OTTAWA, ON — The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) has announced that 20 young coaches from across Canada have been chosen to participate in its 2008-2009 Coaching Internship Program (CIP). Through the program, which is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy's Career Focus program, CAC offers subsidies of $12,000 to enable sport organizations to hire these young professionals for coaching positions leading to permanent, full-time employment.

“The most important by-product of the CIP has been providing opportunities for full-time coaching to scores of young Canadians,” says CAC Chief Executive Officer John Bales of Ottawa. “Working with experienced and committed mentor coaches, the interns hone their skills, gain valuable practical experience, and in, many cases, are able to build careers in the coaching profession.”

Since its inception in 2000, the CIP has proven to be an important stepping stone in the careers of 174 coaches, including Nicolas Gill of Montreal, Canada's most decorated judoka. He took part in the 2001-2002 program and, as Judo Canada's head coach, led the team to the 2008 Olympic Games.

Looking back on his participation in the internship, Gill says: “The program gave me the opportunity to start my coaching career. It was my first full-time job as a coach and allowed me to work under the tutelage of six-time Olympic coach Hiroshi Nakamura and begin my preparation to be in charge of the Olympic team seven years later.”

The 2008-2009 CIP interns, their sport, employers and locations are:

 

  • Ryan Bechmanis, Football, Queen's University, Department of Athletics and Recreation, Kingston, ON
     
  • Grant Brehaut, Diving, White Rock Divers, Surrey, BC
     
  • Katrina Burton, Gymnastics, West Wind Gymnastics Club, Lethbridge, AB
     
  • Sarah Cameron, Canoe/Kayak, Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club, Dartmouth, NS
     
  • Marie-Hélène Chisholm, Judo, Judo Québec, Inc., Longueuil, QC
     
  • Christin Dickerson, Basketball, University of Regina, Regina, SK
     
  • Josh Dixon, Ice Hockey, Mount Royal College, Calgary, AB
     
  • Cindy Eadie, Ice Hockey, Wilfrid Laurier University, Department of Athletics and Recreation, Waterloo, ON
     
  • Candice Feinrip, Gymnastics, Oakville Gymnastics Club, Oakville, ON
     
  • Laura Glowicki, Alpine Skiiing, Edmonton Alpine Sports Academy, Edmonton, AB
     
  • Céline Guillemart, Fencing, Club d'Escrime Les Pirates de l'Est, Mont-Joli, QC
     
  • Mallory Hartley, Gymnastics, Kingston Gymnastics Club, Kingston, ON
     
  • John Haver, Rowing, Saskatchewan Rowing Association, Saskatoon, SK
     
  • Danielle Langford, Basketball, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
     
  • Jonathan Pike, Canoe/Kayak, Cheema Aquatic Club, Waverly, NS
     
  • Mélina Provost, Volleyball, Corporation Volley-Études de Boucherville, Saint-Hubert, QC
     
  • Jason Reindl, Athletics, Saskatoon Track and Field Club, Saskatoon, SK
     
  • Maxim Soucy-Proulx, Swimming, Club de Natation SAMAK de Brossard, Inc., St-Bruno, QC
     
  • Mathieu Thibeault, Table Tennis, Club de Tennis de Table Ping-O-Max, Batiscan, QC
     
  • Mike White, Alpine Skiing, Fortress Ski and Snowboard Club, Calgary, AB
     


You can view the 2008-2009 CIP interns' profiles at https://www.coach.ca/coaching-internship-program-p132334

About CAC
The Coaching Association of Canada is a not-for-profit amateur sport organization with the mission of enhancing the experiences of all Canadian athletes through quality coaching. CAC and its partners deliver a leading-edge coaching system whose goal is to have an impact on 1,000,000 athletes through the training of 100,000 coaches each year in the National Coaching Certification Program. Visit www.coach.ca for more information about coach education and training.

 

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For more information, contact:

Michèle Dion
Communications Coordinator
Coaching Association of Canada
613-235-5000, ext. 9-2384
mdion@coach.ca