Our Coaches

Jason swam competitively for over 16 years, reaching the national level with Pointe Claire Swim Club before continuing his swimming career at McGill. He now competes recreationally in triathlon. His coaching is driven by a passion for helping others succeed in ways that are meaningful to them. He began coaching as a teenager during summers in Montreal’s West Island, then returned to coaching near the end of his undergraduate degree. After graduating, he decided to pursue coaching full-time as a career. Since then, Jason has built over 20 years of experience coaching adult swimmers of all levels, from new swimmers to Olympians, both on the pool deck and in the gym. He has served as head swim coach of McGill Masters, McGill Triathlon, and JBFS, and spent eight years coaching varsity swimming at McGill and the University of Ottawa. He is a Level 3 Senior Coach and received his Chartered Professional Coach designation in 2019. That same year, Jason moved to Ottawa to pursue a master’s degree in Human Kinetics with a concentration in Intervention and Consultation at the University of Ottawa. He now works as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with club, provincial, national, and professional organizations, supporting athletes, coaches, and teams in their performance pursuits. Jason is also the co-founder of Build Better Humans, a company that helps bring the joy back to youth sport by teaching coaches and parents how to support performance, development, and life skills through sport. He is excited to continue his passion for coaching with the Rideau Speedeaus.

Maria-Lynne feels fortunate to have been involved in a myriad of aquatic activities and experiences. A former swim instructor and lifeguard, she has also coached artistic swimming, and is an NCCP level one swim coach. Her favourite stroke is the front crawl, as she is very keen on the flutter kick. She also really enjoys and appreciates all the different components of the stroke, and the methods in which the various constituents merge together for a seamless and fluid experience. In her estimation, swimming truly is poetry in motion.

Tarek swam competitively up to the international level starting with the Saint John Swim Club, then University of Toronto, Ottawa GO Kingfish and finishing with Carleton University. He held numerous NB age group records and medalled at National Championships. He taught swimming lessons as a teenager and after university coached the Carleton varsity team off and on for 13 years. He is a level 2 certified swim coach. Tarek worked for the federal government in information management at Statistics Canada, NRC and IDRC. He joined the Rideau Speedeaus 10 years ago to get back in a regular swimming routine and coaches on an "as needed" basis for the club. He enjoys helping people improve their technique, fitness and competitive skills.

Dylan grew up swimming and completed all of the Aqua Quest, life saving, and instructing courses offered by the City of Brampton. He was introduced to competitive swimming through a pre-competitive program called Olympic Way offered at McMurchy and Balmoral pools. Dylan re-ignited his passion for swimming by joining the team at Mayfield Secondary School, followed by joining the provincial-level squad of the Cobra Swim Club where he additionally taught a pre-competitive program. After another ten year hiatus, Dylan joined the Rideau Speedeaus as a training athlete and coach of the Learn to Swim program. Dylan's favourite stroke is breaststroke, and he likes to focus on stroke technique during his practice.

Emily is passionate about helping swimmers thrive! A former provincial swimmer, swim coach, and mental performance consultant for swimming and artistic swimming, she brings a well-rounded, energetic approach to the pool. Say hi to her on the deck, she is always happy to chat and cheer you on!

Elisabeth grew up in Nova Scotia, where she first discovered her love for the water in summer swimming at the age of six. She soon transitioned into year-round training with the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club, continuing to build her passion for the sport. With three years of coaching experience between the Waeg Waves and the Halifax Trojans, she has also supported Swim Nova Scotia as an assistant coach. Elisabeth loves working with swimmers of all ages and takes pride in helping them build confidence and strong technique in the pool. Elisabeth is currently a student at the University of Ottawa and is super excited to be back on deck!

With sprint breaststroke roots and a particular love for the 50 fly, this coach brings both power and precision to the pool. While the 50 breaststroke may not always get the spotlight, it was their strongest event, alongside a passion for long course sprint fly. As a coach, though, the 200 breaststroke stands out as a favourite, combining technical grace with the strategy and discipline of a longer race. Coaching since 2021, they began with Capital Wave and ROCS before joining GO Kingfish, where they are now in their second season as a Level 2 coach. Over the years, they’ve developed a coaching style centered not just on physical training, but on mental engagement and intentional swimming. Their philosophy is simple: great swimming happens in the mind as much as in the body. Swimmers improve by being mentally present, paying attention to details, and making purposeful choices every day in practice. Building strength creates a fitter swimmer, but building focus, awareness, and attentiveness creates a better one. What they love most about swimming is its honesty. In the water, swimmers are largely alone separated by the lane, unable to talk, often unable even to breathe freely. Successes and setbacks belong entirely to the individual. It becomes a direct challenge between swimmer and water, and that personal accountability is what makes the sport so rewarding.

Aly was a competitive swimmer for more than 12 years with the Halton Hills Blue Fins, specializing in sprint events and competing at the national level. Throughout her career, she set numerous club records in Butterfly and Freestyle races and coached the younger groups, helping swimmers develop the skills and confidence needed to compete at higher levels. She is currently studying to become a mental performance coach, with the goal of working with professional athletes. In addition to coaching competitive swimmers, Aly has taught adult and youth swimming lessons for a wide range of skill levels. She is passionate about building strong technique foundations through focused drills and stroke development, helping each swimmer improve at their own pace. Aly loves connecting with her participants and takes pride in celebrating the small victories that lead to lasting progress.

Enmanuel is certified Level 1 coach with competitive swimming experience. He enjoys butterfly and open water swimming.

Talia was a competitive swimmer for over 10 years with the Milton Marlins Swim Team and brings extensive swimming and coaching experience to the team as a certified level 1 coach. In addition to competing (her best event was 1500m freestyle!), she has spent nearly as long coaching swimmers of all ages and skill levels, from teaching children and adults how to swim to coaching competitive athletes with the Marlins. She loves helping swimmers improve their technique and build their confidence, and is passionate about creating a team environment where everyone feels welcome, works hard, and pushes each other to be their best both in and out of the water.