Our Professional Coaching Team
CLUB COACHES 2024-2025
Our entire coaching team has extensive knowledge of teaching skaters at all levels Including -
Recreational / Competitive/ all genders/ special needs / Singles / Pairs/ Dance/ Synchronized skating / English / French
Each of our coaches pride themselves in meeting the individual needs of each skater.
LeeAnne Cross - Director of Development/ CanSkate Admin
LeeAnne is a National coach in Training. NCCP Level 2 certified. She has 30+years of coaching experience and has coached skaters from the PreCanskate to National Challenge and Canada Games and has had many skaters pass Gold tests in all disciplines - Skills, Free Skate, Dance and Interpretive, Artistic. LeeAnne has attended many conferences and seminars over the years. In 2009 she was invited to attend the National ‘Best of the Best’ CanSkate Training Session and was the 2011 Provincial and National Volunteer Coach of the Year. As a skater, LeeAnne competed nationally in singles and had passed her Gold Figure, Free Skate,Dance and Seniors Singles competitive tests.
Michelle Menzies - Michelle is a Certified National Level (NCCP Level 3) Coach. She has trained multiple skaters to top 10 National performances. She has 30+ years of experience coaching all levels of skaters. Michelle has led skaters to achieve gold tests in skills, free skate, dance and interpretive. As a skater, Michelle competed at Nationals for the first time at 11 years old. She competed for many years in singles, pairs and 4's. She won the Senior National Championships three times and competed at Worlds placing top 10 in each of her three trips. Michelle spent 14 years on the National Team. Michelle was also trained as a technical specialist in both singles and pairs and has been a specialist on the panel at national level events
Heather Surette – Coaches Rep
Heather is a Certified National level coach with over 35 years of experience, she has maintained her certifications through yearly attendance at Provincial, Regional and National seminars and online ELearning. She is CanPowerSkate certified and has served on the Provincial Coaches Committee for several years. Heather has developed skaters in the StarSkate and Competitive streams, including skaters from Star 1 to Gold and PreNovice to Junior competitive. She has had several skaters attend Sectionals and Skate Canada Challenge.
Wendy Stewart –Wendy is a National Level Coach in Training with 30+ years of coaching experience. She was a long time CanSkate Administrator for the Halifax Skating Club, has developed athletes from CanSkate to the National Challenge level, and has had many skaters pass Gold tests, especially in skating skills: the edges and turns discipline of figure skating. To maintain certification, Wendy regularly attends local, provincial, and national seminars, and completes online eLearning. As a skater, she competed provincially in singles, and nationally with Halifax Skating Club's Ice in M'ocean synchronized skating team. A Dalhousie graduate, Wendy has a BSC in Psychology and Biology and is also a Registered Dental Hygienist.
Becky Whalen - Becky is currently a National Level Coach in Training, NCCP Level 2 Certified and CanPowerSkate certified. She has been coaching for 15+years. Becky has been the administrator at the Bedford Skating Club for over 10 years and was previously the administrator at Halifax Skating Club. Becky has Bachelor of Public Relations from MSVU. She was a triple gold skater and competed nationally as part of the Nova Scotia Provincial Synchronized Skating Team. She has had taught skaters of all ages from PreCan up to Provincial medalists, Gold test skaters and Skate Canada Challenge members.
Sara Burns - Sara is a Regional Coach in Training. As a skater she has passed all 5 gold tests. Sara has competed and won numerous medals provincially and through the Atlantic Provinces. Sara also has a dance background having spent many years dancing at Coastal Dance. Sara still trains and competes proudly for HSC. Sara is graduating this spring from Dalhousie with a Major in Neuro Science and a Minor in Biology.
Alyssa Cross - Alyssa is a former competitive HSC skater competing at the National Challenge and Canada Games levels. She has spent time training and learning in Quebec and Ontario. She has passed all 5 Gold tests available to skaters. Alyssa is a Certified Regional coach and has begun working on her Provincial coach courses. She currently coaches in NS and Ontario. She has extensive knowledge through her years as a competitive skater in a variety of classes including off ice jump and choreography. She also has an extensive background in competitive dance and has competed nationally. She has her Jr Teacher training from Element Dance Studio. Alyssa attends Brock University in Ontario where she studying Sport Management with a minor in Psychology and competes with the Varsity Figure Skating Team.
CANSKATE COACHING Team 2024-2025
LeeAnne Cross - CanSkate Administer
Michelle Menzies
Heather Surette
Becky Whalen
Delaney Henderson
Pascale Clements
Amanda Franz
Alyssa Cross
Ana Rothenburg
Alyson Miller
Sara Burns
Meagan Belanger
Kat Walker
Alisia Janusczak
Kim Myra
Guest coaches/ new coaches wanting to teach on HSC sessions must now email the request to halifaxskatingclub@gmail.com at least 7 days in advance of their requested date on the session. Proof of Skate Canada Professional coach - in good standing must be emailed with the request.