Equestrian Canada (EC) and the Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) will once again connect face-to-face during the second annual EC-PTSO Summit, set for Feb. 1-2, 2019 in Toronto, ON, with updates and progress on the 2018-2020 EC/PTSO Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) prioritized as a main point of discussion and collaboration.
Signed in May 2018, the 2018-2020 EC/PTSO MOA was created with the aim of assessing, restructuring and improving the development programs and services available to Canadian equestrians, and is the result of an unprecedented approach to align PTSO and EC priorities in the areas of equestrian development and growth.
“We look forward to building on the momentum of the 2018 EC-PTSO Summit, and continuing to engage in proactive communication and collaboration between EC and the PTSOs,” said EC CEO, Richard Mongeau. “Both the EC Strategic Initiatives Plan and the EC/PTSO MOA are ambitious, collaborative and forward-thinking. Successful implementation will require that we join together in collaborative efforts and expertise, and I look forward to working with all involved to bring positive change and growth to the Canadian equestrian community.”
Some of the specific projects and initiatives to be discussed at the Summit include:
Canadian Equestrian Development
The Canadian Equestrian Development (CED) project encompasses an audit and restructure of programs that support the development of equestrian coaches, instructors and athletes. This project represents a strong collaboration between EC and the PTSOs, and is being led by Douglas Duncan, an independent sport consultant who was brought on board in the fall of 2018 following a request for proposal process.
Duncan specializes in supporting sport organizations with the design and implementation of programs that enhance the quality of the sport experience for participants, and support long-term athlete development. He comes to the CED project with proven success leading major change initiatives and program development related to competition systems, learn-to programs and coach education for a variety of national sport organizations, including Speed Skating Canada, Athletics Canada and the Sport for Life Society.
Throughout the project, Duncan will be working closely with EC and PTSO staff and stakeholders – including CED Committee members Mongeau, Sonia Dantu, Tracey McCague-McElrea, Heather Myrer, Chris Sorensen, Craig Collins, and Meg Krueger – as well as EC’s two national coaching committees, and renowned Canadian equestrian coaches and athletes..
The major components of this largescale project include:
- Review of the challenges and issues facing the current coaching certification program, and identification of the foundation needed to support a redesign of equestrian coach training and certification in Canada.
- Development of strategy to enable the implementation of mandatory coach certification at EC sanctioned competitions.
- Review and redesign of existing learn to ride programs and implementation of a new FUNdamentals program to address an existing gap in youth development.
- Seamless integration of all athlete and instructor/coach development programs in order to provide high quality curricula, supported at all stages of EC’s Long-Term Equestrian Development (LTED) framework.
Competition Structural Alignment
Competition review, alignment and the implementation of national championships for equestrian sport in Canada is a major priority for EC, as outlined in the Strategic Initiatives Plan 2018-2022.
Duncan will also take on the role of Project Consultant for phase one of this initiative, working alongside EC High Performance Manager, Anna Johnson, as Project Manager. They are supported by the Competition Structural Alignment Committee (CSAC), comprised of:
- Chris Sorensen – Co-Chair (EC Board Member)
- Craig Collins – Co-Chair (EC Board Member)
- Anne Welch – Dressage
- Peter Gray – Eventing
- Mike Lawrence – Jumping
- Birgit Valkenborg – Para-Dressage
- Patricia Carley – Driving
- Dessia Miller – Endurance
- Rhea Pole – Reining
- Charlene Kostecki – Vaulting
- Nicole Duplessis – PTSO Representative
- Ali Buchanan – PTSO Representative
- Jon Garner – EC Staff Representative
Through collaboration between EC, the PTSOs, and input from a wide range of equestrian stakeholders and participants from all EC recognized disciplines, phase one of the wider project mandate is centered on three steps:
- Fact Finding: Reviewing existing analysis and identifying what is currently working, as well as existing gaps, in order to provide statistical benchmarks and confirm areas of priority.
- Analysis and Alignment: Identifying required areas of alignment with LTED framework, US Equestrian, the FEI, etc.
- Recommendations and Action Plan: Providing analysis and evidence-based recommendations on how to move forward to the next phase of the project by discipline.
Further updates and information regarding the progression of projects within the 2018-2020 EC-PTSO MOA and the EC Strategic Initiatives Plan 2018-2022 will be communicated as they become available. Questions regarding these projects and initiatives can be directed to:
Richard Mongeau
Chief Executive Officer
Equestrian Canada
rmongeau@equestrian.ca
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