BC Games Coach Mentorship Program partners with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific

Sep 23, 2019

(Vancouver, B.C.) – As part of a mutual commitment to developing sport leaders in British Columbia, viaSport BC and the BC Games Society are proud to announce a new partnership with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI Pacific) through the BC Games Coach Mentorship Program. Kurt Innes, director of talent development with CSI Pacific, will be assuming the role of master mentor for the Program, which will now be delivered jointly between the three organizations.

“The BC Games Society is pleased to welcome CSI Pacific to the BC Games Coach Mentorship Program,” says Alison Noble, President and CEO of the BC Games Society. “This exciting new partnership with CSI Pacific will add tremendous value to the program as we continue to provide opportunities for young coaches to engage with sport leaders. The ability to pair young apprentice coaches with experienced mentor coaches is a vital part of ensuring future sustainability across the sector.”

The BC Games Coach Mentorship program has previously been a partnership between the BC Games Society and viaSport BC, in an effort to provide learning opportunities for coaches through working with mentors at the Games.

With Kurt Innes as the master mentor of the program, coach mentors will have the unique opportunity to work with and learn directly from him, taking advantage of his experience as an Olympian, both as a coach and an athlete.

“Kurt’s knowledge, expertise and passion around developing leaders will support not only the learning of the coach mentors, but will also enrich the experience of the apprentice coaches,” says Charlene Krepiakevich, CEO of viaSport BC.

“I am both excited and humbled by the opportunity to take on the role of master mentor for the 2020 BC Winter and Summer Games,” says Innes. “The BC Games have provided me with so many valuable coaching learning moments, and countless professional development opportunities over the years. I am hopeful that I can share some of these lessons and help other coaches to optimize their own coaching and athlete development programs.”

“As we work with PSOs to strategically build leadership capacity, it is important to utilize the resources we have in our system as effectively as possible,” says Krepiakevich. “This partnership approach will allow coach mentors and provincial sport organizations to utilize resources from viaSport and CSI Pacific, while gaining the experience of coaching in a multi-sport games environment.” 

The deadline to apply for the program has been extended to October 6, 2019. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit https://www.viasport.ca/coaching/mentorship. For more on master mentor Kurt Innes, visit www.csipacific.ca/about/our-team/team-leads

About the BC Games Coach Mentorship Program

Through this interactive learning opportunity, new and seasoned coaches alike will strengthen their own skills and the foundation of their sport organizations. The primary aim of the program is to develop coaches in the Competition Introduction context, to help PSOs strengthen their base of Learn to Train and Train to Train level of athletes. It also provides opportunities to potentially identify coaches who may look to work with high performance athletes.

About the BC Games Society The BC Games Society is the leadership organization that guides the BC Winter and BC Summer Games and prepares Team BC for national multi-sport Games. Since 1978, the BC Games have taken place in 38 communities and brought together thousands of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators in celebration of sport and community excellence.  It is a milestone event that people count as an exceptional experience where memories, friendships, spirit, and pride are abundant. Learn more at www.bcgames.org.

Media contact:

Justine Johnson
Marketing and Engagement Manager
justinej@bcgames.org 250-882-3685

About Canadian Sport Institute Pacific Offering world-class Olympic and Paralympic training environments in Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (www.csipacific.ca) is committed to Powering Performance. Inspiring Excellence. Working with national sport organizations and fuelled by our national and provincial partners such as Sport Canada, viaSport, Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Coaches Association of Canada, we are driven by our mantra to Collaborate. Serve. Innovate.

Our team of sport science, sport medicine, coaching & life services experts provide leading-edge programs and services to athletes and coaches to ensure they have every advantage to win medals for Canada. Learn more: http://www.csipacific.ca

Media contact:

Noah Wheelock
Manager, Communications and I.T.
nwheelock@csipacific.ca 250-220-2534 

About viaSport British Columbia Founded in 2011, viaSport British Columbia envisions a society where people and communities are truly healthy, vibrant and connected because they value and participate in sport experiences that are safe, inclusive and meaningful. With the support of the Province of British Columbia, viaSport manages approximately $16 M in sport, oversees more than 70 B.C. sport organizations, provides support for coach education and policy, and leads key initiatives to create more equitable opportunities in sport. Learn more on how viaSport transforms and scales the impact of sport at www.viasport.ca.

Media contact:

Lydia Nutbrown
Communications Specialist
lydian@viasport.ca 778-655-1763