Sport NB is dedicated to decreasing barriers that may result in impact women in their ability to reach their full coaching education goals. The Women to Watch Grant Program is a key initiative that will provide financial assistance to women coaches looking to advance in their coaching pathway.
Grants will be awarded to women coaches in the Province of New Brunswick to assist them in further developing the skills necessary to attain a higher level of coaching or increased level of coaching experience. The grant aims at helping to offset cost associated with their coach development (i.e., course/event fees, travel, childcare…).
The grants applications will be accessed bi-annually with a maximum of $1500 being disbursed per fiscal year (max $500/recipient). The grant will remain open throughout the year closing on March 15th until the start of the next fiscal (April 1st).
Deadline for 2025-26 Applications: March 15th 2026.
Annie Cormier has been dedicated to the sport of ringette since 2015, beginning their coaching journey with the Dieppe Ringette Association. Over six years, they served as both assistant and head coach at the house league level, helping to develop young athletes and foster a love for the game. In 2021, they advanced to the provincial level, joining the U16 AA program and serving as an assistant coach for Team New Brunswick. They continue in that role today and are currently the head coach of the U16 AA team, as well as a bench staff member for the Atlantic Attack of the National Ringette League.
Coach Cormier has contributed to Team New Brunswick’s strong national presence, helping the team earn a silver medal at the Canadian Ringette Championship in 2022, a gold medal in 2023, and another silver medal in 2024.
Driven by a passion for ongoing development and high-performance sport, Annie aims to continue growing in their coaching career by participating in top-level events and ensuring athletes have positive and enriching experiences at the national level. She will be using the grant to help cover many of the costs associated with national competitions including travel, further coach certification courses, and equipment.
Originally from Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick, Amy Caissie discovered her passion for cross-country skiing at the age of 13. With determination and the support of her coach, she had the opportunity to compete in numerous provincial events as well as national competitions, including the Canada Games.
While she still competes for fun, Amy is now focused on training the next generation of athletes. Aware of the lack of cross-country ski coaches in northeastern New Brunswick, she is committed to passing on the knowledge she has gained over the past eight years to help young skiers grow, believe in themselves, and go as far in the sport as she did.
Amy plans to use the funding she receives to pursue further coaching certifications and continue improving as a cross-country ski coach. Her mission is clear: to inspire young athletes, support them with passion, and help them reach their full potential.
Brittany Wright is a former high-performance and university-level hockey athlete who transitioned into coaching in 2018, bringing the same passion and commitment to the bench as they once did to the ice. Their coaching journey began with the local female high school team at Polyvalente Thomas-Albert, where they quickly discovered a deep passion for developing young athletes and fostering their love of the game.
From 2018 to 2022, Coach Wright gained valuable experience coaching at various levels within the Grand Falls Junior Cats program, leading both U11A and U13A teams as head coach. Their leadership and dedication led to further opportunities, and in 2022, they joined the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Hockey League (MHL) as an assistant coach at the Junior A level. That same year, they also began working with Team New Brunswick’s U16 Female Program, serving as an assistant coach for the 2022, 2024, and 2025 seasons.
Motivated by a commitment to continuous growth and excellence in sport, Brittany is now pursuing their High Performance 1 Coaching Certification. This advanced training will open doors to higher-level coaching roles and provide the essential tools needed to continue supporting competitive athletes at the elite level. The funds received will go directly toward completing this certification, helping her take the next step in a promising coaching career.
**Applications with support letters from Provincial or National level Sport Organizations may be given priority. SportNB may make contact with your Provincial Sport Organization, upon reception of your application.
Within 60 days of the completion of the activity the grant recipient must submit a written follow up report to the Coordinator, Women in Coaching. The report must contain the following information:
As a recipient of a Women to Watch Grant, you may be asked to supply a photo and a detailed report of your learning activities for publication or promotion purposes or to speak to other female coaches about your experience.
**All application material is to be submitted as a PDF document**
