About Us
Western University is a home for competitive fencers to strengthen their athletic potential. The team invites and welcomes all students with a variety of skills and backgrounds. We believe in a culture where every fencer deserves an opportunity to learn and grow as both an individual and an athlete.
Coaches
Carol Christie - Head Coach
HEAD COACH
Carol Christie
Carol Christie has been co-head coach of Western’s fencing team alongside Brad Winder since the 2001-02 season.
Entering her 23th season as head coach Christie has been named OUA Coach of the Year twice, for the 2005-06, 2013-14, and 2019-20 seasons. Together, Christie and Winder have guided three teams to OUA gold (2005-06 men’s Foil, 2004-05 men’s Epee, and 2006-07 women’s Epee), as well as prompting individual OUA wins, helping Paul Simms win the George Tully Trophy in 2001-02, Dave Collins win the Charles Walter Trophy in 2005-06, Andrea Csiba win the Dr. Alex English Trophy in 2006-07 and Vivian Poon win the Dave O’Donnell Trophy in 2012-13. The duo also led the women's fencing team to the OUA Championship in 2017, marking the team's first provincial title since the 1992-93 season.
Christie started fencing in 1965 with Hungarian Fencing Master Lorande de Kaffka, and has trained under numerous illustrious coaches throughout Canada. She now uses her experience to develop both coaches and fencers. In 1970 she joined the Western University varsity fencing team and has since served as an athlete, assistant coach, and armourer, before assuming her current position as head coach.
Brad Winder - Head Coach
HEAD COACH
Brad Winder
Brad Winder first joined Western’s fencing team as a co-head coach in the 2001-02 season with his wife Carol Christie. Since then, he and Christie have guided three teams to OUA gold (2005-06 men’s Foil, 2004-05 men’s Epee, and 2006-07 women’s Epee), as well as prompting individual OUA wins, helping Paul Simms win the George Tully Trophy in 2001-02, Dave Collins win the Charles Walter Trophy in 2005-06, Andrea Csiba win the Dr. Alex English Trophy in 2006-07 and Vivian Poon win the Dave O’Donnell Trophy in 2012-13. The duo also led the women's fencing team to the OUA Championship in 2017, marking the team's first provincial title since the 1992-93 season.
Winder, a native of Vancouver, B.C., has been coaching since 1977. He has been involved with multiple sports, foraying most often into coaching roles within fencing and football. This includes a 15-year stint with the University of Waterloo football team, where he has worked primarily as the special teams coach. He has also acted as assistant football coach at several high schools in London, Ontario and as the head coach of the London Beefeaters football club, where he received the Gord Currie award as Coach of the Year in 2009.