Builder: Football
Year Inducted: 2025
Born in: St. John’s, Newfoundland

Jo-Anne Polak was a pioneer in sport. Still in her 20s, she was hired as the Ottawa Rough Riders’ business manager in 1988 and a year later was promoted to become the first female general manager of a pro sports team in North America.

Polak had to overcome not only sexist attitudes at the time, but also the challenge of serving during some of darker days for the CFL and the Riders.

She recognized that her primary job was to sell tickets and keep the franchise alive, although the team’s on-field performance also improved during her three seasons as GM.

Polak now serves on Football Canada’s board of directors. She was proud to be a part of a women’s tackle football national championships, and she is thrilled to see more women’s pro sports opportunities coming to life.