Andrew Baker is set to take the helm as the next president and CEO of Alpine Canada, aiming to build on his past contributions to the organization. He will succeed Therese Brisson, who recently transitioned to the role of CEO at Skate Canada after a six-year tenure. With a background spanning 21 years at the Canadian Olympic Committee, where he most recently held the position of chief external affairs officer, Baker brings a wealth of experience to his new role at Alpine Canada, commencing in September.
Alpine Canada, responsible for overseeing alpine and Para alpine racing as well as ski cross, manages a substantial network that includes approximately 15,000 registered racers and 5,500 coaches across 200 clubs nationwide, as revealed in the organization’s 2025 annual report. The organization also coordinates international World Cup races hosted in Canada.
Upcoming events on Alpine Canada’s agenda include women’s giant slaloms in Mont-Tremblant, Que., scheduled for December, and a World Cup ski cross event slated 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 played a role in the COC’s advocacy efforts for enhanced core funding for national sport organizations, Baker welcomes the recent federal government announcement of a $755 million injection into high-performance sport over the next five years, with a subsequent annual allocation of $118 million. A significant portion of this funding, totaling $660 million over five years and $110 million thereafter, is earmarked for organizations like Alpine Canada.
Expressing enthusiasm for the sport’s legacy and current achievements, Baker highlighted the excellence displayed across alpine, ski cross, and Para alpine disciplines. Emphasizing the potential for sport to inspire future generations, he looks forward to translating advocacy into action by supporting athletes and fostering growth within the organization.
While ski cross falls under the freestyle ski category globally, Alpine Canada manages the sport domestically as a speed discipline. Despite meeting their world championship and Olympic/Paralympic medal targets outlined in the 2021-26 strategic plan, Canada faced a medal drought in alpine skiing and ski cross at the Milan Cortina Games earlier this year. However, Canadian Para alpine athletes secured a silver and four bronze medals in Italy.
As Alpine Canada sets its sights on the 2030 Winter Games, discussions continue regarding the absence of World Cup downhill and super-G races in Canada. Following the conclusion of three decades of men’s and women’s downhills in Lake Louise in 2022, considerations are being made for potential replacements like Whistler or Panorama, B.C. The prospect of reintroducing a men’s speed race in the West Coast remains under review, with details to be finalized in the future.
With ongoing investments in hosting international sports events and upgrading training facilities, including recent funding allocations for alpine training centers and ski cross facilities, Alpine Canada anticipates a promising pathway for athletes leading up to the 2030 Games. Baker is optimistic about the support provided by the government funding, emphasizing the importance of resources for athlete development and infrastructure enhancements across national training centers.