OCÉANE MARCHAND, PHIL LALIBERTÉ, EMILY PARSONS AND KEVIN MCINTYRE SELECTED FOR THE 2024 CKC EXCELLENCE AWARDS

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Jan
30
Canoe Kayak Canada
OCÉANE MARCHAND, PHIL LALIBERTÉ, EMILY PARSONS AND KEVIN MCINTYRE SELECTED FOR THE 2024 CKC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Awards, coaching
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The Club Development Award, the Coach Developer Award and Coach Recognition Awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant achievements in their communities. Nominations for the awards take place at the end of the competitive season and the awards are presented annually at the CKC Summit. This year, with the Summit being postponed in 2024, the awards were presented at the 2025 Coaching Symposium in Ottawa taking place from January 29th to 30th. 

CKC Club Development Award 

The Club Development Award is presented annually to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club.  

The 2024 recipients of the CKC Club Development Award are Phil Laliberté (Otterburn) and Océane Marchand (Club Nautique de Sherbrooke).  

Phil Laliberté
Phil has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of Otterburn Club over the past three years. His contributions, particularly in restructuring the high-performance program and his active role as a coach, have propelled the club to new heights. Under his leadership, Otterburn athletes are now excelling on provincial, national, and international stages, earning the club a reputation for producing top-tier talent. The club has also expanded its membership by embracing a diverse range of paddling activities, including paddle all, dragon boat, SUP, and a masters program. With Phil’s guidance, Otterburn is on track to not only match but surpass the golden years of the club from the 1970s. 

In addition to his work at Otterburn, Phil is pursuing a PhD in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources, focusing on the coaching profession. His research aims to bridge the gap between coaching practice and academic study, advocating for better work conditions and sustainability within the field. Through his work with Pôle Sports at HEC Montreal, Phil is addressing issues such as coach burnout and the high turnover rate, while helping to improve leadership development for coaches worldwide. As a mentor at Otterburn, he has also worked to inspire the next generation of coaches, showing them the value and potential of coaching as a legitimate, rewarding career. 

Océane Marchand
Océane is a dedicated and skilled trainer known for her ability to listen to her athletes and tailor her approach to help them achieve their best results. Her strong organizational skills and work ethic have earned her the respect of athletes, parents, assistant coaches, colleagues, and peers alike. 

Passionate about sprint paddling, Océane actively seeks to improve her own skills, participating in training camps with the Quebec team in Florida and supporting Canada’s young Olympic hopefuls in Europe. Her enthusiasm for the sport is contagious, and she excels at motivating her athletes to reach their highest potential. 

With a personalized approach to coaching, Océane creates a positive and effective training environment that has led to significant improvements in her athletes’ competitive performances. She has demonstrated great adaptability, adjusting training programs and integrating innovative techniques for both physical and mental preparation. Her leadership and team-building skills have fostered a strong sense of community, encouraging athletes to support one another and progress together. 

 

CKC Coach Developer Award 

The Coach Developer Award is presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties. 

The 2024 recipients of the CKC Coach Developer Award are Emily Parsons (Abenaki Aquatic Club) and Kevin McIntyre (Banook Canoe Club). 

Emily Parsons
Emily Parsons is a standout coach and mentor whose impact on both athletes and coaches has been profound. As the only female head coach in the Atlantic division, Emily has become a powerful role model, inspiring others through her leadership and positive approach to coaching. Her commitment to promoting a respectful, ethical, and athlete-centered environment has made her a trusted figure within the sport at the provincial and national levels. 

A passionate advocate for coach education, Emily plays a key role in facilitating training workshops and mentoring emerging coaches. She takes a holistic approach, helping coaches develop not only their technical skills but also their leadership, communication, and ethical decision-making abilities. Emily’s outreach efforts, including collaboration with neighboring clubs, have fostered a sense of community and knowledge-sharing across the paddling network. 

Under Emily’s guidance, athletes have seen significant success, with numerous podium finishes at the 2024 Atlantic Championships. Her coaching style focuses on developing both athletic ability and essential life skills like confidence, resilience, and respect. Emily’s commitment to continuous professional development and her dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders make her a true ambassador of the sport. 

Kevin McIntyre
Kevin is the Head Coach at Banook Canoe Club, where his dedication and leadership have been instrumental in developing youth athletes and fostering their growth both on and off the water. Under his guidance, many athletes have reached new heights, with several being selected to represent Canada internationally. Kevin is deeply committed to the holistic development of his athletes, supporting them not only in their athletic pursuits but also in their academic and personal lives. 

One of Kevin’s standout contributions is his creation of the Coach-in-Training (CiT) program, which he initiated in his first summer as Head Coach. The program was designed to provide young athletes (ages 14-15) with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to pursue coaching roles in the future. The CiT program has become a cornerstone of Banook’s coaching development, offering mentorship and training to youth from diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, female, and newcomer communities. 

Through this program, Kevin has helped build a sustainable coaching pipeline at Banook, with past CiT participants going on to become part-time coaches. In addition to overseeing the CiT program, Kevin manages the coaching schedule for all levels at Banook, supervises both seasonal and off-season coaches, and personally coaches the high-performance athlete group. His work has not only strengthened the club but also ensured the future of canoe and kayak coaching in Canada. 

2024 Canoe Kayak Canada Coach Excellence Nominees: 

Coach  Club 
Anna Negulic  Maskwa Aquatic Club 
Chris Varga  Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers 
Edward Colhoun  Burnaby Canoe Kayak Club 
Emily Parsons  Abenaki Aquatic Club 
Jacob Norman  Chilliwack Centre of Excellence Paddling Club 
Kevin McIntyre  Banook Canoe Club 
Kyla Drouin  Carleton Place Canoe Club 
Nathan Christensen  Chilliwack Centre of Excellence Paddling Club 
Océane Marchand  Club Nautique de Sherbrooke 
Patrick Lester  Carleton Place Canoe Club 
Phil Laliberté  Otterburn 
Samantha Morse  Maskwa Aquatic Club 
Wayne Donison  Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers 

 

CKC congratulates all who were nominated and to the 2024 recipients. For more information on the CKC Excellence Awards please click here. 

