Andrew Baker is set to take over as the new president and CEO of Alpine Canada, succeeding Therese Brisson, who has moved on to lead Skate Canada after six years. Baker, who has spent 21 years in various roles at the Canadian Olympic Committee, most recently serving 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 around 15,000 registered racers and 5,500 coaches across 200 clubs nationwide, as reported in the organization’s 2025 annual report. Additionally, Alpine Canada hosts international World Cup races in Canada.
Upcoming events include two women’s giant slaloms in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, in December and a World Cup ski cross scheduled for March at Craigleith in Ontario. Baker’s arrival at Alpine Canada coincides with the commencement of preparations for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.
Playing a significant role in advocating for increased core funding for national sport organizations, Baker was involved in the COC’s lobbying efforts. The federal government recently announced a $755 million injection into high-performance sports over the next five years, with a subsequent annual allocation of $118 million.
Expressing his excitement for the future of sport in Canada, Baker highlighted the history and current excellence in alpine, ski cross, and Para alpine disciplines. He emphasized the importance of funding and support for athletes to inspire future generations, a cause he is eager to champion within Alpine Canada.
Despite meeting its world championship and Olympic/Paralympic medal targets, Alpine Canada faced challenges at the Milan Cortina Games earlier this year, where Canada did not secure any alpine skiing or ski cross medals. However, Canadian Para alpine athletes managed to secure a silver and four bronze medals.
Looking ahead to 2030, Alpine Canada is exploring new opportunities following the conclusion of World Cup downhill and super-G races in Canada. With ongoing discussions on potential replacements for the discontinued races in Lake Louise, Alberta, Baker stressed the importance of a men’s speed race on the West Coast.
Further government investments have been announced to support hosting international sports events and upgrading training centers, boosting the development of athletes aiming for success at the 2030 Winter Games. Baker expressed confidence in the pipeline of talented athletes and the enhanced resources that will be available to support their journey to the podium in the coming years.