NATIONAL — On Tuesday, March 22, the Aboriginal Sport Circle, along with the Canada Games Council and the Coaches Association of Canada highlighted the coaches selected to participate in the 2023 Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP).
The coaches selected to participate in the 2023 Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program span over various provinces: Alberta—Alison Desmarais, Long Track Speed Skating, Robert Sibbeston, Curling, Northwest Territories—Shakita Jensen, Hockey James Williams, Hockey, British Columbia—Jonathan (JJ) Abrams, Hockey, Prince Edward Island—Keely Dyment, Badminton, Manitoba—Brad Stevenson, Badminton Kyler Murray, Badminton, Quebec—Marie-Eve Comtois, Figure Skating, Saskatchewan—Rhys McAlpine, Figure Skating Mike Dumais, Badminton.
Apprentice coaches will work with the provincial and territorial aboriginal sport bodies and provincial and territorial coaching representatives as they participate in NCCP training over the next year to gain competition-development certification and valuable experience as a part of the team staff in the sport of their choice, in their home communities.
“We congratulate the coaches selected to the 2023 AACP and look forward to following their journey towards the 2023 Canada Winter Games on Prince Edward Island,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, President and CEO of the Canada Games Council in an ASC media release.
“The Canada Games spark greatness in the next generation of leaders and that includes the coaches of tomorrow. We are proud to collaborate with such incredible partners on this initiative to support Indigenous coaches in their development and provide them with a meaningful experience leading up to and during the Canada Games.”
Some priorities from the AACP include building coaching capacity within Aboriginal Communities across Canada, providing apprentice coaches with domestic multi-sport games experience, expose apprentice coaches to elite/high performance and to equip coaches with the skills necessary to play a meaningful role during their Canada Games experience.
“Coaches are integral to the successful development of Canada’s next generation of athletes, as well as to the next generation of coaches. We are proud to continue our partnership with the Aboriginal Sport Circle and Canada Games Council to support the successful learning, development, and mentorship of coaches through this unique program, while building coaching capacity within Indigenous communities across Canada,” said Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO of the Coaching Association of Canada in the same ASC media release.
“The Aboriginal Sport Circle would like to congratulate the coaches who have been selected to be apart of the 2023 AACP. This program will provide opportunities for Indigenous coaches from across the country to participate at the Canada Games, building capacity within Indigenous communities,: said Rob Newman, President of the Board of Directors, ASC.
