Jan completed her BA studies in Psychology at Carleton University and is a National Level certified coach. She passed her Senior Competitive Singles; Gold Freeskate, Figures (Skills), and Dance. She has over 30 years of coaching experience in recreational and competitive skating, has coached from Preliminary to Gold level skaters in all disciplines, and has coached competitive skaters in singles to Junior Competitive and Gold level and in pairs to Novice Competitive at Provincial and National events. Jan has maintained a gold status in the Skate Canada Continuing Education Program, and attends many seminars to keep current.

Jan is a singles Technical Specialist and Technical Controller, sitting on panel with judges at competitions to call and identify skaters’ elements. She is also a Star 1-4 competition judge. 

After years of coaching, Jan returned to skating as an adult competitor, winning the Masters events at consecutive Skate Canada Adult Championships as well as at the ISU Adult International Competitions, the top adult international skating event. Along with her partners, she won the Masters Pair events at Skate Canada Adult Championships, the ISU Adult International Competitions, as well as the Eastern US Sectional Masters Pair title and silver at the US Adult National Competition. In 2011, Jan attended the ISU Adult International Competition to win the Masters Elite women’s event over former world champion and Olympic silver medalist Midori Ito.

In 2015 she once again returned to the competitive arena and participated in the inaugural World Figures Championships placing 4th and earning an induction into the World Figure Hall of Fame

Melissa Sargent is a Provincial Coach (Trained) and has been coaching since 2004, having joined Rideau Skating Club in 2015. Melissa is Special Olympics trained and has had the privilege of working with skaters of all ages and levels from first steps to National level competitors and age 2 to in their 70s.

She participated in coaching the Star 1-5 pilot program and has enjoyed mentoring new CanSkate and Regional coaches within the club as they start their coaching journey. Melissa attends seminars, information sessions and completes Skate Canada’s e-learning courses to stay up to date on the newest techniques and requirements. Some of her favourite seminars include Kurt Browning, Elizabeth Manley and Don Jackson.

As a skater Melissa completed her Gold Artistic, Skills, Dance and FreeSkate Elements. She returned to competing at both 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 3 disciplines – FreeSkate, Artistic and Solo Dance.

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.

Rachel grew up skating at the Rideau Skating Club and discovered her passion for coaching while assisting in CanSkate sessions as a Program Assistant. She won the 2019 Skate Ontario Program Assistant award for her work with the club's youngest skaters.

In 2019, Rachel began coaching CanSkate and has since completed her Regional Coaching Course. She is now CanSkate and Regional Certified. 

Rachel has completed various Skate Canada and NCCP e-learning courses. She has also attended seminars with numerous Canadian and World champions, including Ashley Wagner, Brian Orser, Meghan Duhamel, and Eric Radford. She looks forward to continuing to pursue similar opportunities in the future.

Outside of the rink, Rachel's goal is to become an X-Ray Technician. She plans to study Medical Radiation Technology

Liam is a regional-level coach trained and is in the process of completing his regional certification. Liam completed Gold Freeskate, Elements, Skills and Interpretive tests. He began teaching CanSkate and off-ice in 2019 after being a Program Assistant for 4 years. He continues to teach skaters at all levels and ages.

As a skater, he went to Nationals in 2022 in Juniors, and Challenge in 2018 in Novice and 2022 in Junior. He also went to provincials in 2019 for pairs skating. He was on the Gloucester Elite Team and the Ontario team in 2022. During his competitive career, he attended numerous seminars both in Ottawa and across Ontario.

Outside of skating, he’s currently attending the Telfer School of Business for Marketing and composes orchestral music for films, video games and skating programs.

Katya grew up skating in a small town in the Ottawa Valley where she fell in love with skating. She was a competitive figure skater in free skate and synchro for many years until she decided to take her CanSkate Coaching Course.

After completing her CanSkate Certification, Katya decided to take the next step in her coaching career by taking her Regional Coaching course. She enjoys coaching skaters of all ages in all disciplines. She has successfully completed multiple NCCP and Skate Canada e-learning course and is looking forward to pursuing more learning opportunities in the future.

Katya left the Ottawa Valley to attend Carleton University where she studies Psychology, hoping to have a career in sports psychology when she’s done school.

Emma grew up in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes figure skating where she found her passion for coaching. She comes from a smaller club where she was second to head coach.

She has completed multiple NCCP courses including her regional coach training.

Emma moved out to Ottawa to attend Carleton University studying environmental science.

Gabriela has been skating over 15 years in her home country, Ecuador, in which she inspired and helped pave the way for the next generation of figure skaters.

In 2020 Gabriela came to Canada to expand her knowledge and skills as a single skater with the support of Jan Calnan and during the pandemic she attended many virtual seminars with Meaghan Duhamel, Ravi Walia, Surya Bonaly, Kim Ryan Lewis and Ondrej Hotarek covering jump and spins technique, as well as the artistic side of the sport by attending virtual seminars with the American Ice theater, Yebin Mok, Elladj Baldé and Lauren Denysek covering choreography, dance, and edges.

Gabriela trains and competes at the elite level internationally representing Ecuador in Senior Dance with her partner Tanner White. 

With the support of the Rideau Skating Club, Jan Calnan and Gabriela started to run off ice classes during the COVID lockdown.

Gabriela is certified Can-Skate and Regional coach.

Outside skating Gabriela works at a childcare center as a Registered Early Childhood Educator.

Check in later to see Charlotte's bio.

Check in later to see Tanner's bio.