Kingston, September 19, 2025 – Sail Canada announced today that Lucas Henderson from Brockville, ON, has been selected Sail Canada 2024 Instructor of the Year, presented by Checklick, as the country celebrates National Coaches Week, an annual event which ends this Sunday.
The Sail Canada Instructor of the Year Award, presented by Checklick, is awarded annually to an instructor who demonstrates excellence on the water teaching and communicating skills, is respectful, fair and equitable, encourages pride in the sport, has taken part in clinics and performs above and beyond what is required from an instructor. The winners are Sail Canada certified and registered instructors who have made a significant impact and have accepted the challenge of improving the level of sailing at their club/school. Honest, sincere and honourable in their relationships with sailors as well as looking to improve their own approach to teaching, training and mentoring new instructors, Sail Canada Instructor of the Year Award winners have a high degree of self-awareness and the ability to reflect critically on the information exchange between them and the sailors, and how their perspectives influence their interactions with others.
Nominations have been evaluated based on the time period ranging from January 1 to December 31, 2024.
Lucas Henderson has now been a Brockville Yacht Club sailing instructor for eight years. After being a CANSail 1 & 2 and CANSail 3 & 4 instructor, he was named Co-Head Instructor at the Brockville Yacht Club in 2024, leading a team of instructors as well as mentoring new CANSail 3 & 4 Instructors.
He also helped to launch and oversee the “Sailing for All” initiative, focusing on providing access and support to youth sailors facing barriers to participation, as well as working alongside instructors to develop individualized learning approaches for these sailors.
In 2024, he also created a partnership with a local car dealer, bringing significant support for the club’s youth program with sponsorship for equipment and new initiatives like a CANSail 3 & 4 regatta, which was the first dinghy event that the club had hosted in decades.
Lucas Henderson also stepped in during an unexpected crisis that occurred while the director was absent, organizing and facilitating a member’s fundraising dinner in support of youth sailors, as well as overseeing the annual awards and recognition night.
From the nomination form: “Every year, he returns with equal excitement and dedication. He is beloved by every sailor in sailing school, every instructor, and club member. Not only does Lucas make sure each sailor feels comfortable and that the program is running smoothly, he elevates the sailing school at every opportunity. He demonstrated a deep and enduring commitment to the sport of sailing, well beyond his role as an instructor.”
“I am honoured to be named Sail Canada’s 2024 Instructor of the Year,” said Lucas Henderson. “I began instructing to give back to the Brockville Yacht Club and the community that inspired my passion for sailing. Whether it is for young sailors discovering the sport for the first time or adults finding a new passion later in life, my goal has always been to make sure they leave the water with a smile. At the end of the day, if the sailors are happy, I’m happy. This award is a reflection of the entire Brockville sailing community that continues to inspire and support me, and I’m grateful to Sail Canada and Checklick for this recognition.”
More information about the Sail Canada Instructor of the Year Award is available at https://www.sailing.ca/coach-instructor-of-the-year-award-past-winners/.
About Checklick
Servicing Sail Canada’s Program deliveries, Checklick is an Athlete Development Tracking System (ADTS™) owned and operated by Checklick Inc. in Toronto, Canada. Checklick has been helping organizations gain insights into their programs by providing a system to build standardized program skill checklists. Instructors and Coaches use the system to evaluate program participants’ skill development and track their progress. As an all-in-one system, Checklick also offers to clubs and sport schools a payment and registration system for organizations to sell their courses, memberships, events and items.
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
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Media Contact
Patrick Godbout
Communications Manager
Sail Canada
Email: patrick@sailing.ca
Phone: 514-213-9897