National Coaches Week is a time to celebrate the vital role coaches play in athlete development and in building a sense of community around sport. At the Mount Pearl-Paradise Skating Club in Newfoundland, coach Lindsay Janes is making an impact that goes far beyond teaching skating skills. Her journey shows that coaching is about community, mentorship, and personal growth, shaping not only the athletes she works with but also herself. 

Janes grew up skating in Labrador and was inspired by coaches who sparked her own desire to stay connected to the sport even after her skating career ended. She began officiating but quickly realized she wanted to spend more time at the rink. Coaching became the perfect fit.  

She started with CanSkate and assisted other coaches, eventually building a full schedule of athletes. Coaching allowed her to stay active in the sport she loved while forming meaningful relationships with skaters and their families. “This was my passion,” she recalls, “and one I was determined to keep in my life,” 

In 2021, Janes’ journey took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with a spinal tumor. Only hours after waking up from surgery, and uncertain if she would ever walk again, she was already thinking about ways to remain involved in skating. 

“I was thinking that there are lots of ways I can be involved in skating, and as long as I’m involved, I’ll be fine.” 

Lindsay Janes and the Gold Starlites at the 2025 Skate Canada Cup.

The skating community rallied around her, offering support through her recovery and journey back to the rink. 

“The support I received from the skating community was beyond anything I could explain,” she says. “I never realized the impact I was having on others until that moment.” 

As soon as her health allowed, she returned to skating, becoming a synchronized skating technical specialist, virtual coach, and eventually the coach for the Gold Starlites synchronized skating team. Though each role required adjustments, she embraced the challenge and excelled. 

For Janes, the greatest reward of coaching comes from connection, growth, and mentorship. 

“Coaching is so rewarding because you get to see athletes develop, but it also builds camaraderie, and a support system around you,” she explains.

Working with teenagers has been especially meaningful, both in skating and in her role as a physics teacher. “These are critical years where young people start making life choices and building resilience. Being part of that process is so rewarding.” 

She has also made it a priority to stay engaged in the sport through programs like Skate Canada’s Diverse Leaders in Skating Mentorship Program, the Skate Canada Program Development Committee and various leadership roles at her section and club. In these roles, she both shares her knowledge and learns from peers, helping to strengthen the skating community while supporting others just as she has been supported. 

“Having a mentor gives you confidence,” she says. “It helps you find the resources you need and navigate challenges.  Feeling supported and like you’re a part of the community is key for longevity and retention of coaches.” 

As a regional coach and synchronized coach facilitator, she has the unique opportunity to guide skaters as they begin their own coaching journey. For her, watching athletes she once coached step into coaching roles has been a true full-circle moment: “I get to watch them thrive with their own athletes, and it’s so beautiful.” 

Lindsay Janes during a coaching session.

Janes says coaching has also helped her grow personally. Reflection has become a key part of her process. “After every session, I ask myself: what was good, and what can I improve on?” 

Her resilience has been tested, but she credits her involvement in skating for keeping her grounded and strong. “If you put a challenge in front of me, I’m going to find a way to overcome it.” 

For Janes, the skating community has always been a source of joy and strength. “It’s great to go to the rink and see those faces with big smiles and realize that we all share the same passion—it’s the same thing that unites us all.” 

Through mentorship, resilience, and her own growth, Lindsay Janes has shown that coaching isn’t just measured by success on the ice. It’s about creating community, supporting others, and finding meaning in the challenges and rewards along the way.  

This September 15-21, join us in recognizing all the coaches whose passion and expertise shape figure skating as a sport and community.