Canadore College names Sylvie Laperrière head coach of Panthers Women’s Volleyball

Canadore College is pleased to announce Sylvie Laperrière as the new head coach of the Panthers Women’s Volleyball team.

 A respected coach, former varsity athlete and two-time Canadore graduate, Laperrière brings extensive experience developing athletes at the provincial, club and secondary-school levels. A bilingual Certified Development Volleyball Coach, she has built her coaching career around creating positive team cultures in which athletes can strengthen their technical skills, develop as leaders and reach their full potential.

 “Sylvie brings a tremendous combination of coaching knowledge, leadership experience and strong connections to the local volleyball community,” said Ryan Drouin, Manager, Athletics and Student Life at Canadore College. “Her commitment to athlete development and her ability to build supportive, competitive team environments make her an excellent fit for the Panthers. We are excited to welcome her into this role and look forward to the next chapter of our Women’s Volleyball program.”

 Laperrière coached Team Ontario in 2022 and 2023, including Team Ontario White’s Ontario Cup championship season in 2023 and the Tall Maples program in 2022. She currently serves the Ontario Volleyball Association as Director of Regional Engagement and Regional Council Chair and is a member of both the Regional Coach Development Sub-Committee and Indoor Volleyball Development Council.

 Closer to home, Laperrière has coached with the North Bay Youth Volleyball Club since 2019 and has served as the organization’s President and Director of Coach and Athlete Development since 2020. Her club coaching experience includes both boys’ and girls’ teams across several age divisions, including the 17U girls’ team that captured a provincial gold medal in 2022.

 Laperrière has also coached at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School since 2015. During that time, her teams have earned multiple Nipissing District Athletics and Northern Ontario Secondary School Athletics championships and represented the region at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships.

 Before beginning her coaching career, Laperrière competed as a member of the Nipissing University Lakers Women’s Volleyball team from 1999 to 2002. She later served as the team’s alumni coordinator, helping to reconnect former players and support fundraising initiatives.

 As a graduate of Canadore College’s Environmental Technologist and Web Design Technology programs, Laperrière said the opportunity to return to the College and lead the Panthers is especially meaningful.

 “I am incredibly proud and excited to join the Canadore Panthers as head coach,” said Laperrière. “This opportunity brings together my passion for volleyball, my commitment to supporting student-athletes and my connection to Canadore and the North Bay community. I look forward to building strong relationships with our athletes, creating a positive and competitive team culture, and continuing the program’s tradition of success.”

 Laperrière succeeds Alice Champion, who has accepted the position of head coach of Ontario Tech University’s newly established Women’s Volleyball program. Champion will lead the development of the program as Ontario Tech prepares to begin Ontario University Athletics competition during the 2027-28 season.

 During her three seasons with the Panthers, Champion compiled an overall coaching record of 32 wins and 20 losses while leading Canadore to three consecutive Ontario Colleges Athletic Association playoff appearances.

 Her impact extended beyond the team’s record. Under Champion’s leadership, seven Panthers student-athletes earned OCAA recognition through First Team All-Star, Second Team All-Star and All-Rookie selections. She was also named the 2023-24 OCAA Women’s Volleyball East Division Coach of the Year in recognition of her leadership and the Panthers’ success.

"Alice’s passion for student-athlete development and her commitment to excellence had a lasting impact on our Women’s Volleyball program,” said Drouin. “She helped create a strong foundation for future success while mentoring our student-athletes and fostering a culture that reflects the values of Canadore College. We are grateful for her contributions and wish her all the best as she takes on this exciting new opportunity.”

 Canadore College Athletics sincerely thanks Champion for her dedication, leadership and service to the Panthers and looks forward to building on that strong foundation under Laperrière’s leadership.