Understood to be the lone female winter Para-sport coach at national level in the country, Boyd will now become the first woman to take the reins of Nordiq Canada's high-performance programme.

Boyd has more than two decades of leadership experience having previously worked for organisations including National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA, City of Kawartha Lakes Boys and Girls Club, Nakkertok Ski Club and Kanata Nordic Ski Club.

She became Nordiq Canada's Para-Nordic NextGen coach and programme coordinator in 2015 before stepping up to share high-performance manager duties with Joel Jaques three years later.

Stephane Barrette, the interim chief executive at Nordiq Canada, described Boyd as a "highly-motivated professional" who she felt could help athletes and coaches reach their "full potential".

"Kate has a keen understanding of programme management, our development pathway from the grassroots to elite level and the sport system in Canada, which will provide a relatively seamless transition to this new role," said Barrette.

"She understands the patience and time investment required to build a medal-winning programme.

"I am confident her experience will result in Canadian athletes and coaches excelling on the world stage at all levels."

Boyd said she was "absolutely thrilled" to have the opportunity to make a "positive impact" on the sport in Canada.

"I believe this position comes with a responsibility to lead our athletes, staff and community at large with integrity while developing a robust high-performance Nordic skiing system focused on excellence," said Boyd.

"I have been surrounded by strong female leaders throughout my entire career – and while working with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium and Canadian Olympic Committee – who have greatly influenced the person and leader I am today.

"I never felt there wasn't anything I could do because I was a woman and I am honoured to be the first female to take on the responsibility of Nordiq Canada's high-performance director."

According to Nordiq Canada, Boyd provided coaching support at the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games along with multiple World Championship and World Cup events.

Boyd was also selected to participate on Canada's 27-member COVID-19 Return to Sport Task Force.

She currently lives in Canmore where she will continue to work from Nordiq Canada's head office.

"Working with our entire team of dedicated staff, my first priority is to get fully up to speed with our Olympic stream to gain as much clarity with that programme as I currently have with the Para-Nordic stream," added Boyd.

"With the global pandemic very much still a challenge for all of us in the world, I am also committed to ensuring our athletes and staff have the resources they require to train and have the opportunity to get on a start line, and race, while staying healthy.

"There is no doubt we have challenging days ahead of us, but I'm here for the long haul. 

"Together with our sport partners, staff at Nordiq Canada and our coaches, we will be relentless in our collaborative pursuit of developing this programme from the ground up and making cross-country skiing in Canada a winner."