NORTH BATTLEFORD — Kaleece Kytwayhat, 14, has earned the honour of representing Team Canada at the World Boxing Council (WBC) Muay Thai World Festival, which will take place in the city of Verona, Italy, from June 25 to 29.
This event features only 44 fighters from various corners of the globe.
Kaleece is from the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation and has been diligently training at the Warrior Spirit Martial Arts Academy located in North Battleford.
"This feels like one heck of a dream," Kaleece said, highlighting the overwhelming excitement she is experiencing.
This international event will mark her first time stepping foot outside of Canada. Initially, Kaleece wrestled with her decision to participate in such a significant event, feeling daunted by the enormity of the opportunity.
"At first, I didn’t want to go; I felt this was just too big for me. The overthinking got to me," she shared. “But after talking with my coach, he made me realize the opportunity this is and now I’m just hungry for this now.”
Stuart Fontaine, owner and coach of the Warrior Spirit Martial Arts Academy, has played an instrumental role in Kytwayhat’s journey. After participating in the tryouts for the World Boxing Council (WBC), she successfully earned her spot on the team. Since the start of her training in 2021, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication and a relentless work ethic that has propelled her forward in the sport, Fontaine says.
Fontaine, established the Warrior Spirit Martial Arts Academy in 2025, and says he believes deeply in the power of martial arts to instill essential life values in young individuals.
"Martial arts changed my life for the better," he reflects, emphasizing the respect and discipline that come hand in hand with the training. Fontaine says his mission transcends merely creating fighters; instead, he seeks to nurture and build well-rounded martial artists who embody these important life skills both in and out of the dojo.
