I spent my early childhood in Windsor, Ontario, where I had the privilege to try out many different sports. At 5 years old, I participated in indoor T-Ball. At the community center where we played, there were balance beams stored against the gymnasium wall. When it was my turn up at bat, I would take my swing and run! Not to first base as my coaches continually tried to direct me, but to the back of the gym to climb up on the balance beams. This recurring behavior led to the suggestion that I might be better suited for gymnastics. And I suppose you could say this was the beginning of the journey that brings us Little Kippers. 

I truly discovered my passion for sport when I began recreational classes at Rose City Gymnastics. I was inspired by the personal goal-setting aspects of the CANGYM badge program. It was incredibly empowering to work towards mastering new skills and progressing through the levels. As a preteen, I was invited to try out for and successfully joined my gym's "Interclub," an introductory program for elite gymnastics. I spent several years competing in Artistic Gymnastics, showcasing my routines on the beam, uneven bars, floor, and vault across Ontario, from Windsor to Orillia. I also initiated a gymnastics team at my high school, which had not had one in decades, and competed at the OFSAA level. During this time, I was encouraged to become a Junior Coach and completed the Level 1 National Coaching Certification Program for gymnastics.

The head coach at my gym, who remains a close mentor and friend, recognized my tumbling skills after watching my floor routine and suggested I focus on power tumbling. This marked the beginning of my transition into that discipline. Eager to support his vision of opening a new gymnastics club, I became deeply involved with Windsor Vistas Gymnastics throughout my teenage years. I found great fulfillment in preparing the gym for its opening day, taking on various roles such as painting, managing registrations, setting up and cleaning the gym, serving as a summer camp counselor, and coaching recreational classes, including assisting our Special Needs athletes. This diverse experience instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility, pride, and the importance of collaboration in realizing ambitious goals.

I competed in Power Tumbling for four years, aspiring to join the national team, but an unfortunate injury affecting our coach led to a shift in our team’s dynamics, and I made the decision that I didn’t want to compete without him. I continued coaching at my club and a local community center until I moved to the East Coast at the age of 21, knowing that as a coach, opportunities would abound wherever there was a gym.

Upon arriving in Halifax, I took on a part-time coaching position at Halifax Alta Gymnastics, where I had the privilege of watching four-time Olympian Ellie Black train. I also established the first recreational gymnastics program at the Citadel Community Center. During my daily commutes through the park, I connected with a group of circus performers and was captivated by the art of fire spinning, which allowed me to creatively merge my gymnastics and performance background. I eventually left my coaching roles to join the performance troupe, participating in shows at summer music festivals and various events throughout the Maritimes. For two winters, we traveled to India, performing at diverse venues on the beaches of Goa and in the Himalayan Mountains.

It was within this vibrant maritime festival community that I met my partner, an organizer of one of the festivals where I performed. We bonded over our shared belief in the healing power of nature and growing food, leading me to move to Saint Andrews to help realize his dream of operating an off-grid permaculture farm. Since 2017, I have contemplated how to combine my extensive experience and passion for gymnastics into a program for the Charlotte County community. After welcoming my first child, I was determined for her to have the same opportunities I had in recreational gymnastics. I dedicated my maternity leave to planning and preparing, and now, that vision is coming to life! I’m so thrilled to finally be here and to see all the fun and excitement that will unfold on the mats! 

-Coach Kelly