Meet our Team of Coaches
Skate Canada trains and certifies coaches through the Coaching Association of Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). All coaches must maintain the following requirements to be in good standing:
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Skate Canada Coaching Membership
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Skate Canada NCCP Status
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Valid First Aid Certification
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Background screening
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Completion of Respect in Sport Training Activity Leader Training
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Completion of the Skate Canada Code of Ethics

MANDY ROACH-SWERDFEGER
STARSkate Coach
• Gold Dance
• Senior Bronze Free; Junior Silver Free Elements
• 2nd Figure; Skating Skills Class 5
• NCCP Certified Regional Coach │ Provincial Coach In-Training
• CanSkate & CanPowerSkate Certified
• STAR 1-5 Assessor Training
• Education in Social Services & Correctional Services
• Certificate in Autism Education
• Coaching since 1995
Available for all coaching levels group & private, recreational & competitive. Freestyle, Dance, Skills, Power and special needs students.
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MELANIE BARNES
STARSkate Coach | On & Off-ice Conditioning Coach
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Senior Bronze Dance
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Junior Bronze Free Skate
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Skating Skills Class 5
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NCCP Regional Coach Certified
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CanSkate Certified
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STAR 1-5 Assessor Training
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STAR 1-5 Officials Training
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Health & Fitness Promotion Diploma - St. Lawrence College
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Aquafitness Instructor
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Certified through the National Exercise and Strength Trainers Association (NESTA) in Personal Fitness, Functional Training, Core Conditioning, Biomechanics, Speed, Agility and Quickness.
Available for private lesson instruction in all disciplines including Skills, Dance Freeskate and off-ice conditioning.

LISA VAN DE LIGT
STARSkate Coach
• Gold Dance
• Gold Skills
• Senior Bronze Free Skate Elements
• NCCP Certified Regional Coach 2010
• CanSkate Certified 2009
• STAR 1-5 Assessor Training (in-progress)
• BSc Biological Science (Honors) 2008
• Bilingual
Available for all coaching levels group & private, recreational & competitive. Freestyle, Dance, Skills.

CHANTAL LEWIS
STARSkate Coach
• STAR 8 Ice Dance
• 7th Figure
• Gold Free Skate, former junior competitor
• Gold Skating Skills
• NCCP Certified Regional Coach
• Star 1-5 Assessor
• STAR 6-Gold Skills Assessor
• 25 years coaching experience
• Former competitive skater who trained with international and Olympic level coaches and skaters.
Available for all coaching levels group & private, recreational & competitive. Freestyle, Dance, Skills.

MELANIE DIXON
CanSkate Coach
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STAR 7 Dance
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Skating Skills Class 7
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NCCP Certified Club Coach- CanSkate

STEPHANIE SLINGER
STARSkate and CanSkate Coach
• Gold Dance
• STAR 7 Skating Skills
• Senior Bronze Free
• NCCP Certified Club Coach - CanSkate
• NCCP Regional Coach Trained
• BEd Primary, Junior 2007

MELISSA GROVES
CanSkate Coach
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Junior Bronze Dance
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Skating Skills Class 6
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Preliminary Free
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NCCP Certified Club Coach - CanSkate
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BEd, Primary, Junior, Intermediate 2007
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Special Education Part 1 2007

All our Program Assistants participate in annual formalized training.
PROGRAM ASSISTANTS
• Assist the Skate Canada Coach in delivering the CanSkate program on‐ice and off‐ice
• Demonstrate skills and teaching progressions
• Supervise practice sessions
• Lead warm‐ups and cool‐downs, under the direction of the Skate Canada Coach
• Reinforce learned skills
• Lead circuits, drills and group activities
• Distribute awards
• Being a role model for young skaters
Coaches select Program Assistant candidates who demonstrate:
• A helping nature
• Patience with others around them
• An ability to communicate ideas clearly
• Reliability
• A sense of commitment to tasks
• Qualities of a good role model
• Ability to lead activities in a creative, enthusiastic manner