Tag: Injury Prevention

Business Development & Partnerships Manager

Kristy Drake

Kristy Drake earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health before transitioning into entrepreneurship. For the past ten years, she has owned and operated a photography and branding business, partnering with local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to strengthen their brands, build relationships, and increase community engagement.

Kristy is excited to join SMART because she believes in the power of sport to build stronger communities. She looks forward to developing meaningful partnerships with local businesses, schools, organizations, and community leaders to expand SMART’s reach, create new opportunities for athletes, and help more people experience everything SMART has to offer.

Outside of work, Kristy enjoys photography, strength training, and exploring the Canadian Rockies. She also loves spending time with her three children and is passionate about supporting women in business and the arts.

Admin

Isabella Green

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Lead of Guest Experience

Robin Roelofs

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Certified Personal Trainer

Sarah

Growing up playing squash and competing in equestrian sport, Sarah developed an early appreciation for strength, movement, and performance. These experiences shaped her belief that structured training can build not only physical strength, but also confidence and resilience. Sarah’s coaching approach focuses on creating a supportive and empowering environment where clients feel comfortable challenging themselves and developing new skills. She emphasizes building strong movement foundations and sustainable strength that carries over into everyday life.

She is particularly passionate about working with women and older adults and believes that everyone deserves to feel strong and confident in their body, regardless of age or training experience. Through resistance training, Sarah has seen firsthand how building strength can improve bone health, mobility, and overall resilience while helping clients rediscover confidence in what their bodies are capable of. Her goal is to help clients build the strength and capacity needed to remain active, independent, and engaged in the activities they love for years to come.

Sarah graduated from the University of Alberta in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport and Tourism. She is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Her additional training includes Pre and Postnatal Coaching Specialist and Pelvis Restoration through the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), further supporting her work with women and clients looking to improve movement quality, stability, and overall strength.

Performance Coach

Nick Blair

Nick Blair is a Performance Coach at SMART Performance, bringing four years of experience across high-performance coaching environments, driven by a genuine passion for sport science, athlete development, and the craft of coaching. Nick’s coaching experience spans youth to university-level athletes across hockey, soccer, basketball, and more. His journey began at the University of New Brunswick, where he designed and delivered strength and conditioning programs for varsity athletes across multiple sports through the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic.

This experience gave him early exposure to the standards and expectations of high-performance sport. His passion also extends to athlete rehabilitation, and his background as a Student Athletic Therapist Lead for UNB’s varsity basketball and soccer teams further developed his foundation in injury prevention and interdisciplinary collaboration. More recently, he has spent the last two years working with and being mentored by highly skilled practitioners from ORKA Performance,
the UofC Dinos, and XFactory here in Calgary. As a former competitive hockey player himself, Nick brings a firsthand understanding of the demands athletes face, a perspective that shapes the relationships he builds and the authenticity he brings to every coaching interaction.

Nick holds a Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Certified Personal Trainer (CSEP-CPT) designation and recently completed his Master of Applied Kinesiology (MKin) at the University of Calgary, specializing in Applied Exercise Physiology and High Performance Training. He is actively working toward his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification. His coaching philosophy blends evidence-based practice with genuine relationship-building, prioritizing athlete education, long-term development, and the creation of an environment where athletes are motivated to pursue their best.

Performance CoachDirector of Peewee & Bantam Training Programs

Sam Duerr

Sam is currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary and playing receiver for the Calgary Colts in the CJFL. Prior to playing for the Colts Sam played with the Calgary Dinos. He graduated from Ernest manning high school in 2021.

Born and raised in Calgary Sam is looking to give back to all athletes, using successes and past mistakes to help lead the next generation to success of their own.

Growing up Sam was a multi-sport athlete until specializing in football in grade 11. Having experience playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, racquet sports, golf, track and field. Sam has an understanding of the strength and conditioning requirements for many different sports. Mentored by Alex Ogbongbemiga, Sam is consistently looking for new ways to help athletes unlock their full potential physically and mentally.

Sam Duerr offers group training and 1on1 sessions.

Assistant Performance Coach

Tim Duerr

Tim has been part of the SMART PERFORMANCE Training Center & Clinic since 2021, initially as an athlete, at the beginning of his football career with the Ernest Manning Griffins. Tim had the honor of being part of the school’s first-ever Division 1 City Championship team in 2023, which opened doors for him to continue his football journey beyond high school. Tim received a few USPORT offers out of high school but chose to stay in Calgary to play in the CJFL for the Calgary Colts, alongside his brother and SMART PERFORMANCE coach, Sam Duerr. After a season with the Colts, Tim was fortunate to join the University of Calgary Dinos, where hes currently playing while pursuing a degree at the Haskayne School of Business. Tim is excited to get to work to mentor and guide Calgary’s next generation of talented athletes.

