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Conestoga is now accepting applications for: TUITION-FREE Pre-Apprenticeship Programs These Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs are funded by the Government of Ontario Interested candidates must attend an information session; all sessions will include details on both programs. Registration is not required! All information sessions will begin promptly at 4:00pm. Waterloo - 4:00 pm, room 1D02, January 10 or January 25 or February 7 Guelph - 4:00 pm, room A17, January 12 or January 18 or February 2 For more information please contact: 519.885.0300 ext. 5484 (Waterloo) or 519.824.9390 ext. 5484 (Guelph) or email preapp@conestogac.on.ca Truck and Coach/Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Guelph Campus, March 2017 In-school training for 23 weeks with an 8 week paid work placement Welder/Metal Fabricator WaterlooCampus,May2017 In-school training for 25 weeks with an 8 week paid work placementLearn more about tuition-free Food Manufacturing/Millwright for Women, contact preapp@conestogac.on.ca. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 25 SPORTS WATERLOO CHRONICLE THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 25 SPORTS WATERLOOWATERLOOCHRONICLECHRONICLE Building for the future Andrew Poje and Kaitlyn Weaver claim silver at Canadian championships By Adam Jackson Chronicle Sta� For most ice dancers, a silver on the national stage is a huge accomplishment. For Waterloo's Andrew Poje and Kaitlyn Weaver, it's a step in the right direction to a bigger goal. The ice dance pair finished in second place, well behind Olympic gold medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, after the free dance on Saturday at the Canadian National Figure Skating Championships. But it wasn't a loss by any means, according to Poje. "Our focus is squarely on the 2018 Olym- pics," said Poje. It was arguably one slip by Poje that cost the pair a chance at Canadian gold. � at slip came during the short dance on Friday during the performance of "� e Way You Make Me Feel" covered by Judith Hill. "We really wanted to show o� the work we did since our last competition and push our- selves," said Poje. "Maybe we tried a little too much to sell it which led to little mistakes here and there. But it was a learning experience." After the short dance, which had the pair in second place at 78.92, they were able to balance things out for a successful free dance, but the de� cit, along with strong skating from Virtue and Moir, made it nearly impossible to come back despite a 113.98 score. "We decided that we just wanted to enjoy the moment and experience and let our work speak for itself," said Poje. Poje, who is originally from Waterloo, and Weaver, a Texan who moved to Canada to work with Poje, have gone through the gamut when it comes to changes this season. The biggest of which is a change to their training base -- in Russia with new coach Nikolai Morozov. They previously trained in Detroit with Pasquale Camerlengo and Anjelika Krylova. "It adds to the excitement for us," said Poje over the phone Monday, hours before the pair planned to head back to Russia. "� e reason we made all those changes is because we're building toward the Olympics," said Poje. "It's all about making sure we are the best we want to be when we need to be." Both Weaver and Poje realize that it will be a transition to get to that next level, but both are staying patient. "� e last couple years, we've been great at the beginning of the season, then things kind of just didn't go our way." � e next competition for Poje and Weaver is the Four Continents Figure Skating Champi- onships, which run from Feb. 14 to 19. Between now and then, it's a matter of tweaking small parts of the program and add- ing to the little bit of Russian he's picked up from training in Russia. "I've picked up words and phrases here and there. It's essential that you learn a little bit to get around -- otherwise, you're out of luck," said Poje. Andrew Poje and Kaitlyn Weaver are looking forward after a silver medal at the Canadian National Figure Skating Championships on Friday and Saturday in Ottawa. TINA WELTZ PHOTO Conference aims to bring down barries for disabled athletes By Adam Jackson Chronicle Sta� Organizers of a conference taking place in Waterloo are hoping to change the way municipalities and sports organi- zations approach inclusivity. The Accessible Sport Leadership Confer- ence came from the K-W Sports Council's creation of an Accessible Sports Committee, which was spearheaded by John Cooper, a retired City of Kitchener recreation employee. That committee was established in 2013 and since its creation, it has looked for ways to make the community more aware of the needs of those with disabilities. That ranges from programming to the facilities themselves. Lisa Himmelman, who runs an organiza- tion called SkateAble, was behind the push to create a conference that can explore the issues and spread awareness to people in all di� er- ence roles -- from the athletes themselves to parents, coaches and even politicians. � e conference will feature three keynote speakers, six separate breakout sessions, and a national coaching certification workshop, Making Ethical Decisions. "This is for coaches, parents, people in municipalities, social agencies," said Cooper, the president of the K-W Sports Council. The event, hosted at the University of Waterloo's Federation Hall, runs Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. � e cost for the event is $75 for the general public and $20 for students with valid student ID. � ere is also a NCCP "Making ethical deci- sions" ceri� cation o� ered for $40. For more information on the conference or to register, visit www.kwsportscouncil.ca.