Board of Directors and Staff

Krista Gerlich-Fitzgerald – President, Pacific Representative

president@cheercanada.ca

Krista Gerlich-Fitzgerald has been involved as an athlete, coach, judge and sports organizational member both domestically and internationally for over 20 years.  She is passionate about the promotion of the sport striving to create a supportive and positive environment through communication, consultation and relationship building. Krista joined the Cheer Canada board in October, 2023 after 10 years on the BC Sport Cheer board.  She is a NCCP certified trampoline and gymnastics coach, but primarily coaches and judges all-star cheerleading. During the day, Krista is an Associate Registrar at Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a background in policies, educational curriculum and record management

Nick Verburg – Vice President

vicepresident@cheercanada.ca

Nick is a Member at Large for Cheer Canada coming from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Previously the Athlete Director, he has served with Cheer Canada for the past 6 years. He has been involved in Cheer for about 13 years, and within that time has participated in almost every aspect of the sport. As an athlete, he has been a member of Team Canada Coed Premier for 9 seasons. As a coach, Nick is the Program Director for Vision Cheer Company, where he coaches, and handles all coach training. Nick is in the professional world as the head coach of the Blue Bombers Cheer and Dance team, and has worked as a judge. As a passion project, Nick sits as the president and founder of The Lift Up Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing the accessibility of cheerleading across Canada. 

Danielle Hilliard – Central Representative

danielle@cheercanada.ca

Danielle is a true believer in quality sport programming and is passionate about keeping Cheerleading safe and inclusive for all participants. Danielle has over 20 years of experience in the sport. She is a UWO Mustang Cheer alumni, where she earned a degree in sociology and criminology, followed by a diploma in HR Management. Danielle is a former Team Canada Coed Elite and Premier athlete. In her professional life, Danielle heads up the Education Department at a Provincial Sport Organization, managing the National Coaching Certification Program. She is well-versed in safe sport initiatives, risk management and coach education. Through her various roles as a high-performance athlete, coach, clinician and choreographer, Danielle has an in-depth understanding of the sport through numerous lenses. Danielle’s strong background in coach education, both as a coach and an administrator, brings a unique perspective to Cheer Canada’s Board of Directors. She is thrilled to be able to give back to the sport that means so much to her.

Justin Bertok – Director at Large

justin@cheercanada.ca

Justin fell in love with cheerleading in the mid 1990’s as the combination of acrobatics, dance, and gymnastics was a level of athleticism and showmanship was irresistible.  A cheerleader through high school, he was also a member of the Edmonton Eskimos cheer team and performed across North American.  It was during these adventures that he found true joy in helping others, passing on skills, developing different coaching techniques to suit specific athletes and helping guide legislation as the world of cheerleading grew and evolved.  In recent years, Justin became a judge handled logistics, marketing, merchandising.  Joining the board in October, 2023, Justin is ready to take that next step and assist in the growth of cheerleading.

 

Brittany Hawkins – Director at Large

brittany@cheercanada.ca

Brittany Hawkins grew up in the gymnastics gym and made the switch to cheerleading in 2006 when she retired from national level gymnastics. She attended Douglas College where she graduated with a Sports Science Diploma and later became the General Manager and Program Director of a gymnastics club in Chilliwack. In 2012, Brittany joined Team Canada and has since competed for the All Girl Elite and Premier Divisions. In 2019 Brittany made a switch in her professional career however she still coaches cheerleading at Gems Athletics and is a facilitator for Gymnastics BC’s Foundations Coaching Courses. In the cheerleading off season Brittany is a medical trainer for the Ladner Pioneers, a Sr B Men’s lacrosse team.

Todd Knihnitski – Western Representative 

WesternRep@cheercanada.ca

Todd is a co-owner of Prairie Fire Cheerleading and someone who loves everything about coaching. He has an Education degree and a Sports Science degree along with many years of coaching in several sports for the last 22 years. Todd is proud to help our sport grow locally, provincially and Nationally. When he isn’t coaching, Todd travels, hikes, and bikes with his family: Cristina, their two sons and two daughters (the four foot variety). He is an advocate for social justice, wellness and the health of our planet.

Wendy MacKay – Treasurer / Atlantic Representative

treasurer@cheercanada.ca

Wendy was past president was past president of Cheer Nova Scotia and current credentialer for CNS.  She has been involved with sport growth and coach education in Nova Scotia for over 30 years, both at the scholastic and all star levels. She is a former club owner and has recently been heavily involved with the development of world class athletes.  A veteran in the finance industry for the past 15 years, she is the mother of three daughters (all cheer coaches) and grandmother of two.

Samantha Paradee – Secretary

secretary@cheercanada.ca

Sam Paradee has made significant contributions to the cheerleading community in Alberta over the past 15 years. Her journey began as a high school cheerleader, which ignited her passion for the sport. Throughout her career, she has taken on numerous roles, including gym owner, school program director, coach, judge, and event producer, among others. 

Sam has been deeply involved in sport governance, prioritizing ethical practices and the development of frameworks that ensure transparency and accountability. Her community programs focus on increasing youth participation in sports, reflecting her commitment to creating a positive environment for future generations. 

Currently, she serves as the owner of Peak Elite Cheerleading, the director of District 51 scholastic programs, judges for various event producers across the country and is an event producer for the Imagine Cheer & Dance Championship.

