Vote Now! – CKC Sprint Athlete Representatives

Posted on: Feb 27, 2026
CKC is looking to fill the athlete’s representative position on two (2) of the Sprint Committees (Domestic Development Committee and National Officials Committee).  We are asking for Sprint Clubs and Coaches to please send this to your athletes, age 15 and older, to vote for their representatives.  Please see the candidates for the committees and their bios below.
The deadline for the vote is March 15, 2026.
Athletes:
  1. Ava Carew
  2. Émile Bouvier
  3. Nikita Ciudin
Athlete bios below:
  1. Ava Carew
    • Ava has built an impressive background in sprint canoe, representing both Team Canada and Team Nova Scotia on numerous occasions throughout her career. Her years of high-performance training and competition have shaped her strong technical abilities, race strategy, and deep understanding of the sport. Beyond her athletic achievements, Ava is a dedicated mentor who has supported both younger and older athletes in their development, always fostering a positive and inclusive training environment.
    • She is actively involved in her paddling community, working with PaddleAll (adaptive paddling for athletes with special needs) as well as Masters paddlers, demonstrating her commitment to making the sport accessible to all ages and abilities. Ava’s leadership, teamwork, and passion for sprint canoe continue to drive her desire to take on new opportunities where she can contribute, grow, and inspire others both on and off the water.
    • Through all of these experiences, Ava has become someone who will stand up and speak out for others, pushing her to apply for this role. She wants to make sure all athletes get a voice within their sport and have their opinions platformed before the proper channel.
  2. Émile Bouvier
    • I discovered my passion at the age of 10 at the Otterburn Park Canoe Club, a small town on the south shore of Montreal, through an after-school program in partnership with my elementary school. At a very young age, my desire to push my limits and collaborate with my training partners became my training philosophy.
    • In 2020, I joined the Pointe-Claire Canoe Club with the goal of continuing my development. This transition allowed me to optimize my technique through the expertise of its coaches, giving me a new perspective on my sport and new opportunities to reach new heights. With each passing year, more work, time on the water, and determination, I am pushing the limits of what I thought was possible when I was younger, climbing the ranks of the sport in the country and now being a member of the National Team since 2025.
    • Not far from those who have believed in me from the beginning, I am now contributing to the growth of my home club by working there or volunteering between training sessions, getting involved to ensure it remains accessible and active within my community. Being able to give back to my community and help to the best of my ability so that a new generation can experience the same opportunities I have had is now a priority for me in my career as an athlete.
    • As I reach higher levels as an athlete, I have had the chance to train in multiple provinces and get to connect and share athletes from across the country. I believe I’m someone who makes new connections easily and likes to see the bigger picture, and I would like the chance to use these skills to help represent the athletes of our canoe kayak community.
  3. Nikita Ciudin
    • My name is Nikita Ciudin, I am 20 years old and a Sprint canoer coming from Calgary, born in Ireland and from Moldova. I am currently in my second year with the national team here in Nova Scotia. I am currently enrolled in a B. Sc. Environmental Science program at Saint Mary’s University, I plan on specializing on water pollution in the future. My favorite past times outside of paddling are playing instruments, watching formula 1, riding my bike, Rubix cube solving, and learning new skills.
    • Sprint canoeing has been such a big part of my life, about 10 years now. I finally feel ready to start giving back to CKC and to the community.

Thank you,
CKC and the Athletes Committee (on behalf of the Chair, Natalie Davison)