About Us
Champlain Table Tennis Club History
In 1987, Mariann Domonkos 1979 Panamerican Games Champion held in San Juan, Puerto Rico
received an apprenticeship grant from the CAC to work with the national coach at that time. "To enhance my learning, I felt it was important to get hands-on experience, so I started the Champlain Table Tennis Club. I was able to rent a small gym just across the river on Champlain St. in Hull, not far from the Museum of History." For many years, membership was comprised equally of kids from both Ontario and Quebec until the club moved to Ottawa and became an OTTA affiliated club. Throughout its 30-year run, Champlain TTC served as a junior development program for the National Capital Region. In later years, it expanded to accommodate senior recreational players. Of the hundreds of juniors who went through the program, many qualified to represent their province nationally (Ontario and Quebec), earning numerous national titles. A notable number also earned the right to wear the maple leaf internationally, including Paulo, who racked up a significant number of medals along the way. But the club's biggest successes were winning a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 2003 and one of its alumni successfully qualifying for the Olympic Games in 2004. For many years thereafter, Champlain TTC developed players like Bence Csaba and Fazil Kassam, ITTF World Junior Bronze medalists in Doubles (2003), Paulo Chira, 2007 North-American Champion in doubles, and Anson Bispham, former Vice-President of Operations for the Ontario Table Tennis Association in 2016.
Since the original Champlain Club played such a significant role in Paulo’s integration into a new life upon immigrating to Canada as a teenager, we are proud to adopt the name and continue the club's success in growing our sport in the National Capital Region. Here at Champlain TTC we strive for success, knowledge, dedication, and passion.
Inclusion, Diversity, and No Mercy! This is our Motto. Please spread the Word
Our Coaches
Filip Ilijevski
Level 2 Provincial Coach and Instructor. Filip is proud to be one of the new Table Tennis coaches at Champlain TTC for competitive players and is currently completing his courses to become a certified competitive Coach. Filip was a national team member from 2012 to 2016. He was the Canadian Senior National Champion and Under-21 National Champion in 2016, and the Under-18 North American Champion in 2014. He was also Junior Canadian National Champion in 2015, Canadian National Champion Under 21 in 2015, and Runner-up Senior Canadian National Championships in 2015, making him the only male player to play the finals in all three major categories at the Canadian National Championships. Filip has represented Canada in various international tournaments around the world as a member of the junior and senior national teams. including the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia World Championships in 2016 as a member of the Canadian National Team and the 2015 Dubai World Cup as a member of the Canadian National Team
Filip believes in the importance of technique and footwork in Table Tennis, and his coaching style adjusts to all ages and categories. Filip's experience as a player in the sport surpasses all expectations and requirements a coach needs. He is truly ready to develop players in the sport and make players achieve what he has achieved during his career. He knows the path to success, and we are proud to have him in our coaching team.
Filip's contact information and private lessons will be posted after opening day. Please follow up for updates
Lessons are offered in English, French, Serbian, Croatian, and Macedonian
Sabrina Chen
Sabrina Chen is a Level 1 Certified Coach with a strong athletic background and a lifelong passion for table tennis. Coming from a sports-oriented family, she has trained and competed alongside her brother, Howard Chen, achieving numerous accolades throughout her career.
Sabrina was part of the original Champlain Table Tennis Club in 2015. As a member of the club, she earned a spot on the Ontario Under-15 Team and quickly rose through the ranks. She is now one of the newest certified coaches in Ontario, having completed her Level 1 certification with the Champlain TTC Coaching Team.
From 2016 to 2019, Sabrina captured multiple titles at the provincial and national levels. She became a two-time Ontario Champion in the Girls Under-15 and Under-18 categories and also won the Women’s Singles title—all before the age of 17, a rare feat in the province. On the national stage, she was a three-time Canadian National Champion in Girls Under-18 Doubles (2016–2018) and earned a bronze medal in Under-21 Singles in 2018. She also represented Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, bringing home two silver medals in the U18 Girls Team and U18 Mixed Doubles events. Internationally, she competed in the 2018 World Junior Championships, the highest-level tournament for U18 athletes worldwide.
Balancing sport and academics, Sabrina pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Economics at the University of Toronto with distinction (2020–2024), exemplifying the qualities of a dedicated student-athlete. With over five years of experience on Canada’s national team, she is ready to share her expertise and help develop the next generation of athletes representing Champlain TTC in provincial and national competitions.