Performance Coach

Caelan Chauvin

Caelan is currently pursuing a Business degree at the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University. He plays running back and long snapper for the Calgary Colts after graduating from Ernest Manning High School in 2024, where he was part of the team that made history by winning both the Division 1 city championship and the provincial championship for the first time in school history.

With a lifelong passion for sports, Caelan works with peewee, bantam, and high school athletes, helping them develop the skills and mindset required to compete at the highest level. He also volunteers as a coach with the Calgary Wildcats, giving back to the community that shaped him by providing young athletes with access to high-quality coaching and mentorship.

Having played competitive football, baseball, hockey, and lacrosse, Caelan understands what it takes to succeed in high-performance athletics. Training under Alex Ogbongbemiga since the age of 13, he has developed a deep understanding of strength and conditioning principles, allowing him to create effective training programs that maximize performance.

Caelan offers both group training and one-on-one sessions.

Performance Coach

Jack O'Neill

Meet Jack, a recent graduate of the University of Alberta Bachelor of Kinesiology program with a major in Sports Performance. While at the UofA, he spent two seasons with the Golden Bears Men’s Varsity Ice Hockey program as a Student Kinesiologist and was the recipient of the Exceptional Varsity Therapist award in the 2024-2025 season. While in Edmonton, Jack volunteered at the 2026 CFL Combine as an official tester working with athletes with VALD human performance technology.

Jack was born and raised in Calgary and attended St. Mary’s High School, where he was on the soccer team. He also played competitive baseball and hockey outside of school. As a past athlete himself, Jack understands the dedication and effort it takes to become successful and holds his athletes to those standards. Jack has worked as a performance coach since 2024 with athletes across a variety of sports and age groups, and has worked at different facilities across Calgary. This includes completing his practicum at ORKA Performance and Vivo Cura Health, and working as a Strength & Conditioning Coach with Rush Hockey YYC.

Jack is currently in the process of completing his National Strength & Conditioning Association Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) certification. His coaching philosophy is grounded in the integration of scientific knowledge, practical experience, and the lessons learned from the mentors who have shaped his development as a young coach.

Registered Massage Therapist

Christine Sharp

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Physiotherapist MScPT, BHPE, Functional Dry Needling

Taylor Stienwand

Taylor is a University of Alberta graduate with a deep-rooted dedication to the art and science of physiotherapy and a passion for helping the members of his community achieve their physical well-being goals. His personal goal is to combine his expertise with a compassionate approach to deliver personalized care to every individual who walks through our doors.

His practice encompasses a broad spectrum of physiotherapy, with a focus on musculoskeletal, orthopedic, and sports injuries. Taylor believes in treating the whole person, addressing not only the symptoms but also the underlying root causes to promote lasting health.

Taylor is proud to have been part of the medical teams for some of Calgary’s elite sports organizations. Serving as the trainer for the Calgary Buffalo Hockey Association and the Junior A Mountaineers lacrosse team, he’s had the privilege of working closely with aspiring high-level hockey and lacrosse talents. From injury prevention to rehabilitation, his goal has always been to optimize his patient’s quality of life.

Taylor takes pride in his commitment to providing individualized care with tailored treatment plans to suit your specific needs and goals. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or aiming to elevate your performance, Taylor is here to guide and support you throughout your journey.

Director of Sports Performance | BKin, MSc, CSCS

Zach Kalthoff

Zach Kalthoff is the Director of Sports Performance at Smart Performance, bringing over 17 years of experience in high-performance sport, strength and conditioning, sport science, and injury rehabilitation. His work is focused on optimizing human movement, reducing injury risk, and improving long-term quality of life through evidence-based training and performance systems.

Zach’s career spans elite competition and leadership roles at the highest levels of sport. He competed professionally and at the national-team level in soccer with Southampton, Kaiserslautern, and Canada Soccer, and later led physical performance and sport science programs for multiple national teams. Notably, he served as Sport Science Manager for Canada’s Women’s Olympic Gold Medal soccer team at the Tokyo 2021 Games and as Strength & Conditioning Lead for Canada’s Silver Medal rowing team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He also previously held the role of Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at McMaster University, overseeing volleyball, basketball, and soccer programs, including a USPORT National Championship with the women’s basketball team.

More recently, Zach has specialized in developing data-driven systems to assess strength, power, and movement asymmetries using VALD technology. He is a strong advocate for objective performance data to guide programming and provide real-time feedback, allowing for a deeper understanding of each athlete’s individual needs.

A Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Zach holds a Master of Science in Sport Science and Strength & Conditioning and a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia. His approach blends extensive real-world experience with evidence-based practice, emphasizing collaboration, trust, and the development of empowered, independent athletes.

Clinical Co-Director | Senior Physiotherapist | MSc.PT, BSc. Kin, Advanced Dry Needling

Wesley Chau

When you step into my clinic, you’re not just getting physiotherapy—you’re embarking on a personalized journey toward better movement, health, and performance. I combine my extensive experience in biomechanics and sports rehabilitation to craft a treatment plan tailored to your needs, whether you’re recovering from a major surgery or simply aiming to move without pain.

