Our Staff

Admin

Welcome to our gym!

We would love to assist you in becoming a part of Team CCGC!

Admin Assistant

Candace Stewart

Book Keeper

Ruijie Cheng

Receptionist

Nadia Holmstrom

Recreational Director

Samantha Johnson

Samantha has been coaching gymnastics for 20 years. She started out in dance from age 3, a competitive artistic gymnast herself from ages 5-12, then she switched to Trampoline & Tumbling while Assistant Coaching (now called Coach In Training or CIT) until she was 16 and old enough to coach her own classes. Sam believes that no matter what level of gymnastics you are in, or what age group you fall into, there is something for everyone in this sport.

She has tried her hand at a few other professions such as massage therapy and personal training but she always came back to coaching. Gymnastics has always been a big part of her life for as long as she can remember and it is what she feels most passionate about.

Although she has coached all over, Capital City has become like a second home to her and she views all of our members as part of an extended family. Her favorite part of being a coach is seeing all of her athletes learn and watch their love of gymnastics grow with every success.

 

Coach Sam also teaches our Alumni Group as well as private lessons.

WAG/Xcel Director

Sam Ward

Sam Ward has been associated with Capital City Gymnastics Centre for over 20 years, first as an athlete, and now as a coach. Sam was a national high performance gymnast at CCGC and received an athletic scholarship to Illinois State University in 2013. She started coaching in 2012 and has been the Team Coordinator since 2017. She currently coaches our Team 1 and Team 2 athletes. Her qualifications include:

  • NCCP Level 2 WAG Certified
  • Level 2 Tramp Certified
  • Active Start Trained
  • Xcel and JO 1-9 WAG Judge

Sam enjoys sharing her passion for gymnastics with her athletes and loves that it teaches them about dedication, determination, resiliency and hard work! Sam’s coaching philosophy is first and foremost for all athletes to have fun while providing a positive learning environment for them to grow into well-rounded individuals!

In addition to coaching, Sam has a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and recently completed her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Alberta!

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors are elected CCGC Members.

These individuals volunteer their time to help keep our gym running.

President

Vidushi Mittra-Melrose

Dr. Vidushi Mittra Melrose is a single mom of 2 and is a family physician here in Edmonton.  Her youngest is in Xcel Gold.  She has experience with medical boards and is excited to serve with CCGC as president for 2023-2024.

Vice President

Tamara Schmidt

Secretary

Quinn Bottorff

Treasurer

Sandra Ayyobi

Member At Large 1

Christina Tatarniuk

Member At Large 2

Lia Walker

 

Member At Large 3

Clint Schmidt

Coaches

Our Coaches are mostly made up of amazing individuals who once did gymnastics themselves.

They dedicate their time and effort into making sure your family has the best possible time when coming to our gym!

We are Team CCGC!

Coach Anickoli

Coach Anickoli teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Parent & Tot

- Mini Tots

- Tots

- Supertots

- Hot Shots

- Burgundy/Red

- Tan

Coach Anthony

Coach Anthony teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tots

- Burgundy/Red

- Tan

- Bronze

- T&T Beginner

Coach Ary

Ary Holmstrom was a competitive gymnast for 7 years. She was in gymnastics for 13. Ary started coaching after stopping gymnastics.  She has been a coach for about 4 years. She loves helping her athletes improvement and overcome challenges. Ary loves watching her athletes learn new skills and grow. Ary enjoys the fact that the lessons taught in the gym are applicable in all aspects of life. 
Ary is foundations, active start, trampoline and C1 trained. 
When Ary isn’t in the gym she is either dancing in the studio, hanging out with friends, studying for school or watching Netflix. Her favourite event while training was floor and beam. Ary’s favourite event to coach is floor and vault 
 
Coach Ary teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;
 
- Parent & Tot
- Supertots
- Bronze
- Mini Team
- Teen Class
- Girls Advanced
- Adult Artistic
 
She also teaches Competitive Xcel Gold and does private lessons.

