imported>Zyxw: update links

2025-01-03T21:13:40Z

update links

New page

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL player
| name = Brian Ramsay
| image = Brian Ramsay.jpg
| caption = [[BC Federation of Labour]] Convention (2018)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|2|24}}
| birth_place = [[Victoria, British Columbia]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| number =
| import = no
| position1 = Centre
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 310
| college = [[New Mexico Lobos|New Mexico]]
| high_school = [[Reynolds Secondary School|Reynolds]]
| CFLDraftedYear = 2006
| CFLDraftedRound = 5
| CFLDraftedPick = 39
| CFLDraftedTeam = [[Toronto Argonauts]]
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2006}}–{{CFL Year|2010}}
| playing_team1 = [[Toronto Argonauts]]
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2010}}
| playing_team2 = [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|2011}}–{{CFL Year|2015}}
| playing_team3 = [[Edmonton Eskimos]]
| other_title = Executive Director {{!}} CFLPA
| career_highlights = * [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[103rd Grey Cup|2015]])
| CFL-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20120212222104/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/652
}}

'''Brian Ramsay''' (born February 24, 1980) is a former [[Canadian football]] [[offensive lineman]] and outgoing [[Canadian Football League Players' Association]] Executive Director. On August 9, 2024 the [[Professional Hockey Players' Association]] announced Ramsay's appointment as its new Executive Director. <ref>Darryl Dionne, [https://phpa.com/news/3035 PHPA names Brian Ramsay its new Executive Director"] (press release).</ref>

Ramsay was drafted in the fifth round of the [[2006 CFL Draft]] by the [[Toronto Argonauts]]. He played college football at [[New Mexico Lobos|New Mexico]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130124201740/http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ramsay_brian00.html Brian Ramsay Bio]. Golobos.com. Accessed July 28, 2012.</ref> He transitioned into the role in April 2016 after completing a [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] playing career spanning from 2006-2015. Ramsay has played a pivotal role in the negotiations and ratification of the 2019 and 2022 [[collective agreement]]s between the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] players and the leagues' ownership.

== Career ==

{{Empty section|date=October 2022}}

== CFLPA ==
As CFLPA Executive Director, Ramsay has overseen a transition throughout the Association, including leading the players through collective bargaining in 2019, the global pandemic COVID19 during 2020/21 and again through bargaining the 2022 collective agreement. Mandated by the membership upon being hired, Ramsay developed strategic planning that focused on the Associations' communications, internal operating structures and processes that benefit the CFLPA membership both on and off the field.

From an operations standpoint, Ramsay restructured the Association by engaging Art Vertlieb [[Queen's Counsel|QC]] as CFLPA general counsel and hiring [[Ken Georgetti]], former president of the 3.2 million-member [[Canadian Labour Congress]], as Senior Advisor to the Association. Other notable additions to the Association were; former president of the Orthopedics Association of Canada, [https://orthopaedics.med.ubc.ca/bassam-masri/ Dr. Bas Masri], as the first CFLPA Medical Director, and world-renowned professor of neurosurgery, [https://www.vchri.ca/researchers/christopher-honey Dr. Chris Honey], as the CFLPA's Director of Neurology. Dr. Honey was instrumental in recruiting a network of neurology specialists across Canada for membership consultation upon request. Bolstering the presence and branding of CFL players was also done with critical additions to the licensing and sponsorship, and communications departments of the Association. In 2019, a strategic alliance with the 800,000 member strong [[United Steelworkers|United Steelworkers Union]] was formed, resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship for both unions' membership today and into the future.

=== 2019 Collective Bargaining ===
During the 2019 collective bargaining, directives reflected steadfast confidence from the membership in a strong strike mandate and just as impressive support from players upon ratifying the contract. Health and safety initiatives have been a focal point of Ramsay in his tenure to date. The tripling of rehabilitation coverage for injuries sustained on-field was crucial in the 2019 negotiations with the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]. The talks saw a focus on player rehabilitation and safety with additions to equipment standards, an expanded Health and Safety Committee, and restrictions for training camps and in-season practice schedules.

=== 2022 Collective Bargaining ===
After navigating amendments to the CFL players' agreement for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Ramsay again chaired the bargaining committee that negotiated a new seven-year collective agreement in May 2022. After talks broke down upon the expiry of the existing contract on May 14, 2022, Ramsay helped lead the CFLPA through its first work stoppage in 48 years. The resolve of the membership proved to be impactful as historical gains were seen, including increased player safety and rehabilitation, revenue sharing, and forms of guaranteed contracts. Also of note was the development of a mental health and substance abuse program, multiple increases to the minimum player salary, and a change that sees the agreement expiring one month before the 2028 training camp period.

