Carolina Parravano, CSEP – CEP, FMS

Strength and Conditioning Coach at Canadian Strength Institute, Trains: Semi and Professional Athletes (NHL, CFL and OHL)

Like most young athletes, I was never really sure what I wanted to do, so I went to Brock University and took Physical Education. Hoping to one day train professional athletes but never really had the proper tools to become a successful training. As a young student I was told that being a female in the professional sport industry was going to be difficult, and I should reconsider another career.

Niagara College gave me the knowledge and tools I was looking for to become a successful Certified Exercise Physiologist. I would never have been able to successfully pass that certification with the help from the amazing staff at Niagara College. This program guided me in the right direction and gave me the hands on experience that I desperately needed.

To all the female trainers out there, I would like to tell you all you need is just one person to believe in, and for me I found Sean Young at Canadian Strength Institute. With being a successful trainer I believe confidence plays a huge role, which I was able to get from NC and Sean. I graduated in 2016 and since then I have been lucky enough to train CFL, NHL, OHL, EuroLeague, and a numerous of young striving hockey players. I believe that no matter what, if you have the proper education and a positive mindset you can achieve anything!

Nick Lapointe, CSCS, CSEP – CEP

University of Calgary Personal Training Coordinator/Head Trainer, Head Coach Golden Dolphins Swim Club

As a competitive swimmer, I loved training, but I was always interested in the ‘why’ behind the training methods. This curiosity for performance and understanding how the body functions and adapts to training led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Physical and Health Education at Laurentian University. Wanting more, I enrolled in Niagara College’s Exercise Science for Health and Performance Post-Graduate program.

The knowledge and practical skills learned from this program was a game changer. I became an Exercise Physiologist and hit the ground running upon finishing the program. I’ve spent the last three and a half years working for the University of Calgary where I manage the personal training department, as well as a weight management program called TrymGym. I’m also the head strength and conditioning coach for the U of C club swim team, and I assist with coaching the Dinos varsity swim team.

I credit much of this success to the ESHP program. The knowledgeable and caring professors, the placement opportunities, the extensive hands-on lab experience, and the small class sizes truly sets you up for success, in whichever avenue you take in the health and fitness world!

Phil Jenner, CSEP – CEP, CSCS

High-Performance Director, One Health Clubs Mississauga

The Niagara College program helped me in unimaginable ways. The program helped me grasp a lot of the theory based concepts I learned at Brock University and apply them in a practical setting. The skills that I learned from the high level faculty, have helped me accelerate in the field all within a few years upon graduating.

The program has opened so many doors for me and allowed me to work successfully with chronic, general, and athletic populations in a number of different roles for multiple organizations. I’ve never felt restrictions whenever I’ve decided to step in a new direction towards a different career path. If anything I felt like I’ve had an advantage. The program prepared me to find and continue to work in the field when I moved to Europe. It gave me the opportunity for continued education at a Masters level when I wanted to move towards research. It has also helped me in my current role in managing a training facility.

There are countless examples of how the program has personally allowed me to grow and be successful in the exercise science field. Even when my career path has deviated, I have always been able to find work wherever my passion lies. I cannot thank the team at Niagara enough for this.

Joe Laidlaw, CSEP – CEP, CSCS

Youth Athletic Trainer, One Health Clubs Mississauga

My passion for training and sports came at an early age and drove me to pursue a degree in Kinesiology at Brock University. I then went on to complete the Exercise Science post grad program at Niagara College where I learned all the practical skills I needed to truly apply my knowledge and be a successful training coach.

After completing the program I became a Certified Exercise Physiologist which is the gold standard of training and exercise prescription in Canada. I would have never achieved this if it was not for my post grad experience.

As a coach I believe it is important to focus on building a strong foundation when working with youth athletes. This foundation needs to consist of a balance between mobility, strength and movement IQ. If an athlete can become proficient in many facets of movement and training at an early age their longevity in sport will increase and the likelihood of injury dramatically decreases. Therefore, educating young athletes and teaching them the right skills to become successful is where my passion now lies.

