Deena Beacom Receives Skate Canada’s 2026 National Coach Award

The Racquet Club of Victoria Figure Skating Club is incredibly proud to celebrate a truly historic achievement.

Our Director of Skating and Head Coach, Deena Beacom, has been named the recipient of Skate Canada’s 2026 National Coach Award, one of the highest honours that can be awarded to a coach in Canadian figure skating. The award recognizes coaches who demonstrate exceptional leadership, athlete development, mentorship, innovation, and contribution to the sport across all stages of Skate Canada’s Long-Term Development pathway. This year, Deena was selected as the national recipient from across the country.

For over 25 years, Deena has been one of the driving forces behind figure skating on Vancouver Island. A former high-level competitive skater herself, she transitioned from athlete to coach and has spent her career helping athletes discover what they are capable of both on and off the ice. She has served as Director of Skating at the Racquet Club of Victoria for more than 25 years and is an NCCP National Coach Certified coach. Over that time, she has guided skaters to provincial, section, and national-level competition while continuing to evolve and expand her knowledge of the sport.

On any given day, you might find her working with a skater preparing for a national competition and, moments later, helping a young CanSkater learn the fundamentals of balance and movement on the ice. She brings the same enthusiasm, patience, and care to every athlete regardless of age, ability, or competitive aspirations. That commitment to the full athlete pathway, from first strides to high performance, is one of the hallmarks of her coaching philosophy.

Under Deena’s leadership, the Racquet Club of Victoria has developed one of the strongest skating programs in British Columbia. In recent seasons, club athletes have achieved outstanding success at the BC/YT Section Championships, captured medals at the BC Winter Games, and advanced to national-level competitions including the Skate Canada Trophy. These accomplishments reflect not only individual achievement, but also the depth, consistency, and long-term athlete development culture that Deena has built over more than 25 years.

Deena has built a culture that emphasizes patience, strong fundamentals, long-term athlete development, and a lifelong love of skating. She is a passionate mentor to the Racquet Club coaching team, sharing her knowledge and helping develop the next generation of coaches. Together with Assistant Director and National Coach Matt Willis and the rest of the coaching staff, she has helped create an environment where athletes can thrive at every stage of their journey.

Her impact extends far beyond the daily training environment. Every second year, Deena leads the creation of the Racquet Club’s celebrated ice shows, productions that involve skaters from every level of the club. These shows require countless hours of choreography, music editing, rehearsal planning, and creative development. They also provide young athletes with extraordinary opportunities to perform alongside some of Canada’s most celebrated skating stars. The club’s 2023 show featured Canadian legend Kurt Browning and gave skaters an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Perhaps most importantly, Deena has continued a legacy that began with Racquet Club founder and former Director of Skating Sandra Leard. Sandra played a pivotal role in building figure skating at the Racquet Club and encouraged Deena to become involved in coaching years ago. After Sandra’s passing, Deena embraced the responsibility of carrying that legacy forward while also building a modern program that continues to evolve and grow.

Today, the Racquet Club of Victoria is recognized as one of Vancouver Island’s premier skating clubs, serving athletes from CanSkate through to national-level competition. That success is built on the dedication of many volunteers, coaches, families, and athletes but there is no question that Deena’s leadership has been central to the club’s growth and success.

Over the course of her career, Deena has influenced hundreds of skaters and families. She has helped athletes become champions, but more importantly, she has helped them become confident, resilient, and capable young people. Many former skaters remain involved in the sport as coaches, performers, officials, and lifelong participants, a testament to the positive and lasting impact she has had on their lives.

This award is an extraordinary honour for Deena, for the Racquet Club of Victoria, and for the entire Vancouver Island skating community.

Congratulations, Deena. We are incredibly proud of you and grateful for the passion, leadership, and dedication you bring to our club every day. Your impact on generations of skaters is immeasurable, and this national recognition is richly deserved.

Congratulations on being named Skate Canada’s 2026 National Coach Award recipient. 🏆⛸️🎉