The Baseball Canada Umpire Development Committee (BCUDC) was formed by resolution of the Baseball Canada Board of Directors. It's mandate is to develop and implement umpire-related programs, curriculum and materials for amateur baseball umpires in Canada.
The BCUDC works collaboratively with the various Provincial Supervisors of Umpires in implementing umpire programs in each province.
The BCUDC is comprised of a Chairperson, and six Portfolio Leads, each with specific areas of responsibility . The members work collabaratively within the Committee structure, and with the Provincial Supervisors of Umpires, to continuously support umpire development across Canada.
The objectives of the BCUDC are as follows:
The BCUDP is comprised of a Chairperson, and 5 Portfolio leads, each with specific areas of responsibility. Contact any member directly with questions or comments specific to their jurisdiction:
Jon Oko – Committee Chair
The Chair coordinates the activities of the committee, keeping time lines and deliverables in a project schedule for each portfolio. Jon Oko has been an umpire for 20 years and has a Level 5A certification. Jon’s first Baseball Canada Championship was in 2002 and has worked a total of 12 nationals including 6 as a supervisor. Jon has also umpired 1 international championship working the U18 Championship in 2012 in Seoul, Korea. His professional experience includes the Canadian Baseball League, the Northern League and the Pacific Coast League. Jon is a Master Course Conductor having obtained that certification in 2007. He is a regular instructor at the Alberta Level 4/5 Superclinic and has taught at numerous Baseball Canada Caravans across the country. Jon has served as the Provincial Supervisor of Umpires in Alberta since 2004 and thus has also been a member of the Baseball Canada Umpire Committee during the same period. In recognition of his dedicated service Jon has earned the Murray Service Umpire of the Year Award from Baseball Alberta in 2002 and the Dick Willis Umpire of the Year Award from Baseball Canada in 2012. A Chartered Accountant, Jon and his significant other live in Edmonton, Alberta.
Benoit Mercier - High Performance Lead
The High Performance Lead (HPL) develops and implements programs, policies and procedures to enhance umpiring at the national and international level in Canada (Level 4/5). The HPL approves assignments at the national level and recommends assignments for international baseball. The HPL is the primary point of contacts for issues and questions around Baseball Canada rules of play. The HPL also is responsible for managing the umpire awards programs, and setting national umpire uniform standards.
Born and raised in Welland ON, Benoit (Ben) has been umpiring for over 50 years. A Level 5A umpire and a Master Course Conductor, Ben is still an active umpire and enjoys teaching the art of umpiring to all those who want to learn. Ben has umpired at all levels, including the North Atlantic League of independent professional baseball as well as the Canada Baseball League. He was also a substitute umpire in the NY-Penn League of MiLB. Currently, Ben umpires in the IBL (Intercounty Baseball League), one of the longest continuously run baseball league in the world boasting ex-MLB, MiLB and NCAA elite players. Ben’s first Baseball Canada national tournament was the 1994 Canada Cup in Waterloo Ontario. Since that time, Ben has participated in 18 national championships as an umpire or a supervisor. He has also worked a World Junior championship, two Olympic qualifying tournaments and a Women’s World Cup. In the early 2000s, Ben was a member of the Baseball Ontario Umpire’s Committee. Ben has been honoured by Baseball Ontario on two occasions. He is the recipient of the Dick Willis Senior umpire of the year award as well as the Don Gilbert level 4/5 umpire of the year award, and in 2023 he was the recipient of the Niagara Baseball Umpire’s Association Umpire of the year award. A retired teacher and school board association CEO, Ben spends his time on the baseball field as well as the golf course.
Mark Jones – Grassroots Lead
The Grassroots Lead (GRL) develops and implements curriculum, programs, policies and procedures to enhance umpiring at the entry level and active for life level in Canada (Levels 1, 2 and 3).
