Can you describe your coaching journey and the experiences that led you into coaching?
As an athlete I started at the Dieppe Boys & Girls club, and later trained at the Beauséjour Gymnastics Club, finally settling at St. Patrick’s Family Centre. I competed in artistic gymnastics myself, and eventually the spark for coaching found me. I coached artistic gymnastics for several years before becoming interested in trampoline. When I saw a posting for a trampoline coaching position in British Columbia, I decided to take the leap. I moved there four years, completed my trampoline certification and facilitator training, and coached athletes who qualified for the World Age Group Competition in Kamloops.
When I returned home, I continued coaching both artistic and trampoline gymnastics, but as the trampoline program grew, I eventually had to prioritize. Most of my coaching now focuses on trampoline, although I still coach artistic gymnastics. Since 2009, I have had athletes attend Eastern Championships, and throughout the years I have coached athletes who qualified for Canadian Championships. I also coached athletes at the Canada Games in 2015 and 2019, and in 2023 I attended as a coach in support of the program. My athletes were not quite at that level yet, but I remained committed to the development of the sport and the athletes coming through it and was able to support the rest of the team.
How many years of experience do you have in your sport?
I never competed in trampoline gymnastics because it was not available during my competitive years, so my background as an athlete is entirely in artistic gymnastics. I moved out west in 1994 and began coaching trampoline specifically during that time, completing my certifications and facilitator training while coaching athletes at a high level. Altogether, I have been involved in gymnastics since the mid‑1970s, first as an artistic gymnast and then as a coach across both artistic and trampoline disciplines.
What significance does the mentorship program, and mentoring in general, have for you?
In my mind, it is about giving back. It is about helping coaches go further than I was able to and supporting the program and the sport so they can grow into what they have the potential to become. Contributing to that growth and investing in the people who will carry it forward is what motivates me.
What is your vision for Gymnastics and sport in New Brunswick?
In New Brunswick, we are often trying to catch up to other provinces, so I believe the most important thing we can do is pull our resources together and work collaboratively. We can learn a great deal from other sports, even if certain elements are not directly comparable. Training methods, planning approaches, conditioning, flexibility, mental preparation, and the ability to balance life with sport all translating across disciplines. Whether someone is a coach or an athlete, they love their sport and want to make it work, and it is important to help them achieve their goals. That is the purpose for me: their goals become my goals, and my role is to support them in reaching what they are striving for.
Can you describe your coaching style or philosophy?
If you have goals, I will do my utmost to help you achieve them. I am here to support you, and yes, I will push when it is needed. Athletes who want those goals and work hard toward them are easy to gravitate to because their drive is so strong. I genuinely enjoy working with athletes who want to be there, who want the challenge, and who want to pursue their goals with intention and commitment.
Based on your experience, what guidance would you offer to a younger coach entering the coaching world, or your younger self?
Ask questions. Reach out. Get out there and do not be afraid to seek help from coaches who have more experience or who can offer resources you may not yet have. As a naturally shy person, I often avoided asking questions because I did not want to bother anyone, look inexperienced, or feel like I was being a pest. But asking questions is the only way to grow, to move forward, and to achieve your goals. The more you reach out, the more you learn, and the faster you progress. That willingness to ask, to connect, and to learn is what ultimately sets coaches and athletes on a path toward success.
