Our Amazing Coaches
KFSC follows a Team-Coaching format for the Skaters. Skaters can build their skills and abilities by learning from more than one coach and benefiting from each coach’s technical strengths.

Nikolai Balabardin
KFSC Skating Director and KFSC Future Stars Coordinator
Credentials:
- Certified Intermediate StarSkate Provincial Coach (ISPC)
- Level 3 Coach
- Coaching since 2004
- Coaches all levels of skaters – Beginners to Sr. Competitive
- Specializes in Fresskate, Choreography & Music Editing
- Pro-motion Harness Coach
- Russian National & International Competitor at the Junior and Senior Levels
- Bachelor of Physical Education Degree – specializing in Figure Skating coaching
- “Feature” skater in Disney on Ice
- Principal skater with Russian “Ballet on Ice”
- Development Team seminar coach
Email: nsb_sk8@yahoo.ca

Shannon Balabardin
Program Administrator and CanSkate Coordinator
Credentials:
- Certified Intermediate StarSkate Provincial Coach (ISPC)
- Level 3 Coach
- Coaching since 2004
- Coaches all levels of skaters – Beginners to Gold
- Specializes in Choreography, Freeskate, Skills & Interpretive
- Coach of Western Canadian Champions in Synchronized Skating (Master’s Level)
- Professional skater with Disney on Ice for 6 years
Email: nsb_sk8@yahoo.ca

Ella Gray
Ella joined our coaching team in September 2021. She is from Calgary, Alberta, and started skating in CanSkate at age 8 (which she mentions is a little bit later than most skaters start!) and then moved through the Star Skate program. In addition to skating singles she also skated with a synchronized skating team for 5 years and competed at 2 national synchronized skating competitions!
Ella has been coaching for 5 years, starting in high school with her home club in Calgary. She recently attended a Regional coaching course and is currently working towards completing her Regional coaching certification.
Ella’s favourite thing about skating is JUMPS!
What is an interesting fact about Ella? She has lived on 3 different continents! (Asia, Europe and North America.)

Darcee Feenie-Matthews
Credentials:
- NCCP Level 3 Certified
- Triple Gold Medalist in Figures, Free Skate and Dance
- Coached for over 30 years
- Former National Competitor
- Trained by BC, Ontario and US Coaches
- Skated for 2 years in Stars on Ice T.V. show
- Coach of Beginners, Competitive, Test stream, Adult & Recreational Skaters
- Trained in Off-Ice Dance, Music Appreciation, On-Ice Choreography
- Born and raised in Kerrisdale
Philosophy – I have the wisdom and heart to bring the best out of my skaters and to help them make skating a rewarding part of their lives.
CanSkate Coaching Team 2024-2025
Shannon Balabardin – CanSkate Coordinator
Ella Gray
Jagoda Cala
Jade Holness
Haley Shum
Abbey Moores
Melissa Fong
Stephanie Hu
Olivia Kostiw