Prince George, BC – The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club is striding in a new direction as it prepares for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

For the first time in the history of the Junior Racer program, the club will have a paid head coach, as current Head Coach Leisbet Beaudry looks to ‘retire’ from the volunteer position.  The Junior Racer program involves both cross country skiing and biathlon and is coached by volunteer parents.

"This is a really big transition for the club," says Pierre Beaudry, Head Coach of biathlon, "Because Leisbet’s been volunteer for the last half-decade or more and she’s put in a huge effort, along with her career and family."

He says the club has decided to go with the paid coach model, "Of course, we can’t hire six head coaches, so he’ll be head coach of the entire program and exactly what he’s going to do is an evolution because it’s new for us.  We’re just meeting in the next few weeks to discuss exactly how this person will integrate into our system."

Beaudry says after searching for more than 18-months, the club has hired the former head coach of the Newfoundland Labrador Provincial Team, who was moving to Prince George to support his wife as she enters the residency portion of her medical training.  "It’s a really good opportunity for the club."