Sabrina’s coaching philosophy reflects her genuine love for the sport. She brings a wealth of experience, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to nurturing talent in a supportive and inclusive environment. Fluent in both English and Mandarin, she is able to connect with a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds.
Sabrina Chen is passionate about promoting table tennis as both a competitive sport and a lifelong pursuit of active living. Her achievements in the field of sports continue to inspire young athletes to pursue their athletic dreams.
Sabrina’s contact information and private lessons will be posted after opening day. Please follow up for updates. Lessons are offered in English and Mandarin (Chinese).
Stephane Charbonneau
Stephane is NCCP Certified Table Tennis Competition Introduction Coach and a certified Table Tennis Umpire.
Stephane has over 30 years of competitive table tennis experience as an advanced player, playing local and international tournaments. Formerly one of Canada’s top 12 men and as a senior continues to excel in his sport. In 2015 he was Ontario Men's Champion for 40+. In 2019 he was a ,finalist at the Canadian Nationals for Men's 40+ and in the same Canadian Nationals was the winner for Men’s 50+. In 2022, he won the Winter Championships held locally.
Stephane represented Canada at the World Veteran Championship in 2018 in Las Vegas and made it to the Round of 16 in the Over 50+ category. In 2025, he decided to participate in the World Veteran Championship in Rome, where, along doubles partner Oleg Martens made it to the Round of 32 worldwide.
Stephane has over 7 years of coaching locally and has also coached the Paralympic team internationally.
Stephane continues to demonstrate his passion for the game, whether he is playing or coaching. He is bilingual and welcomes any skill level and any age. If you want to have fun playing and want to learn something new in the sport, he is the Coach for you!
Stephane's contact information and private lessons will be posted after opening day. Please follow up for updates
Lessons are offered in English and French
Julia Charbonneau
Julia is a NCCP Certified Table Tennis Competition Introduction Coach and a certified Table Tennis Umpire. Julia is currently the Chair for Gender Equity Canada at Table Tennis Canada.
Julia brings over 20 years of competitive table tennis experience as an advanced player, playing local and international tournaments. Formerly a top female junior in Canada, representing Canada internationally and a finalist at the Commonwealth Games held in Bombay. Julia has achieved all sorts of accolades and awards locally and nationally. She is the 1976 Under-13 Canadian Champion, 1978 Under-15 Canadian Champion, and Under-17 Runner-up. More recently, in 2018, Julia competed at the World Veteran Championships, which had 4500 participants from all over the world. Winner of the Consolation Women's 55+ Doubles, beating Japan in the finals.
Julia has focused on coaching for over 7 years. In July 2022, she successfully organized a National Girls Table Tennis Training Camp for 14 of Canada’s elite female players from all across Canada. She also assisted at the 2024 National Girls Training Camp in Quebec City, where 21 professional players participated.
She has experience coaching both males and females, all skill levels, and players of all ages in both official languages.
Julia continues to play and coach. Her passion for table tennis and professionalism is contagious when you play her!
Julia's contact information and private lessons will be posted after opening day. Please follow up for updates
Lessons are offered in English and French
Paulo Chira Luque
Yours truly, Owner and Founder of the new Champlain Table Tennis Club. Level 2 Certified Provincial Table Tennis Coach
Paulo is proud to be the new owner of Champlain Table tennis Club. His intention is to develop table tennis players who can represent Champlain locally, nationally, and internationally. He currently coaches competitive players at national tournaments in Montreal and Toronto. Paulo was a national team member from 2004 to 2008. He was the Canadian Senior National Champion in 2006 in the doubles category and North American Champion in doubles in 2007. He was also Junior Canadian National Champion in 2005 and 2006 in singles, teams, and doubles. Paulo has represented Canada in various international tournaments around the world as a member of the junior and senior national teams.
Paulo has been coaching table tennis professionally for more than 15 years. He formed part of the provincial Ontario coaching team in 2012 and 2015 Canadian Table Tennis Championships and successfully helped the under-13 and under-15 teams win the gold medal in doubles and teams. As a result, Paulo has the pleasure of coaching, drilling, and playing with top table tennis junior players across Canada.
Paulo believes in the seriousness of the sport, and his coaching style adjusts to all ages and categories. His athletic achievements include being an Ontario provincial champion in juniors from 2004 to 2007 and runner-up in the Senior Ontario championship in 2006. Paulo’s passion for coaching is equally as high as his passion for competing. His goal is to work with players to break barriers and improve their skills, so they can achieve all their goals.
Paulo's contact information and private lessons will be posted after opening day. Please follow up for updates
Lessons are offered in English, French, and Spanish