From our very first session, I take the time to understand your unique situation. I carefully assess your movement patterns, listen to your history, and explain the “why” behind your pain or injury. With my background as a published biomechanics researcher, you’ll receive the latest evidence-based treatment, not just a one-size-fits-all approach. Clear communication is key for me—I want to ensure that you fully understand what’s happening with your body so you can actively participate in your recovery.

For athletes recovering from complex surgeries, like ACL reconstructions or Achilles tendon repairs, I bring my experience working with elite and youth-level athletes into every session. Whether you’re aiming to return to the football field, hockey rink, or simply live pain-free, you can trust my approach. I’ve helped many individuals overcome injuries where traditional rehab fell short, often providing second opinions that make all the difference in their recovery.

My approach is hands-on. I use manual therapy and functional dry-needling to target areas of discomfort or dysfunction. I also emphasize activity-specific exercises that align with your goals—whether that’s getting back into competition or simply enjoying your daily life without limitations. Every exercise I prescribe is customized to ensure it’s right for your body and objectives, not just a routine to follow.

More than just a therapist, I see myself as a coach. I guide you through the rehabilitation process, educating you on the mechanics of your injury and how to prevent future setbacks. My ultimate goal is to empower you to take control of your own health, so you can move confidently and get back to doing what you love—whether that’s playing sports, running, or enjoying time with your family.

With my thoughtful, evidence-driven approach and passion for optimizing human movement, you’ll feel equipped to tackle any physical challenge ahead of you.

Clinical Co-Director | Senior Physiotherapist | MScPT, BCR, Advanced Dry Needling

Carly Spaulding

Growing up in contact sports, I spent countless hours on rugby and lacrosse fields, and almost as many hours in rehabilitation. After missing portions of seasons and receiving poor rehabilitation advice, I became frustrated. It was then that I developed a deep passion for understanding the human body and how to help others do the same. I have learned firsthand the importance of optimizing movement to reduce injury risk and believe profoundly that injury is an opportunity to enhance performance and come back stronger than ever.

As a born-and-raised Calgarian, my academic journey started at the University of Calgary, where I earned a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation in 2016. Eager to deepen my knowledge, I completed my Master’s degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta in 2019. I put a pause on my pursuit of a Diploma of Advanced Manual and Manipulative Therapy in the fall of 2023 to welcome my daughter, Sidalee.

In my practice, I’ve had the privilege of working with a wide range of individuals, from youth athletes and weekend warriors to professional athletes in the CFL, NLL, and EHL. I’m especially passionate about ACL rehabilitation and enjoy the challenges and complexities this injury brings. I’m also deeply invested in the performance and injury risk mitigation of female athletes. I believe that education and empowerment about their own physiology is key to helping female athletes thrive in their sports and beyond.

As a certification IMS practitioner, I incorporate needling techniques alongside other manual therapy to complement a movement-based approach to recovery and performance. All clients receive comprehensive education on their injury and a detailed pathway towards recovery.

When I’m not in the clinic, I’m spending time with my partner Wes, our daughter, and our two dogs, sharing our love for movement and staying active together. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, seeking to enhance your athletic performance, or looking to maintain your health, I’m here to guide you through every step of the journey.

Owner | Coaching Director | CSCS, BA ECON, RMT.

Alex Ogbongbemiga

Prior to establishing SMART PERFORMANCE Training Center & Clinic, Alex was selected 36th overall in the 2016 CFL Draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Alex played 2 years in the CFL for the Edmonton Eskimos and the BC Lions.Alex mentored local athletes Chuba Hubbard, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Albert Reese through their high school recruiting process leading to their signing at DIV 1 Oklahoma State and Mississippi State. Alex enjoys sharing his passion of coaching with young athletes, as he believes they are the future. Alex enjoys sharing the mistakes he made during his sports career to young athletes to ensure they don’t make the same. Alex has been fortunate to be coached by 1998 Denver Broncos Superbowl Champion Allen Aldridge, 3-time Vanier cup champion Blake Nill, former Philadelphia Eagles Wide receiver coach Carson Walch, and Strength and condition coach David Swagar. Heavily influenced by his past coaches, Alex bases his coaching philosophy on the lessons he learned through his time under them.

“It is a privilege to play sports, appreciate every minute of it and know that there are millions of people who wish to be in your shoes. Be Disciplined, Do your job!”

Alex graduated from the University of Calgary in 2015 with his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, completed his NSCA CSCS (2020) and is Registered Massage Therapist (2021)

Football Career – George Bush High School Houston Texas 2006-2010 | University of Houston Cougars 2010-2011 | University of Calgary Dinos 2011-2013 | Calgary Colts 2015 | Saskatchewan Roughriders 2016 | Edmonton Eskimos 2017-2018 BC Lions 2017-2018