Paddling from summer camp to the Olympic Games
For Olympic canoer Sloan MacKenzie, the journey to the Olympics began on the waters of Waverley, Nova Scotia. Growing up in nearby Windsor Junction, Sloan joined Cheema Aquatic Club’s summer day program at age nine.
“At first, I actually didn’t like it,” she admits. “I couldn’t steer the boat, so while all my friends paddled up the lake, I just went in circles at the dock. It was frustrating.”
But once she figured it out, she fell in love with the feeling of gliding over the water, the power in each stroke, and the excitement of moving fast.
After progressing through Cheema’s high-performance program and training in Florida, Sloan began competing internationally and collecting medals—eventually teaming up with Olympian Katie Vincent.
“I was shocked when I got paired with her,” Sloan says. “But I knew I wanted to train my butt off so we could paddle really well together.”
That determination paid off. The pair captured bronze at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, securing an Olympic spot for Canada in Paris 2024.
“When the bus pulled up to the racecourse and I saw the Canadian flags in the crowd, I thought, ‘We’re actually here,’” she says. “It was such an amazing feeling to know we had the support of our friends, family, and community.”
Soon after, they won gold at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
For Sloan, sport is as much about the people as the performance. “It builds confidence, friendships, and community,” she says. “You train 20 hours a week together and get pretty close with your teammates.”
Since 2006, the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation has funded athletes, coaches, officials and community sport organizations across Nova Scotia through its Support4Sport program, administered by Sport Nova Scotia. Funded by the proceeds from designated lottery products, Nova Scotians have raised more than $68 million for Support4Sport.
With so many hours spent training, funding programs like Support4Sport help make it all possible.
“Funding is crucial at every level,” Sloan explains. “It opens doors for young athletes and gives senior athletes access to things like training camps, equipment, and support teams. Without it, many of us wouldn’t be able to compete at this level.”
Sloan’s dedication to the sport, along with funding, makes moments like representing Canada possible. “It’s something every athlete dreams of, and it’s such a privilege to wear the Canadian flag on the international stage,” she says.