=== Workers' Compensation ===
Ramsay has been a strong advocate for player health and safety and legislative changes to be made provincially to workers' compensation regulations across Canada. In 2016, under Ramsay's leadership, a coalition was formed with professional sports associations ([[National Hockey League Players' Association|NHLPA]], [[Professional Hockey Players' Association|PHPA]], [https://nllpa.com/ NLLPA], among others) across [[Canada]] to address these inequalities. [https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/law-policy/regulation-policy-workplans/2022-2024-assessments-policy-workplan?lang=en In the spring of 2022, WorkSafeBC] has now formally appointed this initiative to the 2022-2024 workplan to review the exclusion of professional athletes in Canada.

=== CFLPA Academy ===
Understanding the transition many athletes face during the transition from sport, in August 2016, under Ramsay's leadership, the Association created the [https://www.cfl.ca/2021/11/25/au-beyond-the-game-brian-ramsay/ CFLPA Academy] as a resource for members to prepare for life outside of football. The program now boasts over 65% enrollment by active members within the union and over 1800 individual historical users. Pillars of the [https://cflpa.com/academy/ Academy] include; education ([[Oregon State University|Oregon State]], [[Athabasca University]], [[Saskatchewan Polytechnic]]), career counselling, transition opportunities, and [[Morneau Shepell|health & wellness]]. The program consists of scholarships, internships, one-on-one coaching, [https://www.enrichedacademy.com/ financial literacy], and wellness platforms for all CFLPA members at no cost and has now been opened to spouses and dependents of the CFLPA membership. Since the inception of the Academy, the Association has seen members train to become firefighters, and airline pilots, start undergraduate degrees and finish graduate degrees while playing in the CFL and transitioning from professional sports.

== CFL ==
Drafted in the fifth round of the [[2006 CFL Draft]] by the [[Toronto Argonauts]]. Ramsay played offensive line in 152 CFL games over a nine-year career with the [[Toronto Argonauts]], [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]], and [[Edmonton Elks]].

== KPMG ==
Ramsay articled and worked for the big four accounting firm [[KPMG]] for just under a decade as an auditor focusing on not-for-profit and government entities.

== Education ==
Ramsay received his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A]] from the [[University of New Mexico]] and obtained his [[Master of Business Administration|Masters of Business Administration]] from [[Royal Roads University]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120920011947/http://esks.com/roster/show/id/875 Edmonton Eskimos bio]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090217144502/http://argonauts.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/652 Toronto Argonauts bio]

# [https://cflpa.com/cfl-players-association-announces-new-executive-team/ CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved January 12, 2017]
# [https://cflpa.com/new-executive-team-2018/ CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved March 6, 2018]
# [https://cflpa.com/media-release-february-27th-2020/ CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved March 1, 2020]
# [https://cflpa.com/media-release-3-3-22/ CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved March 8, 2022]
# [https://torontosun.com/sports/still-no-deal-after-full-day-of-talks-between-canadian-football-league-and-players Barnes, D (2022, May 12) Still no deal after full day of talks between Canadian Football and players. Retrieved May 15, 2022, from https://torontosun.com/sports/still-no-deal-after-full-day-of-talks-between-canadian-football-league-and-players]
# [https://globalnews.ca/news/8824436/cfl-to-table-new-contract-offer-players-association-on-wednesday/ Ralph, D (2022, May 10) CFL to table new contract offer to players association, sources say. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://globalnews.ca/news/8824436/cfl-to-table-new-contract-offer-players-association-on-wednesday/]
# [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/football-players-workers-compensation-1.4945469 Larson, S. (2018, December 14). Football players association pushes province to allow access to workers' compensation for athletes | CBC News. Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/football-players-workers-compensation-1.4945469]
# [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/cflpa-files-grievance-against-cfl-over-player-safety-and-rehabilitation/article38313590/ Woods, J. (2018, March 21). CFLPA files grievance against CFL over player safety and rehabilitation. Retrieved May 18, 2018, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/cflpa-files-grievance-against-cfl-over-player-safety-and-rehabilitation/article38313590/]
# [https://www.tsn.ca/ramsay-says-cflpa-s-focus-is-exhausting-all-options-for-safe-2020-cfl-campaign-1.1477983 Press, T. (2020, May 21). Brian Ramsay says CFLPA's focus is exhausting all options for safe 2020 CFL campaign. Retrieved June 8, 2020, from https://www.tsn.ca/ramsay-says-cflpa-s-focus-is-exhausting-all-options-for-safe-2020-cfl-campaign-1.1477983]
# [https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-coronavirus-players-unemployed-cflpa-brian-ramsay-1.5566320 Ralph, D. (2020, May 12). COVID-19 pandemic creating twice as many challenges for some CFL players | CBC Sports. Retrieved July 4, 2020, from https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-coronavirus-players-unemployed-cflpa-brian-ramsay-1.5566320]

{{103rd Grey Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramsay, Brian}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Canadian football people from Victoria, British Columbia]]
[[Category:New Mexico Lobos football players]]
[[Category:Butte College alumni]]
[[Category:Royal Roads University alumni]]
[[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]]
[[Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players]]
[[Category:Edmonton Elks players]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from British Columbia]]

Brian Ramsay - Revision history

imported>Zyxw: update links