Ottawa, ON – September 4, 2025 – With the conclusion of the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) would like to congratulate the over 900 coaches, apprentice coaches, and managers who attended the Games. The coaches came from coast-to-coast-to-coast, representing all 10 provinces and 3 territories.
The Canada Games is the largest amateur multi-sport event in Canada, providing unmatched experiences to participating coaches, athletes, and officials. Among these opportunities are apprenticeship and mentorship programs for coaches. These programs provide coaches the important and practical development for professional growth, while also building relationships and capacity in equity-deserving populations in coaching, such as women and Indigenous coaches.
The CAC is proud to celebrate the 40 coaches in the Canada Games Apprenticeship Program (CGAP), including 24 apprentice coaches in the Women in Coaching (WiC) cohort and 16 apprentice coaches from the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP), and the 6 coaches in the Women and Gender Equity in Coaching (WAGE) Project who took part in their respective programs while attending the Games.
The Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program is a partnership between the Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives (PTCRs), the Canada Games Council (CGC), and the Coaching Association of Canada. The CAC collaborates with the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) and the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program to connect the two cohorts for in-person professional development sessions to prepare for their Canada Games experience. The program continues to play a vital role in developing coaching capacity among equity-deserving populations in sport across Canada.
Andrea Johnson, Manager, Equity Programs at CAC and program lead for the WiC CGAP cohort:
“Congratulations to the apprentice coaches for completing the 2025 Canada Games Apprenticeship Program! They have poured their time, energy, and passion into their coach education and into building meaningful relationships through professional development and mentorship, culminating in achieving this significant milestone at the Canada Games. Their commitment is inspiring, and we look forward to the lasting impact they will continue to make in sport.”
The CAC’s Women and Gender Equity in Coaching (WAGE) project, an initiative funded by Canada’s Department for Women and Gender Equality, supports mentorship programs for women and gender diverse coaches. Sixteen sports from across Canada are participating in a Community of Practice with each sport having two coach pairings engaged in a year-long mentorship opportunity.
Kate Boyd, Manager, Special Projects and Women and Gender Equity lead:
“The WAGE Project was proud to have mentees, mentors and sport leads from the project leading teams at the Canada Games. As female coaches and role models, it’s exciting to see their leadership and skills shine on such an important national stage. From the pool to the field and the courts, these coaches are laying the foundation for more women in sport to succeed. Their representation matters and will help define pathways for generations to come of female and gender diverse sport leaders in Canadian sport.”
Mentorship and apprenticeship programs are an integral aspect of growing and strengthening coaching in Canada. Programs like the WAGE Project and the CGAP are just two examples of initiatives to build sustainable, intentional coaching practices that support coach education, developing communities of coaches, and providing equitable access to coaching experiences. When programs are developed intentionally, they can provide opportunities by breaking down barriers to access for individuals from equity-deserving communities. These experiences allow for coaches to develop their skillset, build trust and camaraderie among peers, foster the transfer of knowledge, raise confidence, and so much more.
The Public Interest form to join the Canada Games Apprenticeship Program for the 2027 Canada Winter Games in Quebec City, QC will launch September 8, 2025. For more information, please visit the Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program page here. In addition to programs, the CAC has a dedicated page of resources to support mentorship and apprenticeship best practices which can be found here.
About the Coaching Association of Canada
The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches. For more information, please visit www.coach.ca, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
About the Canada Games Apprenticeship Program
The Canada Games Council (CGC), the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) and the Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives (P/TCR) strongly believe that coaching apprenticeship programs are an essential part of the development of a coach. The Canada Games have featured apprenticeship coach programs in every Games since the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina, Saskatchewan. The program provides up to two coaches per Games from each Province and Territory the opportunity to develop their coaching skills through the Canada Games.
About Women and Gender Equality Canada
The WAGE Project has been funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Women’s Program.
The Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) advances equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression through the inclusion of women and 2SLGBTQI+ people in every aspect of Canada’s social, economic, and political life.