I grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in Eastern Canada, and I was interested in sports from a young age. By around age eight, I had been playing hockey for a few years when I joined the local speedskating club to improve my skating skills. Joining the club led to regional, national and North American competitions. Inevitably my hobby turned into a career as a Canadian short track National Team member from 1992-98 while attending McGill University in Montreal.
Upon completing my undergraduate degree, I went into coaching with the U.S. Short Track National Training Program before I took a break from speedskating and returned to school to study law. I had intended to build a career in the field; however, just as I finished my degree, I had an opportunity to get back into coaching, this time with the Canadian program. Joining the Canadian coaching staff was a unique opportunity because the Olympics would take place in my home country. In 2010, the Canadian short track team took home two gold medals and one bronze at the Vancouver Olympics.