He was recommended for those roles by current Canadian women's national team coach John Herdman.
The pair first met at a coaching conference in Newcastle, when Herdman was the head of football development in New Zealand, and then later on duty with their respective women's teams at the Cyprus Cup.
Forrest's coaching style and background had clearly impressed Herdman.
After retiring early from playing the game in his late 20's, Forrest was solely focussed in getting the necessary licences to have a coaching career and quickly obtained his UEFA 'A' and SFA youth and children licences.
He had been a SFA Youth Football Development Officer in Edinburgh and in Fife before uprooting to New Zealand.
During that time he also joined East Fife as first team coach in the summer of 2009, working with manager Stevie Crawford, the former Scotland international. He held that position for just over a year before stepping down to concentrate solely on his other roles.
Community involvement has always played an important part in Forrest's career so far. Early on in his role as the SFA development officer in Fife, Forrest put forward the proposal to bring together the various Children's and Youth Football Associations in the Kingdom, which was eventually presented in parliament as a good practice and a good model for trying to take football forward in Scotland.
The aim was to get all the various Associations working more closely together and provide the best player pathway not only for Children and Youth Players, but also for Coaches, to develop in Fife.
Forrest has been working in New Zealand since September last year and it's been a year to remember for the Scot, culminating with a trip to the Olympics this summer with New Zealand women's national team.
But as he makes his next career move, he is not only bringing valuable coaching experience to the Whitecaps Residency program, he can also share his playing experiences with the guys.
As a youth, Gordon played for Rosyth Recreation boys club (Martin Rennie later played for their senior team) before starting his senior career with Raith Rovers in 1993 on a Youth Training Scheme contract.
He stayed three seasons at Starks Park, during which time they won the Scottish First Division and Scottish League Cup. He only made two substitute appearances for the Rovers but one of those was in an UEFA Cup match in the Faroes.
When his manager Jimmy Nicholl (the Canadian born, ex Northern Ireland international) made the move to Millwall in 1996, Gordon followed him on an extended trial, but things didn't work out in London and he soon returned to Scotland, where he played for Livingston for two and a half seasons and scored five goals in 37 appearances.
After leaving Livi at the end of the 1998/99 season, he then had a short summer season with Icelandic Premier League side Leiftur FC, where he played in a 9-1 UEFA Cup first round drubbing by Anderlecht.
Gordon came to East Fife as a trialist during the 1999/2000 season, playing his first game against Queens Park in September in a 0-0 draw. He went on to make 27 appearances for the Fife that season, with his only goal coming in the 2-0 home win over Montrose in February.
He was let go in the close season and joined Berwick Rangers, where he remained for five seasons, ending his senior career with 18 goals in 123 appearances for the Shielfield Park club.
Now fully involved with the coaching side of the game, Gordon finished his playing career with Fife amateur side Burntisland Shipyard, before finally hanging up his boots to concentrate on coaching and player development.
The Whitecaps looked at a number of people for the position of Head Coach of the U18s and PDL team before deciding on Forrest.
With the experience, commitment and personal ethos he is bringing to Vancouver, Gordon Forrest looks like being an excellent addition to the Whitecaps coaching staff.
The direction he will take the Residency program is just what it is needing right now, and he will have what we feel to be one of the most important positions at the Club. The future looks to be in safe and good hands.
Welcome to Vancouver Gordon. Trust us, it's nicer than Methil!