Andrew Baker is set to take over as the next president and CEO of Alpine Canada, succeeding Therese Brisson, who has moved on to lead Skate Canada after six years with Alpine Canada. With 21 years of experience at the Canadian Olympic Committee, where he most recently served as the chief external affairs officer, Baker will join Alpine Canada in September.
Alpine Canada is responsible for overseeing alpine and Para alpine racing as well as ski cross in Canada, which includes approximately 15,000 registered racers and 5,500 coaches across 200 clubs, according to the organization’s 2025 annual report. In addition to national racing events, Alpine Canada also hosts international World Cup races in the country.
Two women’s giant slaloms are scheduled for Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, in December, while a World Cup ski cross event is planned for March at Craigleith in Ontario. Baker’s arrival at Alpine Canada marks 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 announcement of a $755 million injection into high-performance sport over the next five years, with a subsequent decrease to $118 million annually.
Expressing his excitement for the future of Canadian sports, Baker highlighted the tradition of excellence within alpine, ski cross, and Para alpine disciplines. He emphasized the importance of better funding and support for athletes to not only enhance their performance but also inspire the next generation of sports enthusiasts.
While ski cross falls under the freestyle ski umbrella internationally, Alpine Canada manages the sport domestically as a speed discipline. Despite meeting its overall world championship and Olympic/Paralympic medal targets, Canada faced a medal drought in alpine skiing and ski cross at the recent Milan Cortina Games. However, Canadian Para alpine athletes managed to secure a silver and four bronze medals in Italy.
Looking ahead to 2030, Alpine Canada is exploring options for hosting international events, with Whistler or Panorama, British Columbia, being considered as potential venues. Baker emphasized the importance of shaping future strategies, particularly in reinstating men’s speed races in the West Coast region.
With additional government funding allocated for international sports events and upgrades to training centers in Panorama, Whistler, and Nakiska Ski Resort, Baker expressed confidence in nurturing a pipeline of talented athletes for success at the 2030 Winter Games.