Meet our Team

Heidi Popov

General Manager

Heidi began her career at Kawartha Gymnastics in 2015 as Administrator and was promoted to General Manager in August of 2020. Involved her sports her entire life, she has been a varsity volleyball team captain, travel soccer club player and world champion jump rope athlete. Heidi is thrilled to be continuing her passion of enhancing the lives of children through sport at Kawartha Gymnastics. Prior to moving to Peterborough in 2013, Heidi was the Group Director at “UGot Active Kids” in Toronto where she led the company through programming, sales, and operations for over 2 years. Additionally, Heidi spent 5 years with Mosaic Experiential Marketing as a National Sales Manager for multiple fortune 500 companies.

Heidi’s vast background also includes being a Canadian Forces Naval Reserve veteran, a cast member and Canadian ambassador at Walt Disney World, and a Boutique Manager with Oceania Cruises. When she’s not in the office at Kawartha Gymnastics, you can find Heidi coaching local skippers through her organization “Jump Rope Kawartha” or designing jewelry with “Scarlett Leather”.

Kimberly Allison

WAG Head Coach

Kimberly coached for 17 years at KGC and gained further experience coaching at Gemini Gymnastics and Lindsay Gymnastics Centre before deciding to return to her home club in Peterborough in August 2022.  Kimberly is eager to return as a Comp 3 certified coach. She brings extensive knowledge in the sport of gymnastics and is also a certified Judge for Gymnastics Ontario.

From Kimberly:

“It has been rewarding to watch Kawartha Gymnastics grow and expand over the years. The board always had a vision for the future, and the parents have remained an integral part of the process. Many of the coaches, athletes and their families have remained in contact and have supported one another throughout the years. That seems to be the endearing quality of Kawartha Gymnastics, that sense of family.”

Ilysha Lock

Rec Director

Ilysha started her gymnastics career from a very young age in her hometown of Midland, Ontario. She started in parent and tot and moving into competitive gymnastics when she was 3 years old. Ilysha competed with the Hurons Gymnastics Club in ODP and OCP for a few years before switching to the Barrie Kempettes Gymnastics Club to finish out her career in 2011 following an ankle injury.

Ilysha then took her passion for sport to track and field and competed with SSD track and field club from 2012-2019. She started her track and field career as a sprinter and hurdler, competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m events. Ilysha then moved to field events, throwing javelin and discus for many years. 

Ilysha started coaching in 2015 at the Barrie Kempettes as a CIT. Ilysha is now an NCCP competition 1 coach for men's, women's and trampoline gymnastics. When she moved to Peterborough in 2019 to attend Trent University, Ilysha began coaching recreational programs at Kawartha Gymnastics and has since moved into the role of Rec Director in the spring of 2022.

Kathleen van Graft

Competitive Coordinator / Meet Director

Kathleen was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, and was a provincial level gymnast at the YMCA and then moved to the Sault Ste. Marie Gymnastics Club. She moved to Toronto in 1988 and graduated with honours from the Seneca College Elite Coaching Program. For the past 24 years (1999-2023), she had been a full-time competitive coach at Gemini Gymnastics, handled the administration for the competitive program, and was the technical/meet director for hosting in-house qualifying and invitational competitions. Before moving into coaching competitive programs in 1988, Kathleen developed an extensive background in recreational coaching/supervising starting in 1981. She worked kindergym to advanced recreational to boys gymnastics including designing recreational programs, and eventually started specializing in pre-competitive development.

Kathleen is a fully certified NCCP level 3 coach in Women’s Artistic, level 2 coach in Trampoline, a National Level Judge, obtained her Tumbling Judge certification in 2020 and served on the Women’s Program Committee of Gymnastics Ontario from 2002-2011. In addition, she is the creator of the original Ontario Development Program for gymnasts age 5-9. This program was 2.5 years in development before it was released to use as a competition format, and a version of the original program is still an option for competition in Gymnastics Ontario.

Starting in 2003, Kathleen has also been active in conducting coaching development clinics throughout Canada, and providing coaches with a further understanding of the technical rules. In 2007, Kathleen received a Gymnastics Ontario Recognition Award for her outstanding volunteer service to the sport of gymnastics in Ontario (in the areas of coaching, judging or administration). In 2009 and 2018 she was named as the Women’s Technical Chair for Canadian Championships, was the Women’s Technical Chair for Pan Am Championships 2014, and the Competition Supervisor for Pan Am Games 2015 in charge of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics for the full Games.

Since 2014, she has been a faculty member at dance studios as the competitive team acro/tumbling coach. She also continues to work privately with competitive dancers on their skills.

Kathleen is the proud and busy mother of 3 girls; 2 competitive dancers, and 1 karateka on her journey towards black belt.

She is very excited and proud to join the Kawartha Gymnastics team and looking forward to the future.

Amber Knight

Head Cheer Coach

Coming soon!

Jenna White

Administrator

Passionate about sports and physical activity, Jenna embarked on her gymnastics journey in Beijing, China, at the age of 5. This early introduction to the world of athleticism cultivated a passion that later led her to pursue competitive volleyball, basketball, cross country, and soccer. Over a span of 6 years, she competed internationally in several clubs spanning Ethiopia, South Africa, and Canada, which provided her with the invaluable opportunity to immerse herself in diverse sporting cultures.

Jenna recently attained her Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in Kinesiology from Kinston, ON. Throughout her university years, she actively engaged in numerous initiatives, including the Winter Adapted Games, dedicated to promoting physical activity within the Kingston community. Post-graduation, Jenna transitioned into an administrative role at KGC, starting in the summer of 2023. Through her various experiences and gained knowledge, Jenna hopes to make meaningful contributions to KGC.