Dream Canada Program Director Aaron Blakely coming off a 2017 U15 CYBL Championship to end a successful season and 2017 National Championship with Powerhouse Canada Topflight Academy. The 2017 Ottawa Sports Award winner brings a wealth of knowledge, skills, and leadership to the position as Coach and the Director of Player Development. Blakely is a high school teacher in Ottawa and Assistant Coach at Carleton University. He began his career at Carleton as Team Manager and became an Assistant Coach where he has since been part of 12 National Championships.

In 2016-2017 Blakely led Canada Topflight Academy, a first year program, to an NPA Canadian High School Prep League National Championship. The team won 13 straight NPA regular season and national championship games including an undefeated national championship after an initial 0-5 start.  NPH Article April 3rd, 2017

Aaron has become the first coach in Canada to win a Canadian Preparatory School National Championship (NPA), Canada Basketball National Tournament (Ontario), Canada Youth Basketball League national championship, (CYBL) and a Provincial Cup title (OBA Division 1). He has involvement with 16 major titles (12 with Carleton University, 1 Ontario Basketball Association, 1 NPA , 1 Canada Basketball National title and 1 CYBL).

In 2014, Blakely led the U15 Ontario Provincial Boys Team to an undefeated National Championship. He coached ESPN #1 world ranked RJ Barrett and ESPN #1 ranked point guard Andrew Nembhard as U14 aged players.  NPH Article August 3rd, 2014

In 2013, Blakely led a U16 aged team to an undefeated U17 Division 1 OBA Provincial Tournament title in which #7 first round NBA draft pick and NBA Rising Stars Rookie Challenge MVP Jamal Murray took part in.  NPH Article May 26th, 2013

Blakely has coached numerous National Team, Provincial Team, Division 1 and CIS athletes. He currently coaches in Canada Basketball's Junior Academy and an OYBA Ottawa Elite Team. Blakely lists coaches Dave Smart, Rob Smart, Brad Stevens and Greg Popovich as his favorite coaches.

Dream Canada is pleased to have Blakely’s strategic vision, passion for the community, and his strength of player development. Blakely has worked with several top-ranked Canadian athletes and will be counted upon to be part of the development process for several others.

Dwight James comes to the Dream Canada program with over 20 years of basketball experience beginning with being a Ridgemont High School All Star, an Algonquin College OCAA League and Tournament All Star and playing club basketball with the Ottawa Guardsmen.

James went back to his high school to start his coaching career as Assistant Coach of the Ridgemont boys’ basketball team before becoming Head Coach in 2014. During that time he also was an Assistant Coach with the Ottawa Phoenix basketball club. Dwight continues to be the Convenor of the Ottawa Capital Classic Basketball Tournament which he has been helping to organize for the past 13 years. Dwight is one of the most successful coaches in the community and has led the Ottawa Elite 2002 athletes to a CYBL title.

Sebastian is one of the best up-and-coming coaches in the region with a strong teaching style and rapport building abilities. Heyerhoff has coached at Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa for the past four years, taking over as head coach in 2017. Heyerhoff has taken a strong leadership role alongside the Ottawa Elite U19 team that has been one of the top teams in Canada this year.