaches where possible.

Marty’s achievements have been recognized by numerous awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Jule Nisse Award (Playground to Podium), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Education Award, the IOC Women in Sport Award, and the Most Influential Women in Sport Award.

As Senator, Marty is an advocate for education, health and well-being for all Canadians.