By Sheila Robertson
For women aspiring to become a high-performance coach, there has seldom been a better time to break into the profession.
Supporting the process is Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC), which recently sponsored its third Women Coaching Internship Program (CSC WCIP). The six-month long virtual initiative is designed to prepare women to successfully assume high-performance coaching roles and is made possible through the financial backing of Sport Canada’s support program for gender equity and safety in sport.
Commenting on the importance of the CSC WCIP, CSC President Dr. Claire Carver-Dias of Oakville, Ont., said: “The CSC WCIP is about changing the future of coaching in Canada. By empowering up-and-coming women coaches with mentorship, professional development, and meaningful experience at the highest levels of national and international sport, CSC is helping build a stronger, more diverse, and more representative Canadian sport system. Most importantly, every woman coach who advances through this program becomes a leader, role model, and catalyst for the women and girls who will follow. When we invest in women coaches today, we strengthen Canadian sport for generations to come.”
Added CSC CEO Brian MacPherson of Ottawa: “The CSC WCIP reflects our commitment to promoting coaching and gender equality in Commonwealth Sport and our belief that coaching internship programs are an essential component in developing high-performance women coaches.”
Heading the CSC WCIP for the third time was former Olympic artistic swimming coach Sheilagh Croxon, ChPC, of Etobicoke, Ont. “The outstanding intern coaches who comprised the 2026 CSC WCIP cohort are a bright, talented, and committed group of coaches. I expect great things from these impressive women coaches in the future,” said Croxon.
CSC WCIP 2026
The 2026 intern coaches, and their mentors, all nominated by their national sport organization and selected by the CSC are:
Celine Freeman-Gibb, ChPC, of Windsor, Ont., a full-time throws coach at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. Her mentor coach is Richard Parkinson, ChPC, of Stouffville, Ont., an acclaimed national team throws coach with multiple medallists to his credit.
Emma Suttle of Vancouver, B.C., is a coach at Monarc Boxing and Fitness in Vancouver. Her mentor coach is Ariane Fortin of Montreal, a two-time world champion boxer now full-time national team coach and motivational speaker.
Sarah Rudolf of Tsawwassen, B.C., is assistant coach of the UBC Thunderbirds Varsity Swim Team and director of swimming and administration lead of the Ridge Meadows Swim Club in Maple Ridge, B.C. Her mentor coach is Linda Kiefer, ChPC, of Toronto, Assistant Head Coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues since 1990.
Rose Huang of Vancouver, B.C., coaches table tennis athletes within development and performance pathways. Her mentor coach is Maxime Surprenant, ChPC, of Montreal, Que., Table Tennis Coach of the Year in 2024.
Madeline (Maddy) Price of Toronto is a two-time Olympian and was an assistant sprints coach at Duke University in Durham, N.C., for five years. Mentor coach Kurt Downes, ChPC, of Windsor, Ont., has been a member of 14 national team coaching staffs and is an experienced sprints, hurdles, and combined events coach.
Jennifer (Jenn) Russell of Bolton, Ont., is the head coach of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gee’s women’s rugby team. Her mentor coach is Kévin Rouet of Quebec City, PQ., the head coach of Canada’s women’s national rugby union team.
Expert Presenters Share Backgrounds and Learnings
A key element of the CSC WCIP Croxon developed brought together outstanding presenters from high-performance sport to share their expertise and experience with the intern coaches.
Speaking at the CSC WCIP’s opening session were past mentor coaches Catharine Pendrel, former mountain bike world champion and now national team mountain bike coach and XCO (Cross-Country Olympic) lead, and Tina Hoeben, head coach of the KISU Swim Club in Penticton, B.C.
The second and third sessions focused on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a personality assessment tool delivered by Dr. Claire Carver-Dias, an Olympic medallist who heads a communications coaching consultancy and is an adjunct professor in the management department of the University of Toronto Mississauga.
fourth session reviewed a needs assessment designed to have the intern coaches zero in on areas within their coaching experience that require improvement. Discussion topics included strategies to improve work/life balance and ways women coaches can continue to develop professionally and advance their career pathways.
Entitled Learning from Leaders, the fifth session brought together Dr. Dru Marshall of Vancouver, B.C., a nationally recognized academic leader, former Provost and Vice President Academic at the University of Calgary (U of C) , and former head coach of Canada’s women’s field hockey team; former Olympic middle distance runner Dr. Penny Werthner of Calgary, Alta., and Ottawa, a distinguished sport psychology consultant, an expert in leadership and organizational behaviour, a Full Professor at the U of C, and former Dean of its Faculty of Kinesiology; and Carla Nicholls of Regina, head coach of Para Athletics for Athletics Canada, whose coaching career spans multiple Olympic and Paralympic Games, world Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games.
