2025 ABORIGINAL APPRENTICE COACHING PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

October 29, 2024

Ottawa, ON - The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), together with the Canada Games Council and the Coaches Association of Canada, is pleased to announce the participants selected for the 2025 Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP). The Program offers each province and territory an opportunity to send two (2) apprentice coaches of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit ancestry to the Canada Games.

Kelly-Ann Paul, President and CEO of the Canada Games Council, looks forward to following these participants on their journeys to the 2025 Canada Summer Games in Newfoundland and Labrador. "We congratulate all coaches selected to the 2025 AACP," she says. "It's an honour to work with our dedicated partners to support the development and experience of these promising coaches before and at the Games."

Apprentice coaches will work with both Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies and Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives to complete training in the National Coaching Certification Program. This training will give them Competition-Development certification and valuable experience on the staff of a team in the sport of their choice.

"The AACP helps Indigenous communities across Canada build their coaching capacity," says Vanessa McGregor, Interim Executive Director of the ASC. "This program provides a tremendous opportunity for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit participants to gain domestic multi-sport games experience and exposure to the highest levels of elite athlete and coaching performance. We are thrilled to work once again with our partners to train the next generation of Indigenous coaches."

This year's cohort includes 20 coaches. All coaches will serve on the team's staff in their home province or territory. The 2025 Canada Games take place August 8-25 in St. John's.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Lorne Wallington, Softball

Lorne Sam, Lacrosse

ALBERTA

Lauren Cardinal, Basketball

Waylen Auger, Volleyball

SASKATCHEWAN

Thomas Favel, Soccer

MANITOBA

Drake Pilat, Baseball

Savannah Chapman Cochrane, Wrestling

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Tyree Mullaney, Swimming

Bronwyn Rutherford-Simon, Soccer

ONTARIO

Terry McMahon, Volleyball

Matt Sommerville, Volleyball

QUEBEC

Kayla Gedeon, Softball

Tyler Gideon, Basketball

NEW BRUNSWICK

Brian Richardson, Swimming

Ryan Hoard, Wrestling

NOVA SCOTIA

Austin Hepworth, Lacrosse

Nya Kennedy, Softball

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Robyn Dillman, Volleyball

Shannon Holwell, Volleyball

YUKON

Ross King, Golf

 

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