Andrew Baker is set to take the helm as the new president and CEO of Alpine Canada, succeeding Therese Brisson, who has moved on to lead Skate Canada after a six-year tenure. With 21 years of experience at the Canadian Olympic Committee, Baker most recently served as the COC’s chief external affairs officer. He is scheduled to join Alpine Canada in September.
Alpine Canada is responsible for overseeing alpine and Para alpine racing, as well as ski cross, with approximately 15,000 registered racers and 5,500 coaches spread across 200 clubs nationwide, as reported in the organization’s 2025 annual report. Additionally, Alpine Canada hosts international World Cup races in Canada.
Upcoming events include two women’s giant slaloms in Mont-Tremblant, Que., in December and a World Cup ski cross event at Craigleith in Ontario in March. Baker’s appointment comes at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle leading up to the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.
Baker, a 43-year-old from Montreal, played a crucial role in advocating for increased core funding for national sport organizations during his time at the COC. In April, the federal government announced a $755 million injection into high-performance sports over the next five years, with a subsequent decrease to $118 million annually.
Expressing his excitement for the future of sports in Canada, Baker highlighted the excellence and history of alpine, ski cross, and Para alpine disciplines. He emphasized the importance of funding and support for athletes to inspire the next generation, a vision that aligns with his new role at Alpine Canada.
While ski cross falls under the freestyle ski category internationally, Alpine Canada oversees it domestically as a speed discipline. The organization met its world championship and Olympic/Paralympic medal targets set out in its 2021-26 strategic plan, despite Canada not securing any Olympic medals in alpine skiing and ski cross at the recent Milan Cortina Games.
Looking ahead to 2030, Canada no longer hosts World Cup downhill or super-G races. Alpine Canada decided to end the tradition of men’s and women’s downhills in Lake Louise, Alta., citing economic reasons. The federal government has allocated an additional $50 million for hosting international sports events and invested $3.65 million in upgrading alpine training centers and ski cross facilities.
With a focus on preparing athletes for the 2030 Winter Games, Baker is optimistic about the resources and support available to athletes through the recent government funding announcements. This investment aims to provide athletes with the necessary tools and infrastructure to excel on the international stage.