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8 coaches
Our coaches
Meet the coaches at Minto: their certifications, what they coach and their background.
-
Darryl VanLuven
Certifications
- National Coach Certified
Skills coached
Background
- Minto Skating Club Executive Director of Skating, responsible for program development for all disciplines (Freeskate, Dance, CanSkate)
- Developed the Competitive Dance Program at Minto beginning in 2003, and leads the team of dance coaches in the program
- Began coaching in 1993
- National Team Member (Junior and Senior), international competitor
- Coached Sectional, National and International competitors
- Coached medallists at Sectional, Eastern Challenge, National and International competitions
- Selected by Skate Canada and Skate Ontario to attend the 2010 International Skating Union (ISU) Ice Dance Seminar in Oberstdorf, Germany
-
Marie-Josee Cloutier
Certifications
- National Coach Certified
- Level 1 Certified, Special Olympics
- Level 4, tasks 6 and 11 completed
Skills coached
Background
- Began coaching in 1995 (also coached from 1981 to 1986)
- Coached skaters qualifying for Challenge and Nationals
- Coached Sectional and Provincial skaters
- Certificate in Business Administration, University of Ottawa
-
Tara McDougall
Certifications
- National Coach Certified
- Working on completing Level IV
Skills coached
Background
- Began coaching in 1992
- Will coach in other clubs
- Directed Minto Follies 1997
- Directed and choreographed Minto’s 100th Anniversary Show, the annual Winterlude Ice Cafe and the 2005 Winterlude Snowbowl
- Has Gold Freeskate, Figure, Dance, Senior Competitive and Artistic tests
- Competitive skater from Pre-Novice to Senior level at Sectionals and Divisionals
- Coached medallists and champions at Sectional and Provincial championships
- Coached skaters to Junior Nationals and Nationals
- 2005 Eastern Ontario Volunteer Coach of the Year
- Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, Carleton University
- Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
-
Katrina Millard
Certifications
- NCCP Level III Certified
Skills coached
Background
- Began coaching in 2001 (also coached from 1989 to 1991)
- Coached Sectional medallists (Freeskate and Dance)
- Coached skaters qualifying for Challenge and Nationals (Freeskate and Dance)
- Coached skaters qualifying for Trillium, the All Ontario Championships (Freeskate and Dance)
- Coached skaters who qualified for Provincial Seminar, EOS Youth Camp and Jump Start teams
- Co-choreographed many ice shows
- Sectional competitor
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA) since 2003
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Bachelor of Arts (Sociology)
-
Nancy Lentini
Certifications
- Provincial Coach Trained
- Hockey Coach Level 1
- NASM Youth Exercise Specialist
Skills coached
Background
- Minto Skating Club since 2023
- Nepean Skating Club 2022 to 2025
- Petawawa Skating Club 2009 to 2011
- Retired Canadian Armed Forces member (21 years of service)
- BA in Psychology, Carleton University
- BScN, University of Ottawa
- Former competitive singles skater at the Junior level
- Trained under Olympic and world coaches Joanne McLeod, Bob Emerson and Lori Nichols
-
Brandi Young
Certifications
- National Coach Certified
- Level 1 Special Olympics Trained
Skills coached
Background
- Began coaching in 1995
- Completed Gold Freeskate, Gold Artistic and Diamond Dance
- Coached qualifiers and medallists at STARSkate Provincials (Dance and Freeskate)
- Mentor coach to new coaches
- Licensed Financial Planner (CIRO)
-
Kathy McConnell
Certifications
- Regional Coach Certified
- Working on Provincial Coach courses
Skills coached
Background
- Coaching since 1992
- Completed Gold Freeskate, Dance and Figures
- Junior Singles Competitive test
- Dance Variation test
- Junior Women competitor
- Mentor to new coaches
- Member of Skate Canada’s CanSkate review group
-
Anne Marie Bergeron
Certifications
- Level 4 Certified, Singles
- Level 5 (2 tasks remaining)
- Level 3 Certified, Dance
- Level 2 Certified, Special Olympics
- Former Skate Canada Judge and Evaluator: Freeskate, Dance, Artistic and Figures
- Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC)
- Continuous Education Program, Gold status
- Member, Coaches of Canada Editorial Board
Skills coached
Background
- Coached at Minto since 1993
- Trained medallists at Sectionals, Eastern Challenge, EOSIC, Trillium and OUAs, and top 10 rankings at Junior Nationals and Canadian Championships
- Special Olympics volunteer coach of 2 World, 3 Canadian and 5 Provincial champions
- Skaters on EOS Travel and Elite Travel teams
- Coached skaters to Senior Competitive Freeskate and Gold tests in Dance, Interpretive Dance, Skills and Interpretive Freeskate, and Diamond Dance
- 4-year member of the Western varsity skating team and OUA champion
- Degrees from the University of Western Ontario and Ryerson University
- Former CTV National News producer: Canada Games, 1988 Olympics, World and Canadian Figure Skating Championships, Skate Canada
- Producer, writer and director of the Primary STARSkate coaching video
Resource coaches
-
Eric Loucks
-
Ewa Kulik
-
Fiona Dimitrijeva
-
Tom Jackson