Bowls Canada Boulingrin Announces 2023-2026 Senior Squad
Bowls Canada Boulingrin (BCB) is pleased to announce the athletes named to the 2023-2026 HP Senior Squad
Coming off Canada’s ‘best-ever’ World Bowls World Championships, BCB confirms the 8 women and 12 men named to the High-Performance (HP) Senior Squad (2023-26). Amongst them is current World Champion, Ryan Bester, World Bowl’s Silver Medalist, Kelly McKerihen, and bronze medalists John Bezear, Emma Boyd, Baylee Van Steijn, and Joanna Cooper.
The men’s side is packed with experienced players, Commonweatlh Games teammates and World medalist. Notably current World Champion, Ryan Bester returns along with 2023 World Championships teammates John Bezear, Owen Kirby, Rob Law, and Cameron Lefresne. Amidst the returning familiar faces is some new and exciting talent. Erik Galipeau, 2023 Canadian U25 Champion, and Canadian U25 Silver medalist, Auzzie Chambers, most recently members of the national Youth Development Squad, round out the 2023-26 Squad.
The women’s team welcomes back veteran players Kelly McKerihen (2023 World Silver medalist) Emma Boyd, Joanna Cooper, Jackie Foster, Jordan Kos (2023 Women’s U25 Singles Gold Medalist), Jennifer MacDonald and Baylee van Steijn. Linda Ng, a Senior Squad newcomer rounds out the women’s side. This is a squad with numerous international matches played throughout their careers and a force to reckon with on the greens.
Don Caswell, BCB High-Performance Manager, says “I’m excited to witness the new squad develop as a team and build on the success of the 2023 World Bowls World Championships. Along with core members from the 2023 World Bowls Championships we have added new members to the squad that will be able to showcase their talents and help us continue to make waves internationally.”
Similarly with excitement, Derek Dillon, National Head Coach stated “I’m excited with the talent that has been included into this new squad. The mixture of new members combined with proven experienced athletes will set the scene for Canada’s High-Performance Program to flourish over the next 3 years and beyond. I congratulate all athletes that have been selected for this squad and look forward to the continual development of lawn bowls within Canada.”
The squad was selected based on a set criteria which considered skills, tactics, and experience and then balanced with positional fit. The selection process was open to all and those who applied were invited to attend one of three evaluation opportunities. Additionally, national selectors were present at events such as the World Bowls Championships, the Canadian Lawn Bowls Championships (Pairs, Fours, and Singles), and the Canadian Youth Championships.
The National Squad is supported by the Government of Canada through Sport Canada Funding and supplemented by squad members through contribution fees for events and programs.
Below is the full roster list:
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Women’s Senior Squad |
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Emma Boyd |
Tsawwassen, BC |
Tsawwassen LBC/Club Tweed (Aus) |
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Joanna Cooper |
Calgary, AB |
Calgary LBC |
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Jackie Foster |
Lower Sackville, NS |
Bridgetown LBC |
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Jordan Kos |
Regina, SK |
Regina LBC |
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Jennifer MacDonald |
Calgary, AB |
Calgary LBC |
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Kelly McKerihen |
Toronto, ON |
Port Credit LBC / Clayton Bowls Club (Aus) |
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Linda Ng |
Richmond, BC |
Pacific Indoor Bowls Club |
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Baylee van Steijn |
Gores Landing, ON |
Cobourg LBC |
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Men’s Senior Squad |
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Ryan Bester |
Hanover, ON |
Hanover LBC / Musgrave Hill Bowls Club (Aus) |
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John Bezear |
Kitchener, ON |
Heritage Greens LBC |
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Pat Bird |
Calgary, AB |
Calgary LBC |
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Auzzie Chambers |
Langley, BC |
Juan de Fuca LBC |
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Erik Galipeau |
Toronto, ON |
Port Credit LBC |
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Owen Kirby |
Kitchener, ON |
Heritage Greens LBC |
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Rob Law |
Calgary, AB |
Calgary LBC |
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Cam Lefresne |
Bridgewater, NS |
Wanderers LBC |
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Jon MacDonald |
Calgary, AB |
Calgary LBC |
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Mike McNorton |
Kitchener, ON |
Heritage Greens LBC |
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Kody Olthof |
Woodstock, ON |
Woodstock LBC |
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Greg Wilson |
Cochrane, AB |
Calgary LBC |
About Bowls Canada Boulingrin
Bowls Canada Boulingrin (BCB) is the governing body responsible for lawn bowls in Canada. The BCB mission is to advance the sport of bowls in Canada. For more details on Bowls Canada Boulingrin and the sport of lawn bowls, visit www.bowlscanada.com.
