Andrew Baker is set to take over as the next president and CEO of Alpine Canada, aiming to capitalize on his previous contributions to the organization. He will succeed Therese Brisson, who has moved on to lead Skate Canada after a six-year tenure. Baker, who served various roles at the Canadian Olympic Committee for over two decades, most recently as the COC’s chief external affairs officer, will join Alpine Canada in September.
Alpine Canada, responsible for overseeing alpine and Para alpine racing as well as ski cross, manages approximately 15,000 registered racers and 5,500 coaches across 200 clubs nationwide, as per the organization’s 2025 annual report. Additionally, Alpine Canada hosts international World Cup races within the country.
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 set for March at Craigleith in Ontario. Baker’s arrival at Alpine Canada coincides with 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 increased core funding for national sport organizations during his time at the COC, Baker welcomed the federal government’s recent commitment of $755 million in high-performance sport funding over the next five years. A significant portion of this funding, totaling $660 million over five years with a subsequent annual allocation of $110 million, is directed towards national sport organizations such as Alpine Canada.
Expressing enthusiasm for the opportunities in Canadian sport, Baker highlighted the sport’s rich history of excellence and the current high performance levels across alpine, ski cross, and Para alpine disciplines. He emphasized the importance of funding and support for athletes to inspire future generations and bring out the full potential of sports.
Although ski cross falls under the freestyle ski category internationally, Alpine Canada manages the sport domestically as a speed discipline. Despite meeting its world championship and Olympic and Paralympic medal targets outlined in its 2021-26 strategic plan, Canada did not secure any Olympic medals in alpine skiing and ski cross at the recent Milan Cortina Games. However, Canadian Para alpine athletes achieved a silver and four bronze medals in Italy.
Looking ahead, Canada’s focus remains on the 2030 Winter Games. While the country no longer hosts World Cup downhill or super-G races, efforts are underway to reintroduce men’s speed races, potentially in Whistler or Panorama, British Columbia. The government’s additional investment in hosting international sports events and upgrading alpine training centers reflects a commitment to supporting athletes on their journey to success.
With promising athletes emerging and enhanced government funding in place, Baker envisions a bright future for Canadian sports leading up to the 2030 Winter Olympics and beyond.
