
OUR COACHES
When choosing a coach for your child here are some things that you may want to consider:
Certification of Professional Skate Canada Coaches:
To teach Skate Canada programs at the Guelph Skating Club, coaches must be National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) trained and/or certified and they must also be a current registered professional coaching member of Skate Canada. They must have completed a Skate Canada approved clearance check and positions of trust check, and hold a valid First Aid certificate. These qualifications ensure that our members are getting very qualified skating instructors.
How to choose a Private Coach:
Hiring a coach for individual instruction typically begins at some point during PreSTAR when the fundamentals of skating are well established. Some factors to consider when choosing a coach include:
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Level of NCCP certification
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Years of coaching experience
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Skating background (years of skating experience; highest tests passed; competitive accomplishments)
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What levels of skaters do they work with? (beginners, recreational, competitive, adults)
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What skating disciplines do they specialize in? (freeskating, ice dancing, choreography, power skating, synchronized skating, Special Olympics)
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When are they available? (which day(s), which session(s), would lessons outside of club times on private ice be a possibility?)
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Private, semi-private (2-3 skaters), or group lessons
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Fee rate per lesson; frequency of billing; policies regarding payment (fees for private coaching are determined by the coach, not the club)
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Fees for related services (music editing, dance partnering, coaching at competitions, etc.)
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Does the coach work as part of a coaching team? (will skaters receive lessons from other coaches on the team?)
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Does the coach have training in related areas? (examples – fitness instructor, dance instructor, nutrition, physical education, physiotherapy, biomechanics, sport psychology)
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What successes has the coach had with skaters? (gold tests passed, high level placements in qualifying competitions)
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Coaching style and philosophy (observe some lessons and talk to the coach)
Feel free to discuss your goals and needs with several coaches before making decisions to hire. Some coaches may be willing to teach skaters on a trial basis.
Etiquette for Changing Coaches:
Skaters’ needs change over time; thus, there may come a time that coaching arrangements may need to change. This can be an awkward and difficult experience for coaches, skaters and parents alike. When handled in a professional manner, the transition can be less disruptive for all involved. If you intend to switch coaches, your present and prospective coaches should be informed and all outstanding fees to your present coach must be paid prior to the change. It is considered unethical for coaches to offer lessons to skaters who have established coaching arrangements.
What are Program Assistants?
Program Assistants are typically skaters from the club’s STARSkate, Competitive or Adult programs who volunteer their time to assist professional coaches in the club’s PreCanskate, CanSkate and/or Adult programs. All Program Assistants work under the supervision of the Group Programs’ Coach in Charge.

Kelly Shock
Program Director
Base Coach & Learn to Skate Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
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18 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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National level coach
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Power Skating Instructor
Coaching Credentials:
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NCCP Level 3 Certified, 10 NCCP Level 4 Tasks
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CanPowerSkate Certified
Disciplines:
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All Singles disciplines
Session Availability:
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Please contact for availability
Days Available:
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Please contact for availability
Accepting Private Students? Yes
Private Rate/15 mins - $12.50


Jessica Sawkins-Crawford
Base Coach
519-993-8831
Years of Coaching Experience:
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10 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Canadian Junior Pairs Champion of Canada
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International/National Competitor
Coaching Credentials:
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NCCP Provincial Level Trained
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NCCP National Level - currently working on
Disciplines:
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All disciplines
Session Availability:
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Please contact for availability
Days Available:
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Please contact for availability
Accepting Private Students? Yes
Private Rate/15 mins - $14.00

Barb Rogers
Support Coach & Learn to Skate Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
20 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Coach of Synchro team that went to Nationals twice
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Skated with show team that traveled through U.S. and Australia.
Coaching Credentials:
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NCCP Level 3 Coach
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Learn to Skate, StarSkate, Synchro and Special Olympics Skating Coach
Disciplines:
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Synchronized, Learn to Skate, StarSkate
Accepting Private Students? No

Stephanie Gerend
Support Coach & Learn to Skate Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
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2 year as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Sr. Bronze FreeSkate
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Ongoing Gold Dances
Coaching Credentials:
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CanSkate Trained
Disciplines:
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Learn to Skate
Accepting Private Students? No

Katie Butt
Learn to Skate Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
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4 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Novice FreeSkate Competitor
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Gold test level FreeSkate, Skills
Coaching Credentials:
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CanSkate Certified
Disciplines:
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Learn to Skate
Accepting Private Students? No

Janet Gibson
Base Coach/CanPower Coach
Cell: 519-400-8663
Years of Coaching Experience:
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20 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Skate Canada Double Gold Medalist
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Canadian National Level Competitor
Coaching Certification:
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Provincial level Certified (Level 2 certified), National level trained (Level 3 trained)
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CanPowerSkate Certified
Disciplines:
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Competitive Singles, Dance, Skills (all levels)
Session Availability:
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All sessions
Days Available:
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All days
Accepting Private Students? Yes
Private Rate/15 mins - $14.00

Krista Coventry
Base Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
23 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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National level coach, quadruple gold medalist skaters
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Skate Canada Western Ontario Development Team skaters
Coaching Credentials:
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NCCP Level 3 Coach
Disciplines:
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All Singles disciplines
Accepting Private Students? No

Mikayla Hooper
Support Coach & Learn to Skate Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
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7 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Gold test level Skills, Dance & Interpretive
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2018 Henry Weeks Volunteer Award from GSC
Coaching Credentials:
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Certified NCCP Regional Coach (Level 1)
Disciplines:
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Learn to Skate, PrePowerSkate, FreeSkate
Accepting Private Students? No
Availability: Currently contracted as a Support Coach, can be contacted through GSC Base Coaches.
Private Rate/15 mins - $10.00

Atia Poster
Support Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
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5 years as a professional coach
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Gold test level Skills
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Junior Silver Elements and Dance
Coaching Credentials:
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Regional Level 1 Certified
Disciplines:
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StarSkate and Learn to CanSkate
Accepting Private Students? No
Availability: Currently contracted as a Support Coach, can be contacted through GSC Base Coaches.
Private Rate/15 mins - $7.50

Jacqueline Hooper
Learn to Skate Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
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8 years as a Program Assistant
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Sr. Silver Dance and Skills
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Jr. Silver FreeSkate
Coaching Credentials:
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CanSkate Certified
Disciplines:
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Learn to Skate
Accepting Private Students? No

Alexandra Hooper
Learn to Skate Coach
Years of Coaching Experience:
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3 years as a Program Assistant
Personal Skating Accomplishments:
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Sr. Silver Skills
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Sr. Bronze FreeSkate
Coaching Credentials:
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CanSkate Trained
Disciplines:
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Learn to Skate
Accepting Private Students? No