Special Olympics Canada is proud to announce the athletes, coaches, mission staff and team leadership who have been named to the Special Olympics Team Canada 2025 Training Squad. This marks the beginning of their journey to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, and Grenoble, France, from March 8-17, 2025.
After a hiatus since the Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017, the 2025 Games signify the return of winter sport competition on the world stage. Special Olympics Team Canada will compete in five winter sports: short track speed skating, figure skating, cross country skiing, alpine skiing and snowshoe. The Games will be hosted in two locations: Turin for snow sports and Grenoble for ice sports, with both cities collaborating to provide top-tier competition facilities and accommodations.
Special Olympics Team Canada will consist of 135 members, including 91 athletes, 24 coaches, 5 mission staff, 14 team leadership members and an honorary coach. Additionally, over 70 local training coaches from across Canada will support the team from their hometowns.
Special Olympics Canada is thrilled to share the appointment of Charity Sheehan as Chef de Mission and Juli Prokopchuk Brattan as Assistant Chef de Mission for the 2025 team. This dynamic duo previously led Special Olympics Team Canada 2022, demonstrating exceptional leadership despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic and geopolitical uncertainties that ultimately led to the cancellation of those Games. Their resilience and commitment make them ideal leaders for the Canadian delegation.
"It's an honour to lead Special Olympics Team Canada once again. While the circumstances of 2022 were beyond our control, we are incredibly proud of what our team accomplished. We are eager to bring the same passion, dedication, and positive energy to Turin and Grenoble in 2025,” shared Charity Sheehan, Chef de Mission. “Our goal is to create an empowering and inclusive environment for our team – where we foster a collective spirit, shape a culture of resilience, and champion the unwavering commitment of our athletes as they showcase their abilities on the world stage."
Juli Prokopchuk Brattan, Assistant Chef de Mission, added, "The journey with Special Olympics Team Canada has been incredibly rewarding, despite the challenges. We have learned, grown and formed a strong partnership as Chef and Assistant Chef. As we look ahead to the Games in 2025, we are excited to continue this journey and provide our athletes with the support they need to shine."
Special Olympics Canada is also thrilled to announce that Olympic Curler, SOC Champions Network member and Co-Chair of the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024, Cheryl Bernard, will serve as Honorary Coach for Special Olympics Team Canada 2025. She will travel to Turin and Grenoble with the team, offering inspiration, insight and enthusiastic support.
Cheryl Bernard shared, "It's an absolute privilege to wear the maple leaf for my third time alongside this remarkable group of athletes, coaches, mission staff and team leadership. Having co-chaired the qualifying National Games in Calgary earlier this year, I had the opportunity to watch many of the athletes compete and was in awe at their dedication, spirit and talent. To continue the journey with them to the finish line on the world stage is incredibly special to me. I will be cheering my heart out for them, and I can’t wait for more Canadians to witness what Special Olympics Team Canada is capable of.”
Please join us in congratulating our esteemed team of athletes, coaches, mission staff and leadership of the Special Olympics Team Canada Training Squad 2025!
