Board of Directors
Project Heart is guided by a diverse and experienced Board of Directors, bringing together leaders in endurance sport, health, and advocacy. The board provides strategic direction and supports the organization’s mission to empower active individuals, athletes, and heart patients worldwide. Their combined expertise bridges the worlds of sport, science, and community engagement to drive meaningful impact.
Cody McKay
Cody is the founder of Project Heart and serves as President of its Board of Directors. In 2021, his life and passion for endurance sports took an unexpected turn when an ascending aortic aneurysm was incidentally discovered during an unrelated medical test. In December 2022, he underwent open-heart surgery to remove the aneurysm and replace it with a synthetic graft, before returning to competitive racing in 2023.
Through Project Heart, Cody empowers heart patients to live beyond their diagnosis. He educates athletes and active individuals on heart conditions they may face and the heart-healthy habits they can incorporate into their training, racing, and daily lives. He also gives back by turning awareness and engagement into positive impact for the cardiac community.
Cody brings over a decade of experience in advocacy and public policy to Project Heart, including public speaking, media publications, and lobbying efforts.
Luc Malher
Luc is the founder and owner of The Movement Co., built with the vision of creating a one-stop environment for training, rehabilitation, and long-term athletic development. A lifelong athlete, Luc is a former Cat 1 road cyclist, varsity runner at the University of Ottawa, and remains deeply connected to endurance sport and performance culture.
Luc has supported athletes at the highest levels of sport, including national teams and international competition. He served as Team Canada’s chiropractor for road cycling at the Tokyo Olympics and has worked with elite and development riders in high-performance environments.
As an entrepreneur and business owner, Luc brings valuable experience to Project Heart, helping build and establish it as a sustainable and impactful not-for-profit. His background in leadership, operations, and athlete-centered care supports Project Heart’s mission to bridge performance, health, and education within the endurance community.
Karol-Ann Canuel
Karol‑Ann Canuel is a retired Canadian professional cyclist who raced from 2010 to 2021, including at the Olympic Games in 2016 and 2020. She is a three‑time UCI Road World Champion in the women’s team time trial and won multiple Canadian national titles in both the road race and time trial while riding for professional teams including Vienne‑Futuroscope, Specialized‑lululemon/Velocio‑SRAM, and Boels‑Dolmans/SD Worx.
Since retiring, Karol‑Ann founded Sports Cyclistes Outaouais (SCO) and has become a key figure in cycling event organization. She leads the Tour de Gatineau, a premier international women’s road race on the UCI calendar, and Ride 100 % Féminin, an all‑women’s cycling experience in the Outaouais designed to be accessible, supportive, and inspiring for riders of all levels.
With a lifetime of experience at the highest levels of competition, Karol‑Ann brings valuable insight to Project Heart, helping bridge the gap between amateur and professional athletes and offering perspective on the realities of training, racing, and athlete support across the sport.
Pierre Boulay
Pierre Boulay, Ph.D., is a professor in the Faculty of Physical Activity Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke, where he also serves as Director of the Kinesiology Program. He brings over 30 years of expertise in exercise physiology, cardiovascular health, and cardiac rehabilitation. His research focuses on cardiorespiratory fitness, aging, and chronic disease prevention, with particular attention to the role of exercise in maintaining functional capacity and quality of life.
A high-calibre master athlete runner, Pierre competes in the M55-59 category and holds a marathon personal best of 2:44, achieved in Berlin. His decades of experience in exercise prescription, academic leadership, research, and endurance sport give him a unique perspective on the intersection of training, health, and performance.
With extensive experience in cardiac care, exercise science, and endurance sport, Pierre brings invaluable insight to Project Heart, helping translate evidence-based practices into practical, heart-healthy habits for both athletes and everyday participants.