More Than a Whistle: Mazen Hassanin and the Movement Behind ARC

How did Advanced Referee Camp start?

If you ask Mazen Hassanin where it all began, he’ll take you back to 2019 - back to a modest but revolutionary idea (brought up by Guy Napert-Frenette) that would quietly reshape the landscape of referee development in Alberta.

“It started with just 15 or 20 of us,” he says, eyes lighting up at the memory. “We called it the Drew Fischer Camp. Back then, we were just hoping to bring in a small group for a weekend of learning. I was a participant myself - still a young, upcoming referee doing my original upgrade.”

What he didn’t know then was that those early sessions, surrounded by grassroots energy and raw ambition, would lay the foundation for what would become the Advanced Referee Camp (ARC) - a now-annual gathering that draws participants from across the country to Calgary and Edmonton.

From those humble beginnings, the spark grew until COVID hit. Like so many promising ideas, ARC was forced into hibernation. But the fire never went out.

What happened to ARC post-COVID?

“By 2023, we were ready,” Mazen says. “COVID had passed. We brought the camp back - bigger, bolder. We booked a larger space at the university, brought in Canada Soccer’s Isaac Raymond, and welcomed 75 participants. It was a resounding success.”

That success sparked a new vision: to alternate ARC between Calgary and Edmonton, and eventually take it even further across Alberta. There was an unknown space outside the box, especially shifting the event to Edmonton for 2024, where the local infrastructure wasn’t quite the same. But with leaders like Mazzen Black stepping up, it paid off.

“Edmonton took what we built in 2023 and elevated it,” Mazen says with pride. “And that brought us to 2025, where we’ve built on every lesson, every connection.”

Indeed, ARC 2025 wasn’t just a camp. It was a movement. A testament to collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a love of the game that transcends generations.

For Mazen, a defining philosophy has emerged: continuity is everything. With core leaders like Sheena Dickson returning as both organizer and instructor, and veterans who were there at the beginning, ARC has developed a soul as much as a system.

What has been the biggest takeaway?

“We always ask, how do we make this year better than the last? And we don’t just want it to be advanced in name - it has to be advanced in spirit,” he explains. “That means pushing new ideas, transferring knowledge, and mentoring young leaders.”

Mazen is clear on one thing: leadership isn’t reserved for FIFA-level officials.

“You don’t need to be a national referee to lead,” he says. “Some of the most impactful leaders in our community are 18-19-year-olds. We’re blessed to have referees from all walks of life, from different professions, who have different journeys. The key is to create space for their voices.”

At the end of the day, what is it all about?

For Mazen, it’s about building a “big tent” - a space where experiences are shared, not segregated. ARC is more than a weekend workshop. It's a family gathering. A mission. A legacy in motion.

“Everyone learns differently. Everyone brings something different. And that mix is what makes ARC so powerful,” he says. “Katie said it best: you can learn from anyone. That includes mini refs, district refs, and future FIFA refs.”

“Talk to someone who’s been to ARC,” Mazen says. “They’ll tell you. The takeaways stay with you. Not just the technical stuff - but the people, the connections, the friendships. Some of them become lifelong friends… even partners for life. That’s what makes it worth it.”

Recognizing Pearl Doupe

This year, ARC also paused to honour someone special, Pearl Doupe, the former Executive Director with Calgary United Soccer Association, a community stalwart whose retirement marked the end of an era.

“She was one of the first people I called when we had the vision to unify the leagues in Calgary,” Mazen shares. “She’s been a tireless supporter of referees. You’ll never hear a bad word about her. We had to do something to show how much she’s valued. So we brought her here—to honour her, to celebrate her, to say thank you.”

And while the whistle may signal the start of a game, it’s people like Mazen who make sure the game never stops growing.