Elan Paluck, PhD

Director and Head Coach

Credentials

  • Certified Level 3 Baton Coach- Canadian Baton Twirling Federation
  • NCCP Level 2 Certified Coach
  • Certified Judge – Canadian Baton Twirling Federation
  • Master Judge – World Baton Twirling Federation
  • Coaching Course Conductor – Canadian Baton Twirling Federation
  • Certified Adjudicator  – Canadian Baton Twirling Federation Skills Development Program
  • Mentor Coach – Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Federation’s “Ready, Set, Twirl” Program
  • Certified Instructor – Acrobatic Arts Academy
  • ADAPT Intermediate 3 Jazz standing

Leadership Positions

  • Technical Director, Canadian Baton Twirling Federation (2010- 2015)
  • Technical Secretary, World Baton Twirling Federation (2013 – 2015)
  • Competition Director: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Canadian Baton Twirling Championships
  • Technical Director, Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association (2006-2010)
  • Coaches Representative, Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association (2003-2005)
  • Technical Director, Baton Twirling Association of British Columbia (1994– 2002)
  • Coaches Representative, Baton Twirling Association of British Columbia (1992-94)

Awards & Recognition

  • Sask Sport Volunteer Recognition Award (2013)
  • Canadian Baton Twirling Federation Volunteer of the Year Award (2010)
  • Sask Baton Volunteer of the Year (2008)

Melanda Shay, BSN

Senior Coach

Credentials

  • Certified Level 2 Coach, Canadian Baton Twirling Federation
  • Certified Instructor, Acrobatic Arts Academy
  • Over 11 years of experience teaching jazz, ballet, acro, and baton twirling
  • Current Skills Development Program representative for the Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association

Achievements

  • Gold medalist in the Pairs event at the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Canadian Baton Twirling Championships
  • Bronze medalist in the Pairs event at the 2003 World Baton Twirling Championships, and 5th place in the 2004 and 2005 World Championships.
  • Bronze Medalist in the Team event at the 2007 World Baton Twirling Championships
  • RAD ballet trained and have received Honours in all ballet exams up to Grade 8 and Pre Elementary
  • Recipient of numerous dance scholarships in jazz at workshops and competitions
  • Obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree

Lynn Derkitt

Credentials

  • Level 3 Canadian Baton Twirling Federation coaching certification
  • Level I Gymnastics coaching certification
  • Associate Member – Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association – Stage Division –Sask. Branch
  • Certified Judge, Canadian Baton Twirling Federation
  • Certified Skills Development Program Adjudicator and Course Conductor, Canadian Baton Twirling Federation

Achievements

  • From 1987 to 1991, as part of the Sundown Optimist Buffalo Gals World Team, she represented Saskatchewan at five Canadian Championships and went on to represent Canada at five World Championships. The highlight of her career was winning the World gold medal in the team category in Padova, Italy (1991).
  • In 1996, she was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame – Team category.
  • She has taught, adjudicated or held baton and dance clinics in such places as Montreal, Saskatoon, Assiniboia, Wolseley and Regina.
  • Lynn is an elementary school teacher. She attended the University of Regina and Universite She has a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts.

Kiera West

Achievements

Member of the National Team representing Canada at the World Baton Twirling

Championships for nine consecutive years:

2007-Hamilton, Canada

2008-Limerick, Ireland

2009- Sydney, Australia

2010- Bergen, Norway

2011- Jacksonville, Florida

2012- Paris, France

2013- Almere, Holland

2014 – Nottingham, England

2015 – Abbottsford, Canada

 

From 2009 to 2014, Kiera was the highest ranked Canadian Baton Twirler on the International competitive circuit

She finished 4th place in Junior Freestyle at the 2010 World Championships and won a Gold Medal in Junior Elite Artistic Twirl at the 2011 International Cup in Jacksonville Florida.

Kiera was honored as the “Junior Athlete of the Year” by the Canadian Baton Twirling Federation for three consecutive years (2009-2011), the Overall Athlete of the Year in 2011, and the Senior Athlete of the Year in 2012.

She was also named the “Junior Athlete of the Year” for five consecutive years by the Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association (2007-2011) and the “Senior Athlete of the Year” in 2012 & 2014

She has been a six-time recipient of the “Sask Sport Future Best Athlete Training Scholarship” (2008-2012, 2014).