Leslie Ann Young

- 2022 -

Athlete - Canoe/Kayak

Leslie Ann Young is one of Nova Scotia’s most decorated paddlers! Leslie Ann ‘s first strokes with a paddle were taken on the waters of First Lake in Lower Sackville at the Sack-a-Wa Canoe Club in 1980, the first year for the club..

Leslie Ann paddled through several successful years, spanning from 1985 to 1995 at the provincial, national and international levels. A longtime member of Canada’s National Team, Leslie Ann has represented Canada at the Junior and Senior World Championships. A silver medalist at the Pan American Championships, a gold and double bronze medalist at the Junior Western European Championships. Leslie Ann was named top female athlete at the 1988 Pan American Canoe Championships and has won numerous medals at Elite European Regattas. The highlight was being named to Canada’s 1992 Olympic Team. Also in 1992 she was named Nova Scotia’s Female Athlete of the year! In her athletic travels she has met world leaders such as Fidel Castro and Queen Elizabeth II.

Following an extensive and successful athletic career, she has given back to her sport as a volunteer at the provincial, national and international levels. She coached for many years and was named Volunteer of the Year for Maskwa Canoe Club in 2012.

Leslie Ann sat on the board of Canoe Kayak Atlantic Division, served as co-chair of the National Championships in 2016, the Pan American Championships in 2018 and chaired an Alumni Council for Canoe Kayak Canada. Her proudest achievement as a volunteer was serving on the committee that won a prestigious International bid to host the 2022 World Championships in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Leslie Ann values the lessons the sport has taught her and the opportunities that occurred because of her involvement. These memories will last a lifetime. “I was able to experience years of success in sport because of the community around me… my coaches, my teachers and my community leaders. Many thanks”