OTTAWA – CanoeKayak Canada is pleased to announce the hiring of Dave Robertson as the coach of its NextGen Québec program. He will play an integral role in preparing the next generation of targeted athletes to convert their podium potential into medal performances at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
Robertson has extensive experience working with athletes at the club, provincial and National Team level. He started his coaching career at his home club of Wascana in Regina, SK and later went on to coach at Lake Lanier in Georgia, USA. Upon returning to Canada he coached the Men’s Kayak Development team. He is a graduate of the Accelerated Coach Education program and his most recent position was as National Team Coach of the Senior Men’s Kayak 1000m group.
“We’re excited to have Dave back on our team,” said Scott Logan, CanoeKayak Canada’s High Performance Director. “He will play a significant role in working with individual athletes – and supporting coaches and partners – to take our talent pool in Québec to the elite international level. Dave is a real collaborator and I know this skill will be appreciated in Québec where working together with club coaches will be critical to the program’s success.”
The NextGen Québec program is supported by strong partnerships between CanoeKayak Canada, Own the Podium, Institut National du Sport du Québec and CanoeKayak Québec. The program launched in Québec last September when ten athletes were named to the NextGen training group. These athletes have access to dedicated coaching, sport science and medicine and a pathway to future Olympic teams.
“I’m excited to work closely with the NextGen program athletes and coaches, INS, CKQ, and Québec clubs,” said Robertson. “I want to ensure that targeted athletes receive enhanced support and opportunities to accelerate their development to become top-level world-class paddlers.”
Roberston will start his new post this spring in Florida and will relocate to work out of the National Team Training Centre in Montréal.
Mathieu Pelletier and Luc Grenier to support NextGen Québec program
Mathieu Pelletier and Luc Grenier have been hired to play a critical role in supporting the NextGen Québec program as Associate National Team Coaches. Pelletier has coached at the Trois-Rivières Canoe-Kayak Club since 2000 where he has taken the club to great heights and produced multiple National Team athletes. Luc Grenier has coached at Lac Beauport since 2011 and has proven his ability to develop elite Junior and Under 23 athletes.
Both Pelletier and Grenier will continue in their current club roles at Trois-Rivières and Lac Beauport where they will support the NextGen program athletes located in their area of Québec. The program is keenly intertwined with the club system to enable upcoming athletes to make the transition from the club level to the National Team training environment.
CanoeKayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. The organization’s vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions. From supporting clubs to developing a competitive National Team, CanoeKayak Canada works to grow a sport which is a rich part of Canada’s heritage.
The Institut National du Sport du Québec provides high performance athletes and coaches in Québec with world-class support and integrated sport science and medicine services. CanoeKayak Québec supports the development of athletes, coaches and the sport in Québec.
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For more information:
Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca