OTTAWA, ONTARIO – An equity, diversity and inclusion grant from the Coaching Association of Canada will help Speed Skating Canada offer a unique women-in-coaching initiative, led by renown long track coach Xiuli Wang, as part of this season’s all-new Hybrid Speed Skating Pilot Program.
The Coaching Association of Canada is dedicated to providing grants to organizations that develop and implement programs to support coaches in one or more priority groups, which include women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and people who identify with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The primary objective of the EDI Grant Program, powered by MONDO, is to increase the diversity of the coaching population in Canada and ensure that sport environments are inclusive and accessible.
Launched earlier this summer in collaboration with Patinage de vitesse Quebec (PVQ), the SSC x PVQ Hybrid Speed Skating Pilot Program was created with the goal of identifying athletes with long track potential from within the current short track high performance program. An inaugural hybrid camp took place in July at the Centre de glaces Intact Assurance in Quebec City, where invited athletes took part in on-ice activities, as well as off-ice training and testing. The top performers will be invited to a second camp in the fall and third camp in the winter.
In addition to providing short track athletes with an opportunity to test themselves in long track, the Hybrid Speed Skating Pilot Program will also be used to deliver a women-in-coaching mentorship initiative. Led by Xiuli Wang, one of Canada’s most respected Olympic coaches, the program will providehands-on mentorship and high-performance training experienceto a cohort ofemerging women coaches.
This initiative aims to increase the representation and development of women in high-performance coaching, particularly within men-dominated disciplines like short and long track speed skating. The selected women coaches will shadow Wang, engage in planning and debriefing sessions, and receive tailored professional development.
“Our goal at Speed Skating Canada is to grow the number of women coaching at all levels of Canadian speed skating. Athletes should see and be inspired by strong women leaders both on and off the ice. This project is a direct step toward that vision – providing mentorship and real-world experience to develop and retain more women coaches, as a more diverse and representative staff will strengthen our sport from grassroots to podium.”Joe Morissette, Chief Executive Officer, Speed Skating Canada
Learn more about the Coaching Association of Canada’s EDI Grant Program, powered by MONDO by visiting www.coach.ca.
About the Coaching Association of Canada
The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) 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.
About MONDO
MONDO is the global leader in the track and field and indoor sports flooring market, with more than 1,100 of the company’s track surfaces installed worldwide. Hundreds of prestigious track and field competitions have been held on MONDO track surfaces globally, and athletes have set more than 350 world records on the company’s track surfaces. A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, MONDO sells its environmentally sustainable flooring in more than 196 countries through MONDO-owned manufacturing companies in Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and China.
Media Contact
Alain Brouillette
Speed Skating Canada
communications@speedskating.ca
613-601-2630