Additions to Lineup at 2018 EC Convention

Equestrian Canada (EC) is thrilled to announce exciting additions to the roster for the 2018 EC Convention, coming up April 5-8, 2018 at the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa, ON.

#RideToTryon Red & White Social Night: Fun, Food & Fundraising with Keynote Speaker Curt Harnett

On Friday, April 6 help us kick off the #RideToTryon with a night of fun, food and fundraising highlighted by a keynote address from Curt Harnett – a four-time Canadian Olympian and three-time Medalist in Cycling, 2005 Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, 2018 Order of Canada recipient, and Team Canada Chef de Mission for the 2015 Pan Am Games and 2016 Rio Olympics.

Known for his boundless passion for sport, incredible sense of humour and maybe even an infamous shampoo commercial… Curt is a legendary speaker, and will treat EC Convention Delegates to a keynote address on the power of sport and how it brings people together.

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Curt Harnett was a familiar face during the equestrian events at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, ON as the Chef de Mission for Team Canada. Here he catches up with Canadian Olympian in dressage, Jacqueline Brooks.
Photo Credit: Starting Gate Communications

Break out your red and white clothing in honour of the CET, then kick back and relax with appetizers and beverages, enjoy a few laughs, and help support the Canadian Equestrian Team on their #RideToTryon for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games through donation opportunities, including a silent auction.

#RideToTryon Red & White Social Night tickets are free to all EC Convention Delegates who purchase a full convention package or a Friday day pass. The event is also open to the public, and tickets are available for purchase here, with all proceeds donated to the CET #RideToTryon fundraising campaign.

Harnett will also be among EC’s exciting line-up of speakers on Saturday, April 7, providing an impactful introduction to the Canada’s NextGen: Presentation & Athlete Panel session. He will set the tone for an engaging panel discussion about what it takes for youth in equestrian sport to succeed by speaking to how he broke through as an up-and-coming athlete for Canada.

The Power of an Equestrian Sport Program: Theory & Live Demo @ Wesley Clover Parks

On Sunday, April 8, utilize free transportation to head off-site to nearby Wesley Clover Parks, home of the Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments, for an exciting two-part learning opportunity that shows the power of a robust equestrian sport program for coaches and athletes.

Start your day by attending the morning session with Victoria Andrew, NCCP Coach Developer, as she facilitates the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Manage an Equestrian Sport Program Module. This interactive module provides practical education on how to develop a coaching philosophy, report on athlete progress and manage the administrative and logistical aspects of an equestrian program. All are welcome to attend, and NCCP Certified Coaches will be credited with (5) NCCP Professional Development (PD) points for completing this Module. All attendees will leave with a workbook to help implement learning outcomes.

Stay for the afternoon and enjoy a rider demo led by EC Certified High Performance 1 Coach and Canadian Equestrian Team athlete, Chris Sorensen. In this auditor-focused live demo, Chris will interact with the audience while leading three groups of demonstration riders (hunter, equitation and jumper) through core exercises he incorporates into his equestrian sport program to help riders progressively transition from hunter to equitation to jumper at the high performance level. Chris will educate the audience on his proven system of developing riders up through the national and international levels, while showing practical examples of his chosen exercises, approach to conditioning, and long- and short-term strategies. Please note that the afternoon portion is not NCCP-affiliated, but does qualify as a general PD points opportunity (up to 3 points) for NCCP Certified Coaches.

This full day of engaging education, as well as free transportation between the Brookstreet Hotel and Wesley Clover Parks, is included with the purchase of a full EC Convention pass or a Sunday Day Pass.

Afternoon-only event tickets are also available for the Rider Demo with Chris Sorensen through the EC Convention Registration portal (transportation not included).

Don’t miss out on these exciting additions to the four days of exceptional educational opportunities, panels with renowned speakers and athletes, community updates from EC leadership, and exciting social and networking events – all revolving around the theme, Personal Excellence from #PonyToPodium.

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Special Hotel Group Rate

After completing your 2018 EC Convention registration, book your hotel room at the Brookstreet by March 4, 2018 to receive a special group rate.

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For more information on the 2018 EC Convention, including the full agenda, session descriptions, speaker bios and pricing details, visit www.equestrian.ca/events-results/convention.