Celebrating International Women’s Day With The Women of KBC

Jennifer Huggins

Fight Team Coach | High Performance Trainer

Jennifer Huggins is the owner and senior coach of the Kingsway Boxing Club in Toronto. As an International Boxing referee and judge, Jennifer understands the sport of boxing inside and out. She has extensive experience working within boxing’s international, national and provincial sport organizations. During her time with Boxing Ontario, Jennifer served as an assistant coach with Ontario’s provincial team, Ontario’s Provincial Chief Official, and president of Boxing Ontario’s Board of Directors. She is currently on the Sport and Competition Committee with World Boxing, appointed as a member of the Advisory Council to the Minister of Sport in Ontario. She’s also active as an Official with Boxing Canada and continues to with the organization in other capacities. This includes sitting on Boxing Canada’s Inter-Provincial Territorial Committee, the Canadian R&J Commission, Gender Equity Advisory Group and the Gold Medal Profile Advisory Group. Jennifer is also the founder and executive director of the Fight to End Cancer, which has raised more than $3 million for cancer research, with proceeds going directly to support the research and patient care at The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

“Maintaining a clear perspective and honouring fairness is always key. As a boxing official, I play the role of both referee and judge. I pride myself on being fair in and outside of the ring.”

Shireen Fabing

Boxing Coach | Personal Trainer

Shireen’s journey as a competitive boxer began the moment she laced up her very first pair of boxing gloves. Remaining dedicated to the sport, she thrives as an amateur boxer while also spreading her passion beyond the ring to the wider community. Shireen actively engages with both recreational enthusiasts and competitive athletes, tirelessly advocating for the myriad benefits boxing offers.

“When I found boxing (or boxing found me), for a while I thought ‘why didn’t I find this sport earlier in life’, but as I began to progress, that thought is now a distant memory. I believe we found each other at the right time. Boxing is on the rise. Women’s boxing is on the rise and I’m living it now.“

Jo-Anne Sheffield

High Performance Instructor | Personal Trainer

Jo-Anne is a Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor who brings a commitment to health and fitness, combined with enthusiasm and experience to create fun, high energy and athletic classes. An avid runner and marathoner Jo-Anne believes cross training is an important part of developing overall fitness and her classes are designed to strengthen muscles, maintain a strong core, increase cardiovascular output and promote flexibility.

Jo-Anne’s motto is “Just keep moving” and while she has run many races she is particularly proud of her two Boston marathon finishes.

Crystal Chen

Personal Trainer | Wellness Coach |Communications and Marketing

Crystal is a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and holistic lifestyle coach. Her experience and thirst for knowledge has brought her to being a life coach and healer who has now combined her 20 years of knowledge to marrying mindfulness to exercise. She loves striking a balance of mobility work with lifting, dancing and has fun doing free movement as ways to keep her body agile and strong.

Crystal believes that our mental and emotional health is crucial to over all joy, happiness and our physical health. She aims to infuse this in all areas of fitness, and her classes as creating a life that is rich in mind, body and spirit is the key to happiness

“Live your best life on your terms. Life is too short to waste worrying about things that don’t bring you joy”

Sophia Ingrassia

Assistant Boxing Coach

Sophia initially took up boxing with the goal of acquiring a new skill and improving her fitness levels. However, from the moment she stepped into the KBC community, she discovered a profound love for both the sport and its supportive environment. Recognizing her passion and dedication, Sophia is determined to excel in boxing and deepen her involvement with the community. Despite her ongoing university studies, she eagerly anticipates coaching during the summers and whenever her schedule permits.

“KBC is truly one of the most amazing communities I’ve ever been apart of with the most welcoming environment and I’m so happy to be apart of it. I hope to continue to help grow the KBC family and share the skills I’ve learned with whoever may join.”

Olivia Bates

Fitness Guru and HIIT Coach

Born and raised in the GTA, Olivia has been boxing since the age of 10! She loves how the sport challenges her, not only physically, but mentally as well.

Over the years, being a coach has brought her so much joy. Olivia loves seeing the kids improve day by day. It’s a huge motivator to be able to provide them with a safe, enjoyable space where they can learn both technique and increase fitness. The community at KBC really pushes her to be her best for herself and the kids and she loves every bit of it!

When Olivia is not at the gym, she enjoys playing and listening to music as well as her quality time with the family.

“It’s a huge motivator to provide the kids with a safe, enjoyable space where they can learn both techniques and increase their fitness!”

Jacqueline Walters

High Performance Instructor | Kickboxing Coach

Jacqueline Walters boasts an impressive record as a 4-time Canadian Kickboxing Champion in the 60kg, K1 Division, having proudly represented Canada at the World Championships in both 2009 and 2011. With a diverse background that includes training and competing across continents such as Thailand, Europe, Africa, North and South America, Jacqueline now holds the esteemed title of Canada’s sole A-Level, internationally-sanctioned Kickboxing Ring Referee sanctioned by the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO). Additionally, she serves as a Chief Official with WAKO Canada and is a respected Kickboxing coach and instructor. Leveraging her expertise further, Jacqueline is also an ACE-certified Personal Trainer, offering tailored fitness programs both on an individual basis and in group settings.

Jacqueline’s love of the sport, and fitness in general is what inspires her to help others stay healthy through recreational and/or competitive sport.

Katerina Muchnik

Yoga Instructor

Katerina’s approach to Yoga focuses on using poses to get into your body (not the other way around), while focusing on how the asana feel, rather than what they look like.

Katerina is a certified Yoga teacher with a formal education in Life Sciences, UofT. She is well aware of how each body is perfectly imperfect and uses this combination to focus on proper form and alignment.

You may think yoga may not be your “thing”, …but what if it is?   Come alone or with a friend to see for yourself… YOGA is for everybody!

Shyanne McPherson

Shyanne has always been intrigued by the world of fitness. With over 10 years’ experience as a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor, she credits the fitness industry for paving her life’s journey. Shyanne lives and breathes fitness and says her passion lies far beyond simple exercise. Fitness is about your mind, body and soul which is exactly what she will challenge.

Power4Teens has allowed Shyanne’s two passions to come together, working with youth and workin’ their butts!

SYLVIA PERRY

Yoga Instructor

Sylvia has 20 years experience as a talented yoga instructor, who is nurturing, insightful, intuitive with a great sense of humour. She is always meticulously prepared for her classes which are tailored for the students who attend. The students benefit from individual support and attention grounded in patience and focus.

Her classes are fun, lighthearted with lots of variety. She focusses on alignment, provides careful and safety conscious instruction with a firm foundation in traditional yoga.

Sylvia has taught yoga one on one in private sessions and small classes and large class of over 60 participants. She is trained in Ashtanga and Power Yoga and a certified E-RYT 200 YACEP to teach Hatha Yoga and traditional Indian Hot Yoga.

“There is something to be learned from everyone. Mostly I love to teach yoga. Yoga is my way of connecting with others in a meaningful way. Hopefully that shows in my classes.”

Clare Hickey

Registered Holistic Nutritionist

Clare is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and is in her second year of study to become a Naturopathic Doctor through the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto.

Clare’s approach to wellness is centred around simplicity and practicality. She aims to empower her clients to have the nutritional science and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their health.