Previously a member of the Instructor Development portfolio, Mark is pleased to assume the duties of the grassroots committee. Mark’s umpire career began in 1986, and has been in the Baseball Canada program for 25 years. Mark has umpired in 8 Baseball Canada Championships and supervised at 7 others. Mark completed the Baseball Canada Caravan in 2002, achieving his senior Course Conductor status and went on to achieve his Master Course Conductor status in 2014. Mark has been active in umpire administration in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2001 and in 2009 assumed the Umpire Supervisor role in Newfoundland and Labrador. Mark also joined the Baseball Canada Umpire Committee that same year. Mark is also very active in the local umpire scene, actively umpiring games in several leagues and conducting clinics each year as well. Mark also wishes to acknowledge long time umpire leader Dave Buckingham as providing the leadership and mentorship that has supported him for so many years.
Ray Merkley & Rob Allan - Supervision & Evaluation Leads
The Supervision & Evaluation Lead (SEL) develops, implements, and manages competency-based evaluations matrices, assigns supervisors to Baseball Canada Championships,and develops and implements supervision training curriculum and programs. This portfolio is also responsible for enforcing umpire discipline standards, creating and updating positioning manuals, and providing standardized content for national umpire clinics held in each province.
Ray has been part of the Baseball Canada umpire program since 1990 and has spent more than three decades involved in the game at every level. He’s umpired at eight national championships, worked the 1997 Canada Summer Games, and was on the field at the 2002 IBAF World Youth Championship. Off the field, Ray has supervised at a dozen Baseball Canada Championships and has been an active contributor on the Supervision and Evaluation Subcommittee. He’s also a Master Course Conductor and was honoured with the Baseball Canada Dick Willis Umpire of the Year Award in 2002.
In Ontario, Ray has been a familiar face in umpire development for many years. He joined the Baseball Ontario Umpires Committee in 1992, later served as the Provincial Supervisor of Umpires from 2017 to 2021, and since his election in 2020 is the Vice President of Baseball Ontario.
Away from the diamond, Ray retired as the Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture for the City of Orillia after 30 years of service and is a proud father of five, 3 girls and twin boys.
Rob Allan is a veteran Canadian baseball official with a long track record of leadership, education, and high-level officiating across provincial and national competitions. He has been a key figure in umpire development, serving in instructor and supervisory roles that support training and performance excellence throughout the Canadian baseball community.
Over his career, Allan has:
Rob’s influence extends beyond the field: he is known for mentorship, course instruction, and building off-field structure that helps umpires progress through certification levels and contribute to the game’s integrity from grassroots to high-performance competitions in Canada.
Rhonda Pauls - Instructor Development and Mentorship Lead
The Instructor Development and Mentorship Lead (IDML) develops and implements programs, policies and procedures to enhance umpire instructing in Canada. The IDML is responsible for the Baseball Canada Caravan system and program and Master Learning Facilitator/Learning Facilitator training in Canada. The IDML shall be responsible to design and implement inclusive curriculum, programs, resources, and practices that promote and support growth, diversity, and equitable development opportunities for umpires.
Rhonda was President of the British Columbia Baseball Officials Association for many years, and is currently the Executive Director of Baseball PEI. In addition, Rhonda has twenty-five years of experience as a public sector elected official, multi-sport coach, with the perspective of a high-performance athlete and elite level official plus the highest commitment to the responsible management of youth programming. She has fifteen years of experience building capacity, guiding and directing professionals and volunteers in sport.
Joel Rodgers – Communciations Portfolio Lead
The Communications Portfolio Lead (CL) is responsible for coordinating communications for the Baseball Canada Umpires’ Committee. The Committee is committed to enhancing its communication with umpires across Canada, and the Communications portfolio supports this for each of the other Portfolios through effective use of social media, the Baseball Canada website, and various other communication tools. This portfolio is also responsible for ongoing updates to the Umpire Committee Operations Manual.
Originally from the Birthplace of Hockey, Windsor NS, Joel now lives in New Glasgow, NS. Joel was previously a member of the former MDW Portfolio. Joel started umpiring in 1983, joined the National program in 1996. He has umpired at 14 Nationals, 2 Canada Games and has supervised at 5 Nationals. He achieved his SCC status in 2020 and his MCC status in 2022. He has served at the President of the NS Umpires Association since 2008 and took on the Provincial Supervisor role for NS in 2020. He is a 2 time winner of the Baseball Nova Scotia Senior Umpire of the year award – 2005 and 2022.
