OTTAWA, ON (March 8, 2026) – The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) by acknowledging the achievements of women who have continued to push for meaningful change in their community. IWD recognizes the progress women have made to challenge bias and underrepresentation in their respective fields. The CAC’s High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program responds to the need to create spaces of empowerment and knowledge-sharing for women in coaching. Most recently, 18 mentees and 10 mentors participated in the 2024-25 High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program.  

As the program celebrates its fourth cohort, it continues to invest in the growth, confidence, and leadership of high performance women coaches. During the 16-month experience, mentees are paired with mentors who have extensive experience coaching at the college, university, or national team level. These mentors provide invaluable guidance, helping mentee coaches as they pursue the goals that drive their professional growth and passion for coaching. 

“I have been involved in the High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program since its inception, and it has truly been one of the most rewarding programs I have ever participated in. Mentoring has been an amazing experience for me. The women coaches I have had the privilege to mentor over the past decade have left a lasting impression on me as both a coach and a person. I have learned as much—if not more—from my mentees as they have from me. We all need mentors in our lives, and I am honoured to give back to coaching through uplifting the next generation of great women coaches.” – Allison McNeill, Mentor 

Since its launch in 2020 with the support of Sport Canada to advance gender equity in sport, the program has brought together over 56 mentees and 13 mentors. This program gives women coaches the training, support, and community they need to rise within the high-performance sport environment. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer connection, and professional development, coaches deepen their leadership capacity, expand their networks, and strengthen their confidence in navigating high-performance sport systems. 

“This mentorship has exceeded every expectation I had. It has shaped my leadership, clarified my coaching identity, and given me tools and perspectives that will influence me long term. My mentorship with Allison has been the most impactful development opportunity of my coaching career so far. The support she provided was practical, honest, and directly tied to the real demands of high-performance coaching. She helped me grow in every layer of my role, from technical decisions to leadership, culture, and my own personal development. I am grateful for the opportunity and strongly believe the program is a high impact resource for coaches in our system.” – Rachel Van Woezik, Mentee 

Mentorship plays a vital role in advancing women in coaching and creating sport environment where women’s leadership can thrive. The 2024-25 cohort highlighted the powerful impact of the program, noting the following benefits as most valuable: personalized guidance, a safe supportive community of women coaches to learn from, and access to valuable professional development resources. Coaches also reported achieving key goals through the program such as enhanced confidence, strengthened leadership abilities, career advancement, progression towards their NCCP certification, and building strong, lasting networks. 

“Leading a mentorship program has reinforced that connection is the catalyst for growth. When mentors and mentees are intentionally supported, mentorship becomes a powerful driver of goal achievement, stronger networks, and long‑term career advancement.” – Isabelle Cayer, Executive Director, Programs and Partnerships 

We were proud to celebrate the outstanding coaches who participated in the 2024–25 cohort: 

Mentees 

Mentors 

The CAC’s ongoing commitment to advancing women in coaching is especially significant as we celebrate International Women’s Day. By supporting initiatives like the High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program, the CAC helps ensure that women coaches are equipped with the skills, confidence, and pathways needed to succeed in high performance environments. 

To learn more about the program, visit High Performance Women in Coaching Mentorship Program.  

About the Coaching Association of Canada  

The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches. For more information, please visit www.coach.ca, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.  

For more information: 

Andrea Johnson 
Manager, Equity Programs 
Coaching Association of Canada  
ajohnson@coach.ca