Our Story

We are proud to celebrate 40 years of Rhythmic Gymnastics programming in the Victoria area! Our club is a not-for-profit organization offering programs for gymnasts of all ages and abilities. Started by Barb Bishop, the club has touched the lives of thousands of young gymnasts on Vancouver Island. The club is run primarily by volunteers and coaches with the support of our member families, and donations from community businesses, Rhythmics BC, Kidsport, and ViaSport.

We believe that each and every child should have the opportunity to participate in Rhythmic Gymnastics in a fun and safe learning environment. Our experienced coaches help to build balance, strength, flexibility, coordination, movement, expression, and confidence through structured and progressive gymnastics classes.

We are the premiere established rhythmic gymnastics club on Vancouver Island offering both recreational and competitive programs. We offer recreational, performance, pre-competitive and competitive classes for our community.

Locations

West Coast Rhythmic Gymnastics is pleased to deliver its programming at two sites in greater Victoria. We are so lucky to work out of two beautiful gyms! Clean, safe, spacious and with parking! We are very happy to be partnered with these amazing schools:

Shoreline Middle School - View Royal

For more than 35 years we have trained out of Shoreline Middle School. It has been our home gym. We love it! So happy to be there a couple of days a week with our Competitive and Recreational programs. 

2750 Shoreline Drive, Victoria BC  V9B 1M6

St. Margaret’s School (SMS) - High Quadra

Since 2020 we have been offering summer camps and classes out of St. Margaret's School. It is big, beautiful, spacious, and bright. It's so great for our recreational and competitive classes.

1080 Lucas Ave, Victoria, BC V8X 3P7

Vision

We will offer Rhythmic Gymnastics classes and camps for all, keeping programs as accessible as possible.

Mission

Offer opportunities for Rhythmic Gymnasts of all ages and abilities to perform and compete as part of a fun and inclusive team, where the focus is on each gymnast's personal goals and development.

Values

• Gymnastics for All: This is a sport for everyone! Everyone is welcome - all ages, genders, ethnicities.

• Long-Term Athlete Development:  Even if you are only with us for a short while, you will take skills for life with you!

• Community: Pitching in and helping out, from setting up the gym to events and fundraising, we work together!

• Opportunities: Dream big and we will help you follow your dreams - maybe around the world!

Standards of Behaviour and Athlete Bill of Rights

Athletes are at the centre of West Coast Rhythmic Gymnastics (WCRG) responsibilities and mandate. All participants shall meet the standards of behaviour established by the club and BCRSGF, and have the following rights as members.

Standards of Behaviour

Athletes shall:

• Adhere to the club’s rules and regulations;

• Be encouraging and supportive to all teammates during class and to competitors at competitions and events, through social interaction and when using electronic communication;

• Be respectful and courteous of coaches, judges, volunteers and spectators; 

• Avoid the use of, advocating for, condoning, promoting or distributing banned substances as published by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport from time to time in the Drug Classification Handbook;

• Acknowledge and follow instructions from coaches or other persons of authority at events and when travelling, for the athlete’s own safety and protection; and

• Report to a WCRG official any situations in which the athlete is made to feel uncomfortable or is being asked to do anything outside of the context of these Standards, the Bill of Rights and the Athlete's Code of Conduct*.

Athlete’s Bill of Rights

Athletes have the right to:

·         Have fun through sports;

·         Play as child athletes;

·         Participate in sports regardless of ability;

·         Participate at a level that is consistent with their developmental level;

·         Have qualified and sensitive leadership;

·         Participate in a safe and healthy environment;

·         Share in the leadership and decision making of their sport;

·         Proper preparation in the sport;

·         An equal opportunity to strive for success; and

·         Be treated with dignity by all involved and be free from harassment or discrimination.

*Competitive and Pre-Competitive athletes must sign off on the Athlete’s Code of Conduct annually (by October 15 of each year).

Our Coaches

Head Coach ~ Kristy Wilson

Kristy started as a gymnast with this club under Barb Bishop in the 1980’s and went on to be a National level gymnast. She coached with the club from 2000 to 2006 and after a break for school, travel, and work returned to the club in 2015. Today, she is the Head Coach working with all the Coaches on planning and delivering programs and helping the Board with projects. She is nationally certified NCCP Competition 2 coach and has taken athletes to BC Winter Games, International invitationals, Westerns, Nationals in both the group and solo event. She is also a National level judge. 

In 2023/24 Kristy is also coaching Provincial and National level gymnasts and Western Group.  

Provincial Team Coach

Rachel Fetherstonhaugh

Rachel started Rhythmic Gymnastics as a toddler under her mother Barb Bishop. She trained and competed for 11 years. After retiring from competitions, she has coached at West Coast RG and also at Planet Rhythmics in Vancouver. She has worked with all ages groups during her over 10 years as a coach. She strives to create a fun yet challenging learning environment for her gymnasts. Rachel is a nationally certified NCCP Competition 1 coach. 

Pre-Competitive Coaches

Recreational & Gymnaestrada Coaches

Mindy Phipps

Mindy is a nationally trained NCCP Foundations trained coach working with Sparkles and Mini-Stars gymnasts for several years. She has a passion for working with and fell in love with Rhythmic Gymnastics when her daughter Charlotte began training with the club. Mindy is also the President of the Board.

Ada Sungar

Ada joined West Coast in 2021 and is currently studying Computer Science at the University of Victoria. In Turkey she was a Rhythmic Gymnast for 5 years competing at the Provincial and National level until her retirement in 2011. Ada really enjoys working with young gymnasts and helping them to develop into confident and motivated athletes. She hopes to keep our gymnasts' enthusiasm for the sport and is very excited to share her love for Rhythmic Gymnastics!

Olena Zakharova

Olena began her ballet training in Ukraine, and subsequently graduated from Kharkiv College of Culture (Ukraine) in 2004. While still studying, she was invited to join Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet Theatre and perform with a company in various classical and contemporary repertoire. From 2004 to 2005 she worked at Odessa National Opera and Ballet Theatre (Ukraine). Following that Olena moved to Egypt to join the Cairo National Opera, where she worked for the next two years. In 2007 she moved to Canada and joined the Atlantic Ballet Theatre in New Brunswick, where she danced for seven (7) years, before her retirement from the professional stage in 2014. Since that time, she has held several teaching positions and WCRG is delighted to have her teaching ballet to the Intermediate and Advanced teams.