Special Olympics Team Canada 2025 Training Squad:
Leadership & Support Team
Charity Sheehan, Chef de Mission, Prince Edward Island
Juli Prokopchuk Brattan, Assistant Chef de Mission, British Columbia
Karen Dommett, Team Manager, Alberta
Kirsten Bobbie, Team Manager, Ontario
Marion Cornish, Team Medical Lead, Nova Scotia
Neil Cheeseman, Team Medical, Newfoundland & Labrador
Krissy Krnasty, Team Medical, British Columbia
Natascha Wesch, Mental Performance Lead, Ontario
Frank Van Den Berg, Mental Performance, Alberta
Allie Wiebe, Communications Liaison, Ontario
Nicole Bonnell, Alternate Mission Staff, Northwest Territories
ALPINE SKIING
Athletes
Ben So, Ontario
Brett Garth, Alberta
Brock Whiteway, Manitoba
Carter Simpson, Ontario
Cory Duhaime, British Columbia
Dylan Collins, Manitoba
Eric Smiley, Alberta
Erin Thom, British Columbia
Erin Wright, Ontario
Fiona Hall, British Columbia
Jesse Jensen, British Columbia
Jessica Larivée, Quebec
Josephine Kinoshita, Alberta
Julian Hudson, Ontario
Kailyn Potomak, British Columbia
Kirsten Haden, British Columbia
Madison Cyr, Alberta
Matthew Fields, Ontario
Michael Qing, Saskatchewan
Ron Greenhorn, British Columbia
Ryan Sorley, Ontario
Shelby St-Hilaire, Quebec
Taylor Barth, Saskatchewan
Victor Siu, Alberta
Wyatt Oostendorp, Alberta
Yorke Parkin, British Columbia
Coaches and Mission Staff
Jodi Flanagan, Mission Staff, Alberta
Mark Schnurr, Head Coach, British Columbia
Corey Fester, Assistant Coach, Alberta
Misty Pagliario, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
Nicola Przeczek, Assistant Coach, Alberta
Ron Struch, Assistant Coach, Manitoba
Saige Beaumont, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
Susan Diggins, Assistant Coach, Ontario
Melvin Lavoie, Alternative Coach, Ontario
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Athletes
Brita Hall, Manitoba
Chanelle Corbiel, Ontario
Chantal Chan, British Columbia
Chloe Stoddart, Nova Scotia
Colin Rumbolt, Newfoundland
Cory Beardy, Manitoba
Darby McIntyre, Yukon
Ellen MacNearney, Prince Edward Island
Elouise Stewart, Alberta
Francis Stanley, British Columbia
John O’Neill, Ontario
Kelsey Wyse, British Columbia
Layne Benoit, British Columbia
Marley Gayler, Ontario
Noah Filice, Ontario
Owen Munroe, Yukon
Sebastian Gylander, British Columbia
Sarah McCarthy, Alberta
Tommy Ling, Prince Edward Island
Tracey Malesko, British Columbia
Coaches and Mission Staff
Court Roy, Mission Staff, Alberta
Annabel Stanley, Head Coach, British Columbia
Ann Sully, Assistant Coach, Ontario
Les Sigal, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
Shawn Jesse, Assistant Coach, Alberta
Ty Wilkinson, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
Cindy Blake, Alternate Coach, Ontario
FIGURE SKATING
Athletes
Alexander Pang, British Columbia
Bree-anna Williams, Ontario
Brianna Dilipkumar, Ontario
Brooke Thomas, Ontario
Callum McEwan, Prince Edward Island
Jessica Cranton, Nova Scotia
Katie Xu, Ontario
Marc Theriault, British Columbia
Matthew Lai, British Columbia
Michael Raytchev, Ontario
Moriah Van’t Land, Alberta
Océane Rajotte, Quebec
Coaches and Mission Staff
Samantha Damiani, Mission Staff, Ontario
Tracey Zwiers, Head Coach, Ontario
Jessica Chapelski, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
Mario Richard, Assistant Coach, New Brunswick
Francoise Doyon-Morin, Alternate Coach, Quebec
SNOWSHOE
Athletes
Alec Baldwin, Manitoba
Andrew Johnston, Ontario
Annick Leger, Ontario
Ariel Taylor, Nova Scotia
Audrey Lorose-Rapin, Quebec
Brian Waring, Nova Scotia
Catherine Partlow, Ontario
Christopher LeBlanc, Quebec
Cory Melnychuk, British Columbia
Danielle Pechet, British Columbia
Gaerrisen Freeland, Ontario
Harry Burns, Manitoba
Janell Brown, Manitoba
Jenny Noonan, Manitoba
Jennifer Riddell, Alberta
Jessica McLean, Alberta
Johnny Philpott, Newfoundland
Kevin Dooks, Ontario
Meghan Josling, Ontario
Michael Harris, Newfoundland
Nicholas Skoreyko, Nova Scotia
Rachel Nickel, Manitoba
Rachelle Parent, Quebec
Rebecca Delaney, Nova Scotia
Susan Miko, Alberta
Tony Wilkinson, British Columbia
William Middleton, Manitoba
Coaches and Mission Staff
Ashley Filadelfi, Mission Staff, Quebec
Rachel Mathews, Head Coach, Ontario
Amy Cruickshank, Assistant Coach, Ontario
