OTTAWA – Canoe Kayak Canada has published its lists of NextGen and Academy athletes. These lists are an evolved form of the previous National Development Team. Working collaboratively with clubs and provincial partners, both programs are aimed at ensuring the next generations of high performance athletes have the resources and support along the developmental pathway required to transition to future international excellence.

“The NextGen and Academy Programs are an essential part of sustaining our High Performance system,” said Scott Logan, Canoe Kayak Canada’s High Performance Director. “We are extending and refining the athlete pathway to ensure athletes have the resources and training environment they need to be successful at every stage leading right to the Olympic podium.”

The NextGen program was launched in Quebec in the fall of 2014, and similar programs were created in Nova Scotia and Ontario shortly thereafter. Targeted athletes are provided with National Team led coaching, sport science and sport medicine support in one of three National Training Centres: the Institut National du Sport du Québec, the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic and the Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario. There are national discipline training groups at every centre for each group of men’s kayak, women’s kayak, men’s canoe and women’s canoe. These training groups have been established over the fall and will continue to evolve as National coaches assess new developing athletes with high performance potential. Additional athletes, through elements of CKC’s Gold Medal Profile, are included in provincial NextGen training groups where resources are available.

The Junior Academy Program is designed to feed into the 2020 NextGen Program, and will be a key component of the 2024 NextGen plan and program. The Junior Academy group is a nationally identified pool of Junior 2016 and 2017 eligible athletes for all paddling regions of Canada.

“Through partnerships and collaboration with provincial associations and local clubs, we’ve been able to successfully spearhead several Academy initiatives already,” said Peter Niedre, Director of Coach and Athlete Development at Canoe Kayak Canada. “The clubs and Provinces are at the core in implementing this program, and by working with them on this initiative, together we can help our developing athletes achieve their highest potential.”

The Junior Academy program provides nationally-led regional programming and also enhances provincial programming with training, monitoring and testing. The program also invites athletes to one or two national training camps per year. Mark Granger is the coaching lead of the Junior Academy program.

NextGen Athletes

* indicates provincial NextGen program only

Junior Academy Athletes

National Athlete Development Officer: Mark Granger

Canoe Kayak 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, Canoe Kayak Canada works to grow a sport which is a rich part of Canada’s heritage.

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Media Contact:

Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca