Bechard recognized for his contributions to rowing in Canada

Dr. Daniel Bechard

Wallaceburg’s Dr. Daniel Bechard is making his mark nationally as coach of the Western Mustangs men’s rowing program.

Bechard was recognized at the 2023 Canadian University Rowing Championships held in Burnaby British Columbia on the weekend. Bechard was recognized in the post-event banquet with the President’s Award. The honour is bestowed on someone who has made a significant contribution to rowing in Canada.

The Mustangs finished fourth in the men’s standings at the 2023 Canadian University Rowing Championships. A total of 20 universities from across Canada took part.

Bechard led the Mustangs men’s team to a second-place finish last month at the OUA championships. Overall, during Bechard’s time as a coach at Western, he was a nine-time Ontario University Athletics champion and six-time Canadian University Rowing champion.

Bechard competed for the Mustangs from 1999 to 2005.

In 2006 he turned his focus to coaching as he completed his PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and in 2017 took on the role of men’s head coach.

Bechard is also the only Canadian university coach to be named both the men’s (2008) and women’s (2010) Coach of the Year by the Canadian University Rowing Association.

Along with his experience at Western, Bechard has an impressive international coaching resume, spending time as an assistant coach with the Canadian under-23 women’s national team on three occasions, a coach with Rowing Canada’s talent development program, and as the team lead and women’s head coach for the 2015 World University Games.

Hailing from Wallaceburg., Bechard is a Level 4 NCCP coach and NCI certified.