Three of Swimming Canada’s top high performance coaches are benefitting from the Coaching Enhancement Program, as the Canada Coach program looks to move into its fourth cohort.

Canada Coach is the foundational development opportunity in the Coaching Enhancement Program (CEP) for Canadian coaches. Swimming Canada High Performance Centre – Quebec Head Coach Mike Thompson has been taking part in Cohort 1 of the program, while High Performance Centre – Victoria Head Coach Ryan Mallette, and Senior Coach Paralympic Program Vince Mikuska are part of Cohort 2.

Over the course of four modules over 16 days, coaches from Canada’s leading sports come together to develop the leadership skills required to compete with the best programs in the world. Canada’s finest Olympic and Paralympic coaches benefit from targeted development experiences in a setting where they can share best practices and personal challenges while being exposed to critical expertise. Recently, a highly successful four-day session with the first two cohorts took place just outside of Toronto.

Content is based on foundational coaching and leadership principles as well as feedback from the CEP leadership assessment of senior coaches across summer and winter sports. It includes sessions on composure, performing in conflict, emotional intelligence, strategic alignment, innovation and adaptability.

The initiative is a partnership between Own the Podium, Sport Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee. Coaches are nominated by national sports organizations, and go through a selection process that includes a 360-degree assessment.

“We are delighted to have three of our coaching staff on the Canada Coach program,” said Swimming Canada High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson. “It’s a great opportunity for them to continue to improve and strive to stay at the cutting edge in coaching. We thank Own the Podium, Sport Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee for their investment in coaching, which is critical for all sports to be successful at the highest levels.”