Andrew Baker is set to take the helm as the incoming president and CEO of Alpine Canada, succeeding Therese Brisson, who has transitioned to the CEO role at Skate Canada after a six-year tenure. With over two decades of experience at the Canadian Olympic Committee, Baker, most recently serving as the COC’s chief external affairs officer, will commence his role at Alpine Canada in September.
Alpine Canada’s jurisdiction spans alpine and Para alpine racing, as well as ski cross, encompassing approximately 15,000 registered racers and 5,500 coaches across 200 clubs nationwide, as indicated in the organization’s 2025 annual report. Additionally, Alpine Canada hosts international World Cup races in Canada.
Upcoming events on the Alpine Canada calendar include two women’s giant slaloms in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, scheduled for December, and a World Cup ski cross event planned for March at Craigleith in Ontario. Baker’s appointment comes at the beginning of a new Olympic quadrennial leading up to the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.
Having been actively involved in advocating for enhanced core funding for national sport organizations during his tenure at the COC, Baker expressed enthusiasm about the current state of sport in Canada and the potential for continued excellence in alpine, ski cross, and Para alpine disciplines. The federal government’s recent commitment of $755 million over the next five years, with a subsequent annual allocation of $118 million, includes substantial funding for national sport organizations like Alpine Canada.
Looking ahead, Alpine Canada aims to build on its achievements outlined in the 2021-26 strategic plan, despite not securing any Olympic medals in alpine skiing and ski cross at the Milan Cortina Games earlier this year. While Canadian Para alpine athletes clinched a silver and four bronze medals in Italy, Baker emphasized the ongoing pursuit of excellence and the need for continuous improvement.
While Canada no longer hosts World Cup downhill or super-G races, there are plans to reintroduce a men’s speed race, potentially in Whistler or Panorama, British Columbia. The federal government’s additional investment of $50 million over the next five years for hosting international sports events, along with recent funding earmarked for alpine training center upgrades, signals a promising trajectory for Canadian athletes leading up to the 2030 Winter Games.