The Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program is joint venture in partnership with the Aboriginal Sport Circle and the Coaching Association of Canada. The two main objectives of this program are to provide these Aboriginal apprentice coaches with domestic multi-sport Games exposure and to build coaching capacity within Aboriginal communities.

 

The Program represents an important step towards increased inclusion of Aboriginal peoples at the Canada Games, with each of Canada’s provinces and territories will be invited to select up to two Aboriginal apprentice coaches in addition to their coaching staff.

 

As a further testament to the support the program has received, the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Sport Ministers fully endorsed the development of the program, piloted at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island and the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax Nova Scotia. Based on the successful pilot, full implementation is expected for the 2013 Canada Summer Games in the province of Quebec.

 

The program ensures that the apprentice coaches hold a specific and meaningful role with the team and that they receive the appropriate guidance on interacting with the athletes and in particular the rest of the coaching staff to ensure positive and productive relationships are developed. They will be given significant training in advance of the Games; and their ongoing professional development will play a crucial role in the overall success of the program.