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Get to know us.

Our Vision

We are a sports program dedicated to actively serving the needs of our youth in sport and leadership and we also provide opportunities for young coaches to grow.

 

We believe our values and mission can help parents become supporters instead of fanatics, and help athletes reach their fullest potential to become leaders in the community.

We see athletes as the dreamers and doers, and whether athletes might reach the highest level in sport, their attitudes can leave a lasting impact on friends, peers and the community. 

 

Meet Suki

With over 11 years of coaching experience with grass roots, club teams, training centres, provincial teams, highschool and university, Suki's holds her level 3 through the NCCP.


Suki's accolades include winning the Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA), female coach of the year honours in 2007, and recalls the most memorable seasons were while she was an assistant coach with the Vincent Massey Trojans Varsity Girls team where she was apart of the Provincial Championship team who won the title back to back, in 2009 & 2010, coaching the College Wesmen Women's (MCAC) team and winning the championship in their first season in double overtime, and while with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Women's (CIS) basketball team.
 

Suki served as an assistant coach for four seasons with the CIS Wesmen Women's basketball team, having the priviledge of working with head coach Tanya McKay, and assistant coaches Tami Pennell and Richard Gooch. Highlights with the Wesmen included making playoffs each season, and their memorable team trip to England in December 2008.


During Suki's coaching journey in 2010, Suki wanted to expand her experience as a coach.  She thought, how could she learn from coaches around her in the community?

 

In June of 2010, Suki set out and self-planned a coaches road trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota to spend a week with the Minnesota Lynx, a professional basketball team in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA).


After correspondence, and arranging this opportunity with the Lynx basketball operations staff, Suki created this unforgettable growth opportunity where she observed the Minnesota Lynx (3X WNBA Champions), a power house team in the WNBA.


The week included observing practices, game day shoot, a video scouting session with assistant coach Jim Petersen, a Q & A with head coach Cheryl Reeve, and the opportunity to meet the players and behind the scenes staff.  This was a coaching trip of a life time for Suki that became ten fold.
On the 7 hour drive back to Winnipeg from Minneapolis, Suki's was full of inspired thoughts, and she continued thinking of the many ways she could share this experience with other coaches and athletes back home.


Buzzing with excitement, inspiration, and feeling very motivated, Suki felt there was an opportunity to build something in Winnipeg, and not just anything, something special that could help so many young athletes during their sport journey.


The idea unfolded, and the intention was to build a positive program within the community that would help athletes realize their potential that extended beyond just sport.  Really emphasizing that we can all have a life long relationship with sport, healthy living and movement.  


That following summer, Athlete Initiative began offering leadership workshops available to athletes, guest lecture speakers accessible to young girls and empowering events that would bring athletes, mentors and the community together.


Thank you for your on-going support.

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