Our Coaches
Trina Dykstra-MacPherson -Program Director, Provincial Level Coach & Choreographer
Trina is our Program Director, and has been coaching with Gananoque Skating Club for four seasons. Trina is a Provincial Coach & Choreographer in the Singles and Ice Dance disciplines, and is a qualified STAR 6 - GOLD Skills & Artistic Coach Assessor. She has been coaching since 2017 and has a very diverse skating background with experiences in competitive skating (up to Novice Women), varsity skating (2019-2023), and volunteering as a Section Level Technical Specialist in Singles and Star 1-4 Event Assessor.
Alex Wright - NCCP Provincial Coach & Choreography
Alex is an NCCP Provincial Coach & Choreographer in the Singles and Pairs disciplines. Having been a former Novice competitive skater, Alex has a wealth of knowledge in the competitive skating world, and is also a Senior Sectional Technical Specialist in Singles. Outside of the rink, Alex is a Pediatric Registered Kinesiologist, working with youth and young athletes maintaining healthy and active lifestyles.
Emily Clark - Regional Coach & Synchro Coach
Emily Clark began coaching in 2022. She is currently working on attaining her provincial training. She competed in singles and synchronized skating and she loves to share her passion for all things skating. In addition, she is a STAR 6 to Gold Skill Assessor. She loves coaching all levels of skating and enjoys helping skaters reach their goals. Emily also coaches at Fort Henry Heights Skating Club, Kingston Skating Academy, Kingston Synchronized Skating Club, and she is member of the Queens Varsity Figure Skating Club’s coaching staff. Outside the rink, Emily studies History and Drama at Queen’s University. She also works at Fort Henry as a military interpreter in the offseason. She is looking forward to another year in Gananoque!
Amanda Mathieu - CanSkate Coach
Amanda is a trained regional coach and is currently working towards her certification. Amanda loves to work with skaters of all ages and levels. Currently Amanda works with skaters in the Gananoque and Kingston area. Amanda continues to skate herself working towards her STARSkate level assessments. Amanda has recently achieved her STAR 1-4 Event Assessor certification. During the day Amanda works as a Registered Practical Nurse at a long term care home in Kingston specializing in wound care and continence.
George Waddell - Dance Partner
Although George is not a coach, he is the dance partner for all of our Gananoque Skaters, and for that we are extremely grateful to him for helping our skaters progress in assessing ice dance. George does partnering at other local clubs, and when he isn’t in the rink, he is studying as a BCom/JD student at Queen’s University. George also helps the Queen’s Varsity Figure Skating Team.
Christian Nainer - Substitute Coach
Christian is a Regional Coach who brings both international and domestic competitive experience to the Gananoque Skating Club. He competed internationally in Junior Singles and at the Pre-Novice level in Ice Dance before transitioning into coaching. Christian now works as a substitute coach at Skate Kingston and Gananoque Skating Club, working with skaters from CanSkate through STARSkate, with a focus on Singles and Ice Dance. He also partners skaters for Ice Dance assessments and enjoys helping skaters grow both technically and artistically. Christian looks forward to sharing his passion and experience with the club’s skaters!
Lisa Janssen - Substitute Coach
Lisa is a Provincial level coach with 31 years of experience. Her focus for the last 25 years has been as a volunteer Head Coach for the Kingston Silver Blades, Special Olympics figure skating team. She has coached Special Olympics skaters who have competed at the Provincial, National, and International levels. Lisa works full time as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist for KidsInclusive and is also mom to a competitive figure skater and a competitive swimmer. In her small portions of spare time she continues to skate and has recently taken up cycling. Lisa is excited to join the Gananoque Skating Club as a substitute coach!
Carrie McNeely
Carrie started skating with the Gananoque Skating Club in 1979 and was a coach with the club from 1997 to 2004. After 20 years off of the ice she returned last year as an adult skater. This summer she completed the requirements to have her previous coaching status transferred to NCCP Certified Regional Coach. This October she will register with Skate Canada as a Coach and looks forward to substitute coaching whenever she is needed.