After being named Technical Advisor for the Canadian showjumping team in February 2022, Equestrian Canada has announced that Olympic champion Eric Lamaze will not be returning to the role in 2023. In his role as Technical Advisor, Lamaze has also acted as Chef d'Equipe for the Canadian showjumpers during 2022 – including at the Agria FEI Jumping World Championship in Herning, Denmark, where Canada finished 10th. 

In a statement, Equestrian Canada wrote:

"The new year has brought a change to Equestrian Canada (EC)’s high-performance line up for the Olympic discipline of show jumping. At the end of his one-year contract on January 31, 2023, Eric Lamaze will not return to the role of Technical Advisor - Jumping. 

The High Performance Advisory Group - Jumping (HPAG) and EC staff will take over current roles and responsibilities of the Technical Advisor on an interim basis, to ensure team athletes are well supported in this important Pan American Games year. The HPAG and EC will work together on next steps for the position moving forward. 

In addition to his experience on the Canadian Equestrian Team, Lamaze brought his resilience, fervour, and knowledge to the role over the last year. The show jumping athlete from Montreal has been battling brain cancer since 2017 and last competed for Canada in September 2021 when he anchored the Canadian Show Jumping Team to victory in the BMO Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB. 

“Eric brought his passion and enthusiasm for the sport to the role of Technical Advisor, and we want to thank him for his year working with our team athletes and the program,” said James Hood, EC’s Director – High Performance. “With his improved health, we look forward to seeing him back in the saddle and continuing his coaching.”

“Our national team squad technical advisers are important leaders and mentors for our high-performance athletes and our next generation,” said EC’s CEO Meg Krueger. “We appreciate Eric’s wiliness to share his experiences and guidance for the team over the last year and hope to find a suitable replacement to lead the team moving forward.”

With the Pan American Games on the horizon in October 2023 and the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games only 18 months away, the HPAG will be provisionally overseeing the technical aspects for the teams, selections and appointing Chef D’Equipe positions for competitions."