High-Performance

Ottawa, Ontario (April 8, 2026) — Badminton Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Elliott Beals as the new Head Coach of Canada’s Para-Badminton National Team. Beals succeeds Frank Gaudet, who has led the program since 2018 and made history as Canada’s first head coach to guide the Para-Badminton team at the Paralympic Games. 

Gaudet’s leadership has been instrumental in building the foundation of Canada’s Para-Badminton program, helping elevate the team on the international stage and guiding athletes through a period of significant growth and achievement. Badminton Canada extends its sincere gratitude to Gaudet for his dedication and lasting impact on the sport. 

“Frank Gaudet provided leadership to a new and emerging para program for Badminton Canada. His contribution as the program started was tremendous,” shares Executive Director Bryan Merrett, “To ensure his good work continues, we are excited to support Elliott Beals as he comes into the program to continue growing the pool and developing Canada’s top para-badminton athletes.” 

Elliott Beals brings decades of experience as both an athlete and coach to the role. Originally from Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia, Beals has been a passionate contributor to badminton across multiple levels—from grassroots development to high-performance leadership. 

Beals currently serves as Head Professional at the historic Winnipeg Winter Club, where he oversees the Club’s high-performance training environment, athlete development pathways, and program delivery for all players. His leadership has contributed to the sustained growth of competitive badminton in the region and the advancement of athletes within the national system. 

A highly respected coach with experience across both junior and senior high-performance streams, Beals has represented Canada on the international stage, including serving as a coach at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago. He has played a key role in the development of Canada’s emerging talent through his work with the Junior National Team, acting as a coach at multiple Pan Am Junior Championships and supporting athletes in their transition to elite competition. In Manitoba, he serves as Provincial Head Coach for Badminton Manitoba, where he leads provincial high-performance strategy, coach development, and athlete pathway initiatives. 

Beals also brings a competitive pedigree, highlighted by multiple Canadian Masters titles, including Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles championships across several age categories. 

“I am honored to take on this role and continue building on the incredible work that has been done within the Para-Badminton program,” said Beals, “This team has tremendous potential, and I look forward to supporting our athletes as they pursue excellence on the world stage.” 

In addition to his technical expertise, Beals is recognized as a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in sport; he has consistently emphasized the importance of representation and mentorship, contributing to initiatives aimed at increasing diversity within the coaching community. 

“Elliott’s experience, leadership, and commitment to athlete development make him an outstanding choice to lead our Para-Badminton National Team,” said Mike Luck, High Performance Director at Badminton Canada, “We are excited for the future of the program under his guidance.” 

Beals will assume his new role immediately, as the team continues its preparations for upcoming BWF international competitions. 

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For media inquiries, please contact:   

Bryan R. Merrett   

Executive Director   

Telephone (613) 518-1501, X 2083   

bmerrett@badminton.ca   

  

About Badminton Canada  

With shuttles reaching speeds as high as 565 kph, badminton attracts more than 220 million people worldwide to play the sport weekly, making badminton the second most participated-in sport in the world. Badminton Canada works to grow the game across the country through events, coaching and officials’ development, and developing programs such as Shuttletime. In Canada, over 2 million people picked up a badminton racquet and played our sport. Some play at the cottage, some in the backyard, at school, the local community centre or as part of an organized Badminton Canada competition. Badminton is easily accessible – for any Canadian – at any age – for life!