Jordan Leeming, CSEP – CEP

Manager, Fitness, Sports & Recreation, Personnel Support Programs @ CFB Wainwright

The ESHP Program at Niagara was a great stepping stone that launched me onto a career path I thoroughly enjoy. I finished my undergrad and had taken a year off that was quite uneventful. After meeting with the professors and learning about the program, I knew it was the perfect fit.

The technical, fitness-specific knowledge combined with the different work placements was perfect for someone like myself, who wasn’t sure what area to go in my career. The program had lectures that touch on all areas of exercise: healthy population, elite athletes, ill & injured. The class was small enough that I was able to develop great relationships with the other students and professors but it was large enough to find people with different opinions and backgrounds to challenge your own exercise knowledge.

I started my career working with ill and injured soldiers but have since moved on. What I learned during my time at Niagara has given me confidence to work with all different types of clients. I’ve worked with PSP and the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly 5 years now and have had the opportunity to deploy with them all across the world to facilitate their Fitness & Sports programs. I truly feel that without Niagara College, I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience all of it.

David Ahong (CEP Pending) and Shannon Rotteveel (CEP and RKIN Pending)

Cancer RX

David and I completed university degree in health related fields, and were motivated to continue pursuing educational goals and building on our expertise. The Exercise Science for Health and Performance (ESHP) at Niagara College educates students on how to assess and prescribe exercise for all populations, including general population, athletic population, and individuals with chronic conditions. Thus, this allows for the development specialized and individualized care plans for clients.

Both David and I have developed a passion to work with individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer, or are in remission from cancer. Through the development of specialized and individual exercise programs, our goal is to increase the quality of life for these individuals and ensure an increased ability to engage in activities of daily living.

With the support and encouragement of our professional and inspiring teachers, David and I have created a business model designed to help us reach these goals, and provide cancer specific exercise programming to clients. David and I presented this model at a business pitch completion, facilitated by Niagara College, called “Pitch Perfect”. We are so proud and excited to share that our business pitch for Cancer Rx, was chosen as the winner of this completion. From here, David and I plan to facilitate a pilot project for Cancer Rx, at the Niagara College Performance Lab, in Welland, Ontario. David and I are so excited to see what the future holds for Cancer Rx. We are grateful for the knowledge and skills we have learned through the ESHP program, and for the dedication, direction and support provided by our Niagara College teachers.

Alexa Schonewille, CEP

Exercise Physiologist at Tabor Manor Fitness Centre

I have always been active and enjoyed playing sports at both competitive and recreational levels. I’ve also always loved learning about the human body and its systems. This led me to pursue an education in Kinesiology and Physical Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. I loved the background that I got from my university education in the health and exercise areas, but I wanted to learn more and get more hands on skills and practical experience in the field. I accepted my offer to the Exercise Science for Health and Performance program at Niagara College, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. The practical experience that I gained through hands on practical labs, in class projects and placement experiences, through the ESHP program, has gotten me to where I am today. I love working with seniors and with individuals with chronic health conditions, and the program at Niagara College helped lead me to this discovery.

I became certified with CSEP as a Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP), and I am currently work at the Tabor Manor Fitness Centre, which is a facility tailored to meeting the health and wellness needs of seniors that reside at Tabor Manor, and within the surrounding community. Working with seniors is fun, exciting and rewarding, specifically knowing that I am making such a large difference in their mobility and balance. The seniors I’ve worked with have improved in balance, strength and agility, and are capable of so much more than they are often given credit for. I enjoy providing these seniors with challenges and assisting them in meeting their wellness goals.

I love working with and continuously learning about various health conditions, which is something that I do at the Tabor Manor Fitness Centre. I am thankful for the skills and knowledge I gained during my time in the Niagara College ESHP program. I wouldn’t be as confident and knowledgeable as I am today without the experience I gained at Niagara College.