Fencing

CAF SPORTS SUPPORT STAFF

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  Brigadier-General D.R. Yarker

  PATRON View Bio
  

  2021 - present

  Brigadier-General D.R. Yarker

  PATRON

  "Integration into uniformed life can hard, really hard. I am sure it isn’t any easier today, and could even be more difficult than it was for me over 30 years ago. For me sports was the key, crucial really, to making the transition into the military, if not smooth, at least possible.  That is not to say it was clear from the beginning; in fact sport did not come to me easily. I had no history of it on arrival in the CAF.  Fitness – OK; a desire to win – absolutely; but specific skills in a specific sport, not really.  
  
  In any other place, in any other profession, I don’t think I would have found sport.  One of the unique and truly advantageous aspects of a military life is the range of opportunities to pursue sport – whether it followed you into service, or you found it while in uniform. The activity, the expertise, the camaraderie, or even just the opportunity to expand your horizons is outstanding.
  
  For me whether it was the opportunity to develop skills from scratch and compete at the university and national levels as a fencer or simply deepen my connection to my unit as a member of the unit ball hockey team – sport has been an essential part of my career.  It is something that everyone can benefit from and frankly everyone should.
  
  Although sport has been severely challenged by our current reality during the Pandemic, I know that some are lucky enough to be able to continue their efforts safely and for the remainder I maintain hope for the future.  
  
  It is an honour to be the Fencing Patron, and I cannot wait to see our athletes on the piste again."

  PREVIOUS PATRONS
  2013 - 2020	Brigadier-General J.J.M. Girard
  Unknown - 2012	Brigadier-General H.F. Jaeger

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  Ms. P. Howes

  CISM HEAD COACH View Bio
  

  Ms. P. Howes

  CISM HEAD COACH

  Patti found and fell in love with the sport of fencing at university, where she fenced foil, the only discipline permitted for women.
  
  In 2002, she accepted the position of Varsity Head Coach at the Royal Military College of Canada and became the first female Fencing Master in the history of the college. Patti is a NCCP Level 4 coach, Learning Facilitator, Chartered Professional Coach and is working on becoming a qualified NCCP Master Coach Developer. She trains athletes in all three fighting disciplines of fencing and is one of only two female Fencing Masters in Canada.
  
  For the past 18 years, Patti has built a consistently strong varsity fencing program at RMC, where year after year the teams rank in the Top 4 out of thirteen OUA universities. Top highlights include winning five OUA Championships, four OUA Coach of the Year awards and one OUA Top Hosting Award. Since April 2005, Patricia has been the Head Coach of the CAF CISM Fencing Team and has lead the team in countless World Military Championships and three Military World Games, where two of her athletes have brought home medals. Coaching for Patti is about building authentic relationships, founded on mutual respect, trust, honesty, integrity while developing true grit to get through all the challenges, perceived obstacles and tough stuff.
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  Captain V. McCormick

  CISM TEAM MANAGER View Bio
  

  2023 - present

  Captain V. McCormick

  CISM TEAM MANAGER

  Capt McCormick is currently posted to 12 Wing Shearwater as the Wing Air Traffic Control Officer. Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Capt McCormick joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2012 and has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Capt McCormick’s previous posting was a tower controller at 3 Wing Bagotville where she worked with helicopters, fighter jets, commercial airlines and civilian pilots, and controlled in both official languages. She loved her time in Bagotville and would like to say thank you to her wonderful supervisors for helping shape her into the leader that she is today.
  
  Sport has always been a strong part of Capt McCormick’s life, growing up she participated in ultimate frisbee, ice hockey, field hockey and snowboarding. It wasn’t until she joined the CAF that she discovered the sport of fencing through the national level coaches at RMC, who fostered her love for the sport and who gave her the tools to learn, grow and continue to make sport a part of her adult life. She has been a member of the CISM Fencing Team for the past 7 years, competing at multiple regional, national, and international events including the World Military Games. Throughout her time in the CAF, she has also participated on her base hockey and volleyball teams. She was awarded the 3 Wing Female Athlete of the Year in both 2018 and 2019.
  
  Capt McCormick has always enjoyed the challenging aspects of sport, both physically and mentally. Through competing, coaching and teaching different sports, she has been able to develop as an athlete and a leader, and use experiences learnt through sport directly in her everyday and work life as she faces new challenges. She is looking forward to the opportunity to be the CISM Fencing Team Manager and would encourage anyone with fencing experience, or that would like to try the sport to reach out.