Christina Giesbrecht, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
David Wilkinson, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
Eric Lautsch, Assistant Coach, Saskatchewan
Marueen Hunter, Assistant Coach, British Columbia
Serge Gagnon, Assistant Coach, Quebec
Susan Inglis, Alternate Coach, Nova Scotia
SPEED SKATING
Athletes
Ella Robinson, Ontario
Ewen Barclay, Ontario
Jonathan Henry, New Brunswick
Jordan Stevenson, Saskatchewan
Joshua Boudreau, Northwest Territories
Thomasina Payne, Alberta
Coaches and Mission Staff
Genna Phelan, Mission Staff, Prince Edward Island
Donna Bilous, Head Coach, British Columbia
Benton McNicol, Assistant Coach, Ontario
Patricia Swan, Alternate Coach, Nova Scotia
Supporting Training Coaches:
Cathy Buttler, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, Ontario
Carole Metron, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, Ontario
Edward Tai, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, British Columbia
Isabelle Schnurr, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, British Columbia
Jeff Walker, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, Ontario
Geoff Lowe, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, British Columbia
Michael Duhaime, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, British Columbia
Rick Sanden, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, Saskatchewan
Theresa Garagan, Alpine Skiing Training Coach, Alberta
Chris Roe, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Manitoba
Darlene Broome, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Nova Scotia
Darren Chan, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Alberta
Ellen Libertini, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Ontario
Kathleen MacNearney, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Prince Edward Island
Kevin Phillips, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, British Columbia
Kurt Sjolund, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Ontario
Kim Sjolund, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Ontario
Leeland Hawkings, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Yukon
Marlene Enberg, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Manitoba
Natasha Rumbolt, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Newfoundland
Rachelle Arsenault, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, Yukon
Seth Conlin, Cross Country Skiing Training Coach, British Columbia
Brenda Hill McIntosh, Figure Skating Training Coach, Ontario
Cathy Skinner, Figure Skating Training Coach, Ontario
Charleen Cameron, Figure Skating Training Coach, Nova Scotia
Cindy Stavert, Figure Skating Training Coach, Prince Edward Island
Janice Chan, Figure Skating Training Coach, British Columbia
Julie Houle, Figure Skating Training Coach, Quebec
Kathy Pickard, Figure Skating Training Coach, Ontario
Laurie Klassen Horne, Figure Skating Training Coach, Ontario
Olea Taboulchanas, Figure Skating Training Coach, Quebec
Tannis Marshall, Figure Skating Training Coach, British Columbia
Amanda Trenchard, Snowshoe Training Coach, Alberta
Bill Chapman, Snowshoe Training Coach, Ontario
Bingo Riveria, Snowshoe Training Coach, Ontario
Carmel Casey, Snowshoe Training Coach, Newfoundland
Clive Foster, Snowshoe Training Coach, Ontario
Donna Campbell, Snowshoe Training Coach, Prince Edward Island
Doug Branscombe, Snowshoe Training Coach, Nova Scotia
Earl Mielke, Snowshoe Training Coach, Nova Scotia
Ian Cook, Snowshoe Training Coach, Manitoba
Janny Jung, Snowshoe Training Coach, British Columbia
Jori Hansen-Young, Snowshoe Training Coach, Alberta
Lena Kublick, Snowshoe Training Coach, Manitoba
Mary Bruner, Snowshoe Training Coach, Manitoba
Maryam Somea, Snowshoe Training Coach, Quebec
Michel Rapin, Snowshoe Training Coach, Quebec
Scott Shea, Snowshoe Training Coach, Ontario
Bernie Cappuccitti, Speed Skating Training Coach, Ontario
Brier Barclay, Speed Skating Training Coach, Ontario
Jeanne Yurris, Speed Skating Training Coach, Northwest Territories
Larry Fast, Speed Skating Training Coach, Saskatchewan
Sacha LeBlanc, Speed Skating Training Coach, New Brunswick
Shawna Pearman, Speed Skating Training Coach, Alberta