TORONTO, Ont. (July 17, 2020) – Canada Basketball is pleased to recognize four basketball coaches from across Canada who have been accepted into Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) Apprentice Coach Programs ahead of the Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games.

Maddie Humbert (Basketball Saskatchewan) and Hannah Jardine (Newfoundland & Labrador Basketball Association) will participate in the Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program, while Aiyanna Empringham (Basketball Nova Scotia) and Keith Mason (Basketball Manitoba) have been accepted into the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP).

“On behalf of Canada Basketball, I’d like to congratulate each of our Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) Apprentice Coach Program recipients,” said Glen Grunwald, President & CEO of Canada Basketball.  “The apprenticeship program will provide these young coaches with an invaluable development opportunity to grow and develop professionally, while leading their respective provinces in pursuit of a national championship at the Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games next summer.”

Humbert grew up playing basketball in Saskatoon and has represented Saskatchewan as a member of the provincial basketball team for three summers.  She also played five seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies under the guidance of head coach Lisa Thomaidis, who is also the head coach of Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team.  

Humbert began coaching basketball camps in high school and has coached the Jr. Huskies team in the Prairie Elite Basketball League for five seasons, and served as the head coach of the U15 team for three years.

As a player, Jardine represented Newfoundland and Labrador in three Canada Basketball National Championships, as well as the 2009 Canada Summer Games.  Internationally, Jardine captured a pair of bronze medals with Canada at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women in Mexico and the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in Amsterdam.  Jardine was a four-time letter-winner at the University of Delaware, finishing her career ranked second in Blue Hens history with a .395 (136-344) 3-point shooting percentage before graduating with a mechanical engineering degree in May 2017.

Jardine is currently an assistant coach of the O’Donel High School Senior Girls Basketball Team, as well as a coach with the Next Level Basketball Training (NLBT) Club program.  She got her start in coaching with her local Mount Pearl Basketball Club Program, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association summer camps.  In addition, she has served as an assistant coach with the Newfoundland based Goulds Hoopsters and at Allentown Central Catholic High School in Pennsylvania.

Empringham is an aspiring coach in the Nova Scotia basketball community and has been involved with Basketball Nova Scotia for 11 years as an athlete, coach and administrator.  She is a member of the Saint Mary’s University Women’s Basketball Team and is working towards her BA in Psychology, minoring in Indigenous Studies.  This summer, Empringham is working in the Basketball Nova Scotia office as the Operations Coordinator.

She began coaching her brother’s U10 Sackville Storm team when she was 15 years old and has been coaching ever since. An assistant coach with Basketball Nova Scotia for three years, Empringham is also the U16 Girls NAIG assistant coach.  Empringham is Métis, a member of Nova Scotia Wampanoag Council and an advocate for the Aboriginal community.

With over 15 years’ experience coaching school and club basketball teams in Manitoba, Mason is a dedicated coach, committed to growing the sport.  More than generous with his time, Mason has travelled to Indigenous communities across Manitoba to not only mentor aboriginal youth, but also help them to develop their basketball skills.

He has been actively involved in the Anishinabe Pride Basketball program, which helps introduce young aboriginal players to basketball, and has also coached at several North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) events.

Over the last few years, Mason has been actively building up his coach education through the NCCP and other local coaching opportunities.

About Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program

The Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program is a partnership between the Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives (PTCRs), the Canada Games Council (CGC), and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC). This program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send two female coaches to the Canada Games in apprenticeship roles.

The purpose of the Canada Games Apprenticeship Program is to provide women coaches with a practical and integrated major national multi-sport games experience. Selected coaches have direct involvement in preparation and competition and receive support from an identified mentor coach throughout the duration of the program.

About Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program

The Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP) is a partnership between the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), the Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs), the Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives (PTCRs), the Canada Games Council (CGC), and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC).

The program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send 2 coaches of aboriginal ancestry to the Canada Games in apprenticeship roles.

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