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About this Program

With the support of Sport Canada funding and the federal government priority of gender equity in sport by 2035, the Coaching Association of Canada developed and added the High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program to its existing Women in Coaching program in 2020. 

Program Goal, Objectives and Outcomes

Goal and Objectives

Goal

Support and develop high-performance women coaches in the sport community, including within colleges and universities.

Objectives
  • Support the development of selected self-identified women (cis and trans) and non-binary coaches
  • Build a network of women mentors and mentee coaches
  • Support mentors through a community of practice
  • Build capacity in the sport community

Outcomes

  • Engaged network of women coaches with previous experience or currently aspiring towards coaching in a high-performance sport environment
  • Advanced professional aspects of participants’ coaching practice through access to Chartered Professional Coach designation or Registered Coach License status and associated benefits
  • Access to professional development opportunities, including mentorship training including Training for Effective Mentees and NCCP Mentorship, and awareness of professional development or employment opportunities related to coaching and sport leadership
  • Sport organizations gain access to enhanced pipeline of women coaches certified and eligible for current or future opportunities 

Program Activities

The High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program is comprised of three types of learning and
development activities: One-on-one Mentoring, Formal Learning and Informal Learning. All activities will be
delivered virtually and are free to program participants.

One-on-one Mentoring

Mentee coaches will be matched with a Mentor coach, who they will work with throughout the program. Mentee coaches will create a professional development plan, and work with their mentor coaches to achieve their goals. Mentee coaches will meet with their mentor coach a minimum of once per month.

Formal Learning

Mentees and mentors will complete the required training workshops. Mentees will participate in three Training for Effective Mentees workshops throughout the program. Mentors will attend the first workshop of Training for Effective Mentees and will also complete NCCP Mentorship, if not previously completed.

Informal Learning

There will be opportunities for the program participants to network and build connections through an online platform and virtual meetings. All participants will be invited to a private group on LinkedIn. Mentors are to attend monthly Community of Practice meetings to connect with other mentors in the program.

Participants: Eligibility Criteria

Mentor Coaches
Mentee Coaches
  • Open to all women (cis and trans women) and non-binary people
  • Experience coaching in a high-performance sport environment
    • High-performance is inclusive of post-secondary, national or provincial level team involvement, and/or NCCP Competition-Development certified
  • Currently obtain and/or pursuing Registered Coach license or Chartered Professional Coach designation (cost covered by CAC)

High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program Mentors & Mentees

2024-2025

Mentors 

Name   

Sport  

Allison McNeill 

Basketball 

Brenda Willis  

Volleyball 

Carol Love  

Rowing  

Cheryl Jean-Paul 

Basketball 

Erin McAleenan

Basketball 

Marta Belsh 

Swimming 

Severine Tamborero

Tennis 

Shelley Coolidge 

Hockey 

Vicki Keith 

Swimming 

 

Mentees 

Name   

Sport  

Celine Freeman-Gibb 

Athletics 

Christine Hyde 

Basketball 

Constanze Paulinus  

Figure Skating 

Erin Carter 

Volleyball 

Haylie Burton 

Swimming 

Isabelle (Izzy) Cropper 

Hockey 

Jenna Merk 

Hockey 

Joni Frei 

Softball 

Julia Sugawara 

Rugby 

Jy Lawrence 

Swimming 

Madeline Belding 

Basketball 

Marissa Lindquist 

Basketball 

Mia KurtzFavero

Volleyball 

Nicole Garrido 

Short Track Speed Skating 

Nikolina Mhajlovik 

Water Polo 

Rachel Van Woezik 

Basketball 

Sherraine René Schalm 

Fencing 

Tiffany Gaudette 

Boccia 

For more information

All questions regarding the High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program can be directed to Andrea Johnson, Manager, Equity Programs at ajohnson@coach.ca.

Andrea Johnson

She/Her/Elle

Manager, Equity Programs

Language(s) Spoken: English

More information Plus sign icon

Telephone Number 613-235-5000 ext. 2391