Equine Canada ProChaps Coaching Awards of Excellence

At the 2013 Equine Canada Awards Gala held February 8 in Ottawa, ON, Equine Canada honoured certified coaches who were recognized for excellence in coaching in two categories – Equine Canada ProChaps National Coaching Certification Program Awards and Equine Canada ProChaps Coaching Excellence Awards.

The Equine Canada ProChaps National Coaching Certification Program Awards are for those coaches and instructors who exemplify the National Coaching Program, and set an example promoting rider education through the national Learn to Ride/Drive programs. Individual nominations were submitted to the provincial sport organizations (PSO) who sent semi-final short lists to Equine Canada to make the final selections.

Equine Canada ProChaps National Coaching Certification Program Awards

Drive
Kathleen Winfield, Alberta

Para-Equestrian and Therapeutic Riding
Sandra Verda-Zanata, British Columbia
Sian Fernandez Thomas, Ontario
Hilary Webb, Ontario
Chelsea Van Lierde, Quebec
Kathy Barrett, Prince-Edward Island

English Instructor
Roxy Wright, Alberta
Laura Chiasson, Nova Scotia

English Level 1/Competition Coach
Jenny Payne, British Columbia
Jennifer Smart, Alberta
Ashley Fudge, Manitoba
Theresa Rondeau, Ontario
Alissa Cue, Nova Scotia
Val Paton, Prince-Edward Island

English Level 2/ Coach Specialist
Jan Jollymour, British Columbia
Cathy Chalack, Alberta
Ruth Presley, Saskatchewan
Robyn Lynn Brent, Ontario
Roberta Byng-Morris, Quebec
Erin MacQuarrie, New Brunswick
Gidget Oxner, Prince-Edward Island

Western Level 1
Faye Fox, British Columbia
Gabriele Klotz, Alberta

Western Level 2
Wendy Johnston, Alberta
Wendy Robinson, Manitoba
Andrea Veldhuyzen, Ontario

Level 3/High Performance
Tricia Dahms, Eventing, Alberta
Susan Ziereisen, Dressage, Ontario
Lise Roy, Reining, Quebec

The Equine Canada ProChaps Coaching Excellence Awards were also presented at the Gala. These Awards reward leaders in the coaching program who have gone over and above in their contributions to building and promoting the national programs for rider and coach education and development. These awards are peer nominated from among the coaching leadership team. The recipients have dedicated hundreds of hours of their personal time, and their contributions have been pivotal to creating the world-class Equine Canada coaching programs.

“The growth of the coaching program in the past couple of years has been so exciting. Developing new programs takes years, and a lot of commitment and teamwork by people with a lot of technical expertise,” said Heather Sansom, Equine Canada Manager of Coaching. “This year of course we are also very pleased to have our new award sponsor, ProChaps who shares our view that coaches are leaders in their community. The Excellence recipients do more than just create new coaching programs. They create ways for coaches to influence thousands of riders and the future of our sport.”

Special recognition goes to the following people for their outstanding commitment to the coaching and athlete development programs in 2012

Equine Canada ProChaps Coaching Excellence Awards

Mary-Ruth Moore, Bowmanville, ON / Coaching Education / For her leadership in developing training in the Competition Coach Specialist program, particularly involvement in the pilots

Danielle Yaghdjian, Claremont, ON / English Coaching Program / For her leadership and extensive involvement in developing training materials for the Competition Coach Specialist program

Cathy Chalack, Carstairs, AB / Learning Facilitator/Evaluator / Peer nomination for her work as an Evaluator and Learning facilitator, and in promoting the coaching program in her area

Erin Lundteigen,Calgary, AB / Program Administration, Alberta / PSO nomination for her leadership in initiating training and pilot events building the coaching program

Gillian Ross-Erasmi, Burlington, ON / Program Administration, Ontario / PSO nomination for her leadership in initiating training and pilot events building the coaching program

Mary-Clare McLaren, Waverley, NS / Rider Education / Peer nomination in recognition of her significant content contributions to the English Rider Level programs

Terry Johnson, Surrey, BC / Saddle Seat Coaching / For her role as a Canadian Saddle Seat coach in international coaching and influencing the way competitions are scored

Betty-Ann McPhedran, Dugald, MB / Western Coaching Program / Peer nomination for her leadership and initiative in development of the Western Coaching program

The annual coaching awards nomination forms will available on the Coaching section of the Equine Canada website near the end of 2013. Be sure to nominate coaches that need to be recognized for their hard work and dedication.

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