Coach Ashley

Coach Ashley teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Mini Tots

- T&T Beginner

- Burgundy/Red

- Tan

- Bronze

- Mini Team

- Teen Class

Coach Ava

Coach Ava teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tots

- Burgundy/Red

- T&T Beginner

Coach Brooklyn

Coach Brooklyn teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Burgundy/Red

- Tan

- Purple

Coach Camila

Coach Camila teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Elite Petites

 

She also teaches Competitive Xcel Gold & Platinum

Coach Cat

Cat Prather has been coaching gymnastics over the last 32 years. Cat started her passion for gymnastics at the age of 8 where she started Competitive gymnastics. Her love of children and the sport has taken her into coaching. Cat has been at Capital City for  the last 20 years. She enjoys to see the kids have fun, love the sport and progress to their maximum potential.

 

Coach Cat teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Parent & Tot

- Mini Tots

- Tots

Coach Emily A

Coach Emily A teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tots

- Supertots

- T&T Beginner

- Burgundy/Red

- Bronze

Coach Emily T

Coach Emily T teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tan

Coach Garrison

Coach Garrison teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tumble Bugs

- Parent & Tot

- Mini Tots

- Tots

- Supertots

- Advanced Supertots

- T&T Beginner

- Burgundy/Red

- Purple

Coach Kierra

Coach Kierra teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Mini Tots

- Tots

- Supertots

- Burgundy/Red

- Tan

- Bronze

Coach Lily

Coach Lily teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tots

- Burgundy/Red

- Tan

Coach Liz

Coach Liz teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Junior Team

 

She also teaches Competitive Xcel Silver

Coach Melissa

Melissa Belter has been involved in the sport of gymnastics for many years, first as a gymnast for 17 years and now as a coach. Melissa was a high performance gymnast, who was a part of Team Canada for her Novice and Junior years up until an Achilles injury. In overcoming this obstacle, she competed at the Senior High Performance level until the age of 17, where she left on a full ride scholarship to Brigham Young University, competing at the NCAA level while completing her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education Degree. In continuing education, she also has her Graduate Certificate in Leadership. Melissa has been coaching the Team 3 group for the past 10 years at Capital City Gymnastics Centre, alongside being a full time grade 4 teacher. Her qualifications include: 

  • NCCP Level 2 WAG Certified
  • Level 1 Tramp Certified
  • Active Start Trained

Melissa hopes that she can give back to the sport by helping others learn and grow a love for gymnastics. As a coach, she tries to create a positive, respectful learning environment where she can challenge her athletes while providing support and encouragement. She hopes to empower her athletes to gain confidence and achieve their goals while having fun at the same time.

 

Coach Melissa teaches Competitive Xcel Platinum.

Coach Mikaela

Coach Mikaela teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tan

- Bronze

- Mini Team

Coach Paige

Coach Paige teaches Elite Petites & Xcel Bronze

Coach Pierce

Coach Pierce teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Parent & Tot

- Mini Tots

- Tots

- T&T Beginner

- T&T Intermediate

- Bronze

- Purple

Coach Sam J

Sam Johnston was in gymnastics for 14 years before she retired back in 2018. She decided to come back to the gym to start coaching in 2022. Being back in the gym helped her decide that she wanted to start training again in January of 2023 as well as continue coaching.

One of her favorite parts about coaching is seeing the joy on the athletes faces when they achieve something they have been working on and putting so much effort into!

Sam J is Foundations certified, Active Start trained, Foundations Trampoline trained, and C1 WAG & C1 Trampoline trained. 

Fun fact about Sam J is that she is currently at Concordia University of Edmonton working on her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Physical Education and Sports Studies.
She plans on going into Sports Psychology to help athletes with their mental health! 
 
When she’s not at the gym or at university, Sam J can often be found hanging out with her friends in her free time or spending time with her three cats!
 
Coach Sam J teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;
 
- Parent & Tot
- Mini Tots
- Burgundy/Red
- Tan
- Bronze
- Purple
- Blue
 
She also teaches Competitive Xcel Bronze & Silver

Coach Tanya

Coach Tanya teaches some of the following Recreational Classes;

- Tots

- Burgundy/Red

- Tan

Coaches In Training

These wonderful individuals are current gymnasts who are working hard to become coaches themselves!

You will see them in and around the gym assisting with classes

(and maybe even training as well!)

Kaya

Kaya helps with some of our Recreational Tots Classes.

Peryn

Peryn helps with some of our Recreational T&T Beginner and Bronze Classes.

Capital City Gymnastics Centre

4130 - 101 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6E 0A5

780-469-0662
info@capcitygym.com

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