 

Jan
20
Canoe Kayak Canada
CKC welcomes Sprint Kayak Coach Paul Wycherley
Canoe Sprint, coaching
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OTTAWA, ON (January 20, 2025) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is thrilled to welcome Paul Wycherley to the CKC sprint high-performance team. Paul will take on the role of men’s National Team Kayak Coach, based at the Montreal Training Centre (Olympic Basin).

Paul joins the CKC team as the Men’s Kayak Coach, working closely with National Team Head Coach, Anders Gustafsson and Women’s Kayak Coach, Chad Brooks. Paul will share responsibility for developing sprint kayak athletes into world-class performers, while also prioritizing the mental wellness of each athlete in the program.

“We are excited to have Paul join our coaching staff,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “His experience as an athlete, coach and other professional roles brings a great deal of value to our team. As we embark on the four-year push toward Los Angeles, our Men’s Kayak athletes will have a dynamic leader who matches their passion for hard work, and love for the sport.”

Paul brings a wealth of paddling experience hailing from the United Kingdom; he is a 30-time UK National Kayak Champion in K500m and 1000m distances. He holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel and Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Paul also won the Junior World Marathon Championships in the K1 in 2004 and competed at the senior world championship level from 2004-2012. In 2011, he defeated the reigning 2008 Olympic Champion, Tim Brabants, to represent Great Britain in the K1 1000m event.

“I am incredibly honoured and excited to step into this coaching role,” said Wycherley. “This opportunity represents a personal milestone and a chance to contribute to the continued success and growth of Canadian kayaking on the international stage.

Most recently Paul held the position of Head Coach at the False Creek Sprint Canoe Club, coaching several athletes of all ages to podium finishes at the CKC Sprint Nationals in 2024. Paul has previously worked in the UK business industry.

“I look forward to working with the talented athletes and staff to build on the solid foundation already in place,” Wycherley continued. “Together, I believe we can achieve great things while fostering a culture of excellence, dedication, and mutual respect.”

We will welcome Paul to the CKC team over the next few months, beginning with the National Team warm weather camps held in Chula Vista, California.

 

 

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For more information:
Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Nov
7
Canoe Kayak Canada
CKC HONOURS COACHES WITH 2024 COACH RECOGNITION AWARDS
Canoe Freestyle, Canoe Slalom, Canoe Sprint, coaching
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Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is proud to honour the many coaches who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, initiative and competitive success throughout the 2024 season with the CKC Coaches Recognition Award.

This award is presented annually to coaches who have coached an athlete or crew either for nomination to a CKC National Team (Senior World Championships, Junior World Championships, Carded Athlete or National Development Team) or for a gold medal at the Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint National Championships. Congratulations to all!

Below is a complete list of Coach Recognition Award recipients for the 2024 season:

2024 Sprint Coaches                                                                                        2024 Whitewater Coaches

 

Aaron White                                                                                                                 Anthony Colin
Adam Baird                                                                                                                  Darrell Wiebe
Adam Oldershaw                                                                                                         Gary Barton
Anna Hetzler                                                                                                                Jacob Norman
Anna Negulic                                                                                                               Jennifer Gratto
Andrea Nicholls                                                                                                           Jocelyn Taylor
Anders Gustafsson                                                                                                     Jordi Cadena
Andreas Dittmer                                                                                                          Kalob Grady
Attila Buday                                                                                                                 Michal Staniszewski
Bret Himmelman                                                                                                         Mike Holroyd
Carrie Buday                                                                                                               Pete Nor
Cayley Fortier                                                                                                             Roxanne Esch
Chad Brooks                                                                                                              Scott Feindel
Cheyanne Farquharson                                                                                             Simon Coward
Chris Chaisson                                                                                                          Stanislava Kovacova
Christian Hall
Csom Latorovszki
Dominic Gomez-Granger
Doug Ellery
Doug Tutty
Drayton Coolen
Ed Calhoun
Emma Miller
Eric Mihalovic
Fred Jobin
Frédéric Loyer
Helen Savin
Hélène Gervais
Hunter George
Jacob McKenna
Jan Kruk
Jeff Houser
KC Dalton
Kevin McIntyre
Kieran Graham
LA Schmidt
Mark Granger
Mathieu Pelletier
Matt Smith
Mihail Oghina
Mike Robinson
Morgan Pugh-Toole
Nick Paschalis
Nigel Rockett
Niklas Hansen
Olivia Pucci
Pat Lester
Paul Wycherley
Phil Laliberté
Quentin Neuls
Raphaël Nadeau
Rebecca Fanok
Rob Baert
Rob Smith
Sam Djurfeldt
Sam Raiche
Samantha Morse
Savannah Sullivan
Scott Oldershaw
Tessa Nagai

Oct
3
Canoe Kayak Canada
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS  – CKC EXCELLENCE AWARDS 
CKC, coaching
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Canoe Kayak Canada has officially launched the nomination process for the 2024 Excellence Awards.  

The Club Development Award, the Coach Developer Award and Coach Recognition Awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant efforts or achievements in their communities. 

The Club Development Award will be presented to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club. The Coach Developer Award will be presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties.  

The awards are to be presented at Canoe Kayak Canada’s Coaching Symposium taking place in Ottawa January 29th to 30th. 

Click here to submit nominations.  

Deadline is November 1, 2024.  

For more information, contact James Cartwright.