Canoe Kayak Canada Names McIntyre Women's Coach
Kevin McIntyre joins Canoe Kayak Canada as National Discipline Coach for women's kayak, with the program built around each athlete's needs.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People
Canoe Kayak Canada has named Kevin McIntyre its National Discipline Coach, Women's Kayak. McIntyre previously coached at Banook Canoe Club in Dartmouth, where he served as Head Coach from 2021.
Why it matters
The appointment gives each kayak group a dedicated lead coach, a structure Canoe Kayak Canada set up to tailor the program to the needs of each discipline and athlete. It also positions the national program ahead of its Olympic qualification goals.
Canada has won 29 Olympic and Paralympic medals in canoe kayak, and the men's K4 group needs 6 to 10 athletes to field a crew. McIntyre officially starts on November 25, 2026, at the winter training block, and the impact on medal totals has not yet been assessed.
The players
Canoe Kayak Canada
Canada's national governing body for canoe and kayak sport, responsible for high-performance programs and national team selection.
Kevin McIntyre
A kayak coach with experience across Atlantic Canada and Toronto, previously serving as Head Coach at Banook Canoe Club and Assistant Head Coach at Balmy Beach Canoe Club.
Chad Brooks
A longtime Canoe Kayak Canada coach who has worked with the organization since 2013 and now leads the men's kayak program.
KC Dalton
A Canoe Kayak Canada coach who leads the junior pathway within the national kayak program.
The details
Canoe Kayak Canada shaped its kayak program around feedback gathered through the Individual Development Plan process and conversations with athletes and coaches. McIntyre was selected by a hiring committee that prioritized technical expertise and the ability to build a culture of excellence and trust.
Timeline
2013: Chad Brooks began coaching with Canoe Kayak Canada.
2021: McIntyre became Head Coach at Banook Canoe Club in Dartmouth.
Fall 2026: A season review shaped the focus of the kayak program.
November 25, 2026: McIntyre officially joins Canoe Kayak Canada at the winter training block.
2027: The men's kayak team targets Olympic qualification.
People
The appointment extends the athlete-feedback approach of Canoe Kayak Canada's Individual Development Plan into dedicated discipline leadership. It places the women's kayak program under a coach selected for technical depth and team culture as the national program builds toward the 2027 Olympic qualification window.
For Canadian paddlers and families following the national team, the appointment signals a dedicated coach for women's kayak, which can shape training and selection decisions. Canoe enthusiasts can track the program's progress as the 2027 qualification window approaches.
The takeaway
Canoe Kayak Canada is staffing its programs around athlete feedback and discipline-specific expertise, a model that rewards athletes who engage with technical coaching. Paddlers who want to progress should seek feedback that they can act on directly.
What happens next
McIntyre officially joins Canoe Kayak Canada on November 25, 2026, at the winter training block in Chula Vista, California, and the men's kayak team works toward Olympic qualification in 2027.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by The Sport Information Resource Centre.