The final session was designed to allow the intern coaches and mentors to present their key learnings and insights gained over the course of the program and to provide suggestions for future CSC WCIPs. “The session was full of amazing insights and authentic sharing and was a wonderful opportunity to witness each intern coach’s incredible growth in such a short period of time,” said Croxon.
Interns and Mentors Evaluate 2026 CAC WCIP
Participants’ comments reflect the resounding success of the CSC WCIP.
As Emma Suttle noted: “The CSC WCIP was such an inspiring experience. I had the privilege to learn from incredible successful women in sport. I learned so much from the other intern coaches and made connections I hope will last a lifetime. This experience opened doors for me not only through boxing, but also to new knowledge, different perspectives, and problem-solving skills that have helped me grow as a coach and as a person. I’m grateful to be part of a program that supports women coaches and helps create more opportunities for the women who will come after us.”
Suttle’s mentor Ariane Fortin concurred: “I'm profoundly grateful for the opportunity to take part in the CSC WCIP. Hearing accomplished, seasoned women put into words the emotions and thoughts I grapple with in my own journey was so validating and motivating. It made me feel seen, understood, and far less alone. As a mentor, I came to give and left having received just as much.”
Speaking in the same vein was Celine Freeman-Gibb, ChPC: “"The CSC WCIP was extremely helpful in connecting with other women high-performance coaches across different sports. I enjoyed getting to know the other intern coaches and mentor coaches as well as learning from the wonderful speakers. Being part of this program shows you that you're not alone and that other women coaches are looking to connect, listen, and grow alongside you.”
Freeman-Gibb’s mentor, Richard Parkinson, said: “The CSC WCIP has been an important part of my development as a coach. It has provided opportunities to learn, collaborate and challenge my thinking alongside other high-performance coaches, while giving me access to expertise and experiences that I can apply directly to my athletes. Most importantly, the program recognizes that coaches need to continue developing if we expect our athletes to do the same.”
Sarah Rudolf is another CSC WCIP champion: “ … gave me space to grow as a coach while reminding me that I wasn't navigating this career alone. Having Linda [Kiefer] as a mentor pushed me to think bigger about what's possible, from applying for opportunities that challenge me to picturing myself coaching internationally. She showed me what it means to have someone in your corner who understands the specific challenges of this path.”
Rudolf’s mentor, Linda Kiefer, echoes her enthusiasm: “I was honoured to be a mentor; it’s rewarding for mentees and mentors. You never stop learning. I hope this program is around for years to come.”
Rose Huang values the varied backgrounds: "The CSC-WCIP reminded me how important it is for women coaches to have spaces where we can connect, learn from one another, and feel supported in our development. Being surrounded by coaches from so many different sports showed me that while our experiences may look different, many of the challenges and lessons we face are shared. I am grateful for the relationships, opportunities, and confidence this program has given me, and I hope to carry that sense of community forward in my own coaching."
CSC WCIP reinforced Maxime Surprenant’s ability to guide Huang: “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to take part in the CSC WCIP. This experience has strengthened the collaboration between Rose and me, allowing us to deepen our partnership, grow together, and take our work to an even higher level.
Madeline (Maddy) Price cites connections and community: “The CSC WCIP not only was an incredible opportunity from a learning standpoint, providing educational sessions that expanded my coaching knowledge, but arguably more important it provided connection to other women coaches. That and the solidarity during conversations and shared experiences created a community that we can lean on in our own individual coaching journeys. I know that going forward, I have this community to reach out to with any questions throughout my career.”
Price’s mentor Kurt Downes strongly supports mentorship: “Working with Madeline Price through the CSC-WCIP has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Watching her grow in confidence, take on new challenges, and continue to develop as a coach is something I’m very proud of. Programs like this are so important for creating opportunities, mentorship, and meaningful connections for women in coaching. I’m grateful to have been part of Maddy’s journey and excited to see where it takes her next.”
CSC WCIP boosted Jennifer (Jenn) Russell’s confidence: “The CSC-WCIP has given me a real sense of visibility and belonging in the coaching world. Stepping into my first full-time role with this backing has reinforced that I’m fully capable, and I’m especially grateful for the group’s compassion as I navigated a big move with my family and kids during this transition. Hearing from strong female leaders has been incredibly grounding, and I’m looking forward to connecting with my mentor coach at upcoming camps to see our sport being led and developed at the highest level.”
Russell’s mentor Kévin Rouet values the cross-sport learnings: “The CSC-WCIP has been an incredible experience, both professionally and personally. As a rugby coach, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from inspiring coaches and leaders from across sport, while gaining new perspectives that I can bring back to my own team and coaching environment. I’m grateful for the connections, knowledge, and support I’ve gained through this program, and I know they will continue to shape my journey as a coach.
