Andrew Baker is set to take on the role of president and chief executive officer of Alpine Canada, aiming to capitalize on his past contributions to the organization. He will succeed Therese Brisson, who recently transitioned to the position of CEO at Skate Canada after serving Alpine Canada for six years. Baker brings with him 21 years of experience at the Canadian Olympic Committee, where he most recently held the position of chief external affairs officer. His official start date at Alpine Canada is scheduled for September.
Alpine Canada is responsible for overseeing alpine and Para alpine racing as well as ski cross in the country. The organization’s 2025 annual report indicates that it manages around 15,000 registered racers and 5,500 coaches across 200 clubs nationwide. Additionally, Alpine Canada organizes international World Cup races in Canada.
Two women’s giant slaloms are planned for Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, in December, while a World Cup ski cross event is scheduled 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.
Hailing from Montreal, the 43-year-old Baker was actively engaged in lobbying efforts at the Canadian Olympic Committee to secure increased core funding for national sport organizations. In April, the federal government announced a substantial injection of $755 million into high-performance sport over the next five years, with a subsequent annual allocation of $118 million.
Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, Baker highlighted the rich history of excellence in alpine sports and the current high performance levels across alpine, ski cross, and Para alpine disciplines. He emphasized the importance of adequately funding and supporting athletes to not only enhance their performance but also inspire future generations.
While ski cross falls under the freestyle ski category globally, Alpine Canada oversees the sport domestically as a speed discipline. The organization successfully met its world championship and Olympic and Paralympic medal targets outlined in its 2021-26 strategic plan. However, Canada did not secure any Olympic medals in alpine skiing and ski cross at the recent Milan Cortina Games, though Canadian Para alpine athletes achieved a silver and four bronze medals in Italy.
Looking ahead to 2030, Canada no longer hosts World Cup downhill or super-G races, with the longstanding races in Lake Louise, Alberta, coming to an end in 2022 due to economic considerations. Plans are in motion to potentially introduce men’s speed races in locations like Whistler or Panorama, British Columbia. The federal government has also committed an additional $50 million over the next five years to support the hosting of international sports events.
Recent government investments of $3.65 million in alpine training center upgrades at Panorama and Whistler, along with ski cross facilities at Nakiska Ski Resort in Alberta, are expected to benefit athletes aiming for success at the 2030 Winter Games. Baker expressed optimism about the enhanced resources available for athletes in the coming years, thanks to the newly announced government funding for programming and infrastructure improvements at national training centers.
