Meet Our Youth Coaches
Bethany graduated from Western University with a Bachelors of Business Administration and Bachelors of Health Sciences. She holds the Dragon Boat Canada Level II coaching certification and Canfit Pro Personal Training certification. Bethany applies both her business knowledge and paddling experience to ensure Small Waves Strong Minds’ business operations provide an experience focused on your child’s growth. Bethany is passionate about paddle sports because of the transferable life skills that are developed such as teamwork and leadership.
Bethany has been paddling for over 7 years with teams such as the Canadian Premier National Dragon Boat Team, Outer Harbour Warriors and the Western Dragon Boat Team. She holds many gold titles from the Club Crew World Championships (Hungary, 2018), World Nations Championships (Thailand, 2019) and Canadian Dragon Boat Championships (2016, 2017, 2018). Currently, Bethany is the head strength and conditioning coach for the Western Dragon Boat team, and enjoys coaching her high-performance and recreational teams.
Some of Bethany’s hobbies include hiking, eating sushi and playing with her friend’s dogs and cats.
Rebecca graduated from the University of Toronto with a Masters of Teaching and a Bachelor in Kinesiology. She holds the NCCP Multi-Sport Competition coaching certification along with the Ontario Basketball NCCP FUNdamentals and Learn to Train. Rebecca brings a wealth of knowledge in using physical activity to develop life skills through her NCCP and masters of teaching qualifications. This will ensure that the latest pedagogy is applied for a child's development. Rebecca is passionate about inspiring youth in sport and physical activity as it can lead to developing transferable life skills as well as academic success. She believes that participation in physical activity is fuel for the brain and it prepares youth to become better learners.
Rebecca has been paddling for 6 years with teams such as the Canadian Premier and U24 National Dragon Boat Team, New Dragons Racing Club, and the University of Toronto, New College, New Dragons Dragon Boat Team. She holds many gold titles from the World Nations Championships (Thailand, 2019 & Canada, 2015) and Canadian Dragon Boat Championships (2019 and 2014). Rebecca has also been playing and coaching basketball for over 9 years. She played for the Toronto Lords Basketball Association, and currently coaches the U19 women's team. She has coached both boys and girls basketball from ages 10-15.
BETHANY YAM
