Josh Vandeweerd is an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Wilfrid Laurier University, entering his third season with the Golden Hawks. His primary role is to oversee all performance training for the varsity football team.

Since joining Laurier, he has helped the team to a Yates Cup appearance in his first year and a Yates Cup championship, Uteck Bowl victory, and Vanier Cup appearance in his second—Laurier’s first since 2005. His expertise in sports performance has led to the implementation of unique injury prevention and recovery strategies, helping the team stay healthy and perform at a high level throughout the season.

Josh has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from McMaster University and a Master’s in Sport Sciences from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. His diverse experience includes working in professional Floorball with Happee Miehet in Finland and serving as a Sessional Instructor at the College of Sport & Exercise Science at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia.

With a passion for developing athletes and optimizing sports performance, Josh continues to refine his coaching approach, integrating evidence-based training methods to help Laurier football remain competitive at the highest level.

Alena Luciani is a retired varsity athlete turned Strength & Conditioning Coach, Educator and Founder of TRAINING2XL (https://www.training2xl.com/). After spending several years as a collegiate strength & conditioning coach, Alena knew she was capable of bringing that athlete lifestyle and team environment to the general population (athletes in life), and built a business with both in-person and virtual offerings. TRAINING2XL is a premium coaching service providing strength and conditioning programming and training in Toronto and the GTA (offering 1:1 coaching, small group training and mentoring services to a range of clientele; from OHL/AHL players to 65+, and everything in between).

Additionally, our team is passionate about continued education for the next generation of strength and conditioning coaches; offering a variety of online and in person courses to level your coaching game. Alena holds a Masters in Sport Science & Recreation with a distinction in Coaching from Ohio University, a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology from WLU, as well as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach with the National Strength & Conditioning Association. With over 14+ years of coaching experience in both the collegiate and private sector, Alena is passionate about helping others excel in the game of life and creating a team environment for all.

Robert Winslow has been working as a chiropractor to some of Canada’s best Track and Field athletes for nearly 10 years. He has worked with Olympic and World Championship medalist in Athletics, and has played a role in keeping these athletes ready to compete and perform at the highest level.

Dr. Winslow works at the University of Guelph at the Health and Performance Centre, as well as working with Athletics Canada. Dr. Winslow has experience treating athletes in a clinical setting, daily training environment, camps and competitions. Blending his knowledge as a former track athlete, his chiropractic training and knowledge of sport has helped him connect with and treat athletes of all sports and levels

Usama Mujtaba has been the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Toronto Argonauts since 2021, winning 2 CFL Grey Cups with the team. He also owns FiveFour Performance, based out of Mississauga. FiveFour Performance works with athletes around the CFL, as well as USports and NCAA college athletes from different sports. Usama holds a Masters degree in Engineering and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach. Usama’s areas of expertise lie in speed development and performance rehabilitation.

Kris Robertson, founder of Kris Robertson Training, provides educational resources and remote training for sport coaches, athletes, and sports science professionals. He currently serves as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Raptors 905 and Sport Scientist for the Toronto Argonauts.

Previously, Kris led the strength and conditioning program at Simon Fraser University, overseeing 17 varsity teams, and worked with Canada’s Senior Women’s Rugby Team and the Rugby Canada Development Academy. A former CFL athlete, Kris was drafted 11th overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but his playing career was cut short by injury.

He holds an NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification and a Master’s in Exercise Science from Edith Cowan University.

Brent Wakefield is a registered kinesiologist with a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology and a research background spanning rehabilitation science and molecular biology. His postdoctoral work focused on movement-evoked pain in knee osteoarthritis, investigating its underlying mechanisms and how exercise can improve joint biology to enhance patient-specific outcomes. He has published over 16 peer-reviewed papers on musculoskeletal health, molecular biology, and exercise interventions, including the identification of a novel gene regulating fat accumulation.

Brent has held academic positions at Western University, Fanshawe College, and Sheridan College, teaching cadaveric anatomy to physical therapy students, strength and conditioning, and immunology and virology. He also served on Western University’s Physical Therapy curriculum committee, contributing to program development. In clinical practice, he was a head kinesiologist for pt Health’s long-term care division, and currently focuses on serving individuals with painful conditions such as osteoarthritis, helping them gain clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function.

Beyond his academic and clinical background, Brent’s personal experience with chronic low back pain has shaped his approach to rehabilitation and strength training. His journey has reinforced the importance of progressive, individualized exercise strategies in managing pain and restoring function.

Brent is the founder of Exercise Science, a company dedicated to evidence-based training and rehabilitation. His work integrates research and clinical practice to develop exercise interventions for musculoskeletal conditions, with a focus on optimizing strength training for joint health, performance, and longevity.

Chris has worked in the Strength & Conditioning industry for 20 years, primarily with Canadian Olympic Sport having coached athletes for 7 Olympic quadrennials in both summer (Canoe/Kayak, Trampoline, Cycling) and winter (Freestyle Skiing, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating). Chris has also spent a decade as a Sport Scientist, first with PUSH and now WHOOP, embedded with engineers, developers and designers innovating in the sport and fitness technology industry. He is currently the Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Slopestyle & Big Air Freeski Team for Freestyle Canada. He is certified as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Exercise Physiologist, Sport Scientist, Olympic Weightlifting Coach, Track & Field Coach, and holds a Master’s Degree in Biomechanics. Chris is an outdoor athlete, spending his free time mountain biking and skiing, and is a great lakes waterman regularly surfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, paddleboarding and kayaking.