Melissa is a Provincial Coach (Trained). She began both her skating and coaching career with Rideau Lakes. She has been coaching since 2004 and was happy to return to Rideau Lakes last season. Melissa is Special Olympics trained and has worked with skaters of all ages and levels from first steps to National level competitors, ages 2 to their 70s.
She participated in coaching the Star 1-5 pilot program and has enjoyed mentoring new Canskate and Regional coaches as they start their coaching journey. Melissa attends seminars, information sessions, and completes Skate Canada's e-learning courses to stay updated on the newest techniques and requirements. Some of her favourite seminars include Kurt Browning, Elizabeth Manley, and Don Jackson. Melissa uses a team coaching approach to provide as many opportunities to her skaters as possible.
As a skater, Melissa completed her Gold Artistic, Skills, Dance, and FreeSkate Elements. She returned to competing at Skate Canada and ISU Adult Figure Skating Competitions in Fall 2022 including the opportunity to represent Canada in Oberstdorf, Germany in May 2024. Melissa was the 2024 Skate Ontario Adult Championship silver medallist in all three disciplines – FreeSkate, Artistic, and Solo Dance – and the 2025 Skate Ontario Adult Championship Gold Solo Dance bronze medallist.
Outside of skating, Melissa is a graduate of Lakehead University’s Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Honours Bachelor of Commerce programs. She is an Ontario Chartered Professional Accountant working as a manager at a private consulting and bookkeeping company focused on Not-For-Profit organizations and rural hospitals in Northern Ontario.
