Aboriginal Apprentice Coaching Program (AACP)

The Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP) is a partnership between the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), Canada's Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs), Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives (PTCRs), the Canada Games Council (CGC), and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC).

The program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send two (2) coaches of First Nations, Metis and Inuit ancestry to the Canada Games in apprentice coach roles.

The next Canada Summer Games will be held in St. John's Newfoundland in 2025.

AACP objectives include:

• Building coaching capacity within Indigenous communities.
• Providing Aboriginal apprentice coaches with domestic multi-sport games exposure.
• Providing Aboriginal apprentice coaches with professional development and learning opportunities to prepare them for high level coaching and ensure an increase in their level of NCCP certification to a minimum of Competition - Development, Trained. (Apprentices complete training within 12 months following the Games)
• Exposing Aboriginal apprentice coaches to elite/high performance coaches.
• Ensuring Aboriginal apprentice coaches are prepared to handle a meaningful role during the Canada Games experience.

For more information regarding Desired Outcomes and Eligibility please download : PDF for AACP

2025 Aboriginal Apprentice Coaches

The 2025 Aboriginal Apprentice Coaches are:

Province / Territory Coach Name Sport
British Columbia Lorne Wallington Softball
Lorne Sam Lacrosse
Alberta Lauren Cardinal Basketball
Waylen Auger Volleyball
Saskatchewan Thomas Favel Soccer
Manitoba Drake Pilat Baseball
Savannah Chapman Cochrane Wrestling
Ontario Terry McMahon Volleyball
Matt Sommerville Volleyball
Quebec Kayla Gedeon Softball
Tyler Gideon Basketball
New Brunswick Brian Richardson Swimming
Ryan Hoard Wrestling
Newfoundland & Labrador Robyn Dillman Volleyball
Shannon Holwell Volleyball
Nova Scotia Austin Hepworth Lacrosse
Nya Kennedy Softball
Yukon Ross King Golf
Northwest Territories Tyree Mullaney Swimming
Bronwyn Rutherford-Simon Soccer
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