David  Wesley-James – Athlete Director

athletedirector@cheercanada.ca

Dave brings a deep passion for athlete advocacy and a strong commitment to creating pathways for both competitive and recreational athletes. His journey in cheerleading began during his first year at Queen’s University, and 10 years later he is now the head coach for the university’s cheer team. Giving back to the sport through volunteer work is an essential part of Dave’s life, as he strives to make a lasting impact on the cheerleading community. A seasoned athlete himself, Dave has had the honour of representing Canada on the international stage as a member of the Team Canada Coed Premier team for five years.

Lindsay Batstone  – Director

lindsay@cheercanada.ca

Lindsay brings a wealth of experience to cheerleading in Canada, combining both professional expertise and a deep commitment to athletics. As a former head coach of a Provincial and National High School Small Coed cheerleading team, Lindsay has firsthand experience in the competitive cheerleading world helping her team win multiple Ontario and National Championships. Additionally, Lindsay was a long-time coach at an All-Star gym, where she coached a wide range of athletes ranging from Youth to the Open Coed and All Girl level. During her time as an All-Star coach she also leaned into her many years of dance training and was the dance choreographer for multiple teams at both her home gym, and other All-Star gyms in the GTA. Lindsay prides herself on the contributions she made to the development of athletes at various levels.

With over 15 years of experience as a Human Resources professional, including roles as a consultant and senior-level management, Lindsay offers a strong leadership background that enhances team dynamics and organizational success. This blend of coaching and business acumen provides a unique perspective on managing teams and fostering growth within the sport.
Beyond cheerleading, Lindsay has been deeply involved in her children’s athletic endeavors for the past decade, supporting one child in AAA hockey and the other in high-level competitive dance. As a formally trained and certified dance teacher, with 10 years of teaching experience in the GTA, Lindsay has a well-rounded understanding of both dance, cheerleading, and high level sports.

Having stayed closely tied to the cheerleading world, Lindsay remains passionate about advancing the sport and is committed to contributing to its continued growth and success.

Joanna Low – Executive Director

executivedirector@cheercanada.ca

With a passion for empowering non-profits, Joanna Low founded her business, Beautiful Futures, to bring lasting change and support to organizations working hard to have a greater impact in our community. With a BA in Psyc, MSc in Nutrition, and a MA-IS in Equity and Community Studies, her systems-based approach, combined with her genuine deep connections to the community, shapes the core values of her work. Joanna also applies the same approach to the thousands of athletes she has worked with as a coach, official, and program director. An athlete herself, she knows the importance of using the most current science available in conjunction with an understanding of each athlete’s unique strengths to best connect with and uplift the athlete. She enjoys passing these skills on to others through her work as an NCCP Master Coach Developer, facilitator with Sport for Life and consultant for Canadian Women and Sport.

Joanna also has over 25 years of experience in non-profit management and is a registered CFRE with a background in accounting and finance. She is excited to bring her business management skills and experience in non-profit development together to help grow and support Cheer Canada.  Never having been one for much downtime, Joanna’s passion for excellence carries over to her family, as she is an enthusiastic and supportive mother of two competitive athletes. However, as exciting as that can be, Joanna’s true passion lies in building successful grassroots community programs that reach out to and challenge athletes of all skill levels and backgrounds. Together, we can build a community where everyone can have a safe and positive sport experience!

Cheer Canada Committees 

Standing Committees

Athletes' Council

David Wesley-James (Interim Chair)

Kennedy Love

Kendra Elliuk

Alexa Lane

Kaitlyn Sanford

Committee Terms of Reference

Contact: athletedirector@cheercanada.ca

Audit & Finance

Joanna Low (Chair)

Wendy MacKay

Johnny Oum

Jenny-Lee Dugre

Todd Knihnitski

Angela Coleman

Committee Terms of Reference

Contact: accounting@cheercanada.ca

Communication and Public Relations

Megan Donnelly (Chair)

Storm Harding

Tonia Venneri

Karly Osmon

Marie-Hélène Roussel

Juliane Zhong

Joanna Low

Committee Terms of Reference

Contact: communication@cheercanada.ca

Governance & Ethics

Krista Gerlich-Fitzgerald (Chair)

Anne Florence St Laurent

Mandy Smith

Chuck Holland

Brandon Lutes

Jill McCrae

Aris Richardson

Committee Terms of Reference

Contact: governance@cheercanada.ca

Membership

Nick Verburg (Chair)

Hailey Verburg

Pamela Rousseau

Caroline Muth

Britanny Brunoro

Shannon Crawford

Angela Coleman

Committee Terms of Reference

Contact: membership@cheercanada.ca

Operational Committees

Coaching Development

Hailey Verburg (Chair)

Ashley Stevenson

Kelly Nightingale

Kendra Elliuk

Danielle Hilliard

Andrea Smith

Emma Beehler

Myra Sanders

Committee Terms of Reference

Contact: coaching@cheercanada.ca

Officials Development

Mimi Deserres (Co-Chair)

Nadine Brown-Dunthome (Co-Chair)

Alissa Stewart

Terra Crossman

Kelly Nightingale

Lorna Holland

Stephany De Rosa

Justin Bertok

Committee Terms of Reference

Contact: officials@cheercanada.ca

Awards

Nick Verburg (Chair)

Payton Black

Henele Perise

Shannon Crawford

Committee Terms of Reference 

Contact: awards@cheercanada.ca

National Team

Wendy MacKay (Chair)

Nick Verburg

Britt Hawkins

Heather Cox

Stephany De Rosa

Mackenzie Craig

Joanna Low

Committee Terms of Reference 

Contact: teamcanada@cheercanada.ca

Translation Task Team

Marie-Hélène Roussel

Jillian Tyrer

Kennedy Love

Task Team Terms of Reference

Contact: translation@cheercanada.ca