May 2006
Synchro Canada Congratulates Kristin
Hayes, and Thanks Japan!
May 31, 2006 - Kristen Hayes of Markham Ontario participated
in Japan's 15th Annual Festival for Athletes with a Disability
in Kyoto on May 13th. It was a wonderful Mother's Day
present for Doreen Hayes, Synchro Canada's Committee Leader
for Athletes with a Disability who was able to watch her daughter
perform to a packed facility.
Kristin's Synchro skills drew the attention of Mrs. Michiyo
Morita on a trip to Canada last August, and since that time
Mrs. Morita, and her Festival Organizing committee, have worked
extensively to welcome Synchro Canada to this event, which
has grown from an initial 50 participants to over 300 in the
past 15 years.
Synchro Canada's participation received overwhelming support
from the Kyoto Arashiyama Lions Club, not only through their
generous financial contribution, but this group also expressed
their appreciation for Kristin s talents by hosting a special
dinner, attending the Symposium, and providing Kristin with
a Best Wishes banner, complete with origami flowers on the
day of the swim!
Thanks to Japan's initiative, Synchro Canada gained valuable
information about their Synchro activities for swimmers with
a disability, which will be utilized in an Awareness Campaign
to rehab centres, community facilities and clubs this summer.
Japan seemed equally pleased with our contribution, in that
they will now consider developing other opportunities for
their athletes with a disability based on Kristin's performance.
{ We were all very impressed and happy to see Kristin's
wonderful performances. Some athletes said, "I'd
like to practice so hard as to be able to spin like her."
Others said, " Let's follow Kristin!...her achievements!" Her
presence was very very encouraging for us all.}
This was an amazing experience; two different sport systems
developed miles apart, that were brought together to learn
about the achievements of each other. Synchro Canada is very
grateful to the staff, volunteers, and participants in Japan
for their tremendous welcome, and looks forward to our continued
partnership in an effort to develop more opportunities for
Synchro for athletes with a disability.
For more information on Synchro and Disabilities, please check
out this site www.synchro.ca/disability.htm
and see this month's edition of ACTIVATE www.ala.ca.
The Synchro Instructor Program fully
approved as part of the new National Coaching Certification
Program (NCCP)
May 31 - Recently, Synchro Canada (SC) was advised by the
Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) that the NCCP Synchro
Instructor Program is meeting all the necessary requirements
to receive the mention "Final Approval" for the
Instructor Beginner Context. Synchro Canada's Instructor Program
is one of the first coaching context to receive this approval
in Canada.
In May 2005, Synchro Canada received the "conditional
approval" for the Synchro Instructor Program and had
one year to complete all training activities and make all
the changes and updates in order to receive "Final Approval"
and therefore be fully part of the new NCCP. With the
help of Pascale Gauthier, Synchro Canada - CAC Consultant,
and the resources provided by the CAC, Synchro Canada was
in an excellent position in order to meet all the standards
after one year.
"It was very challenging at times but we are now very
happy to have this coaching context finalized. The funding
from the CAC was key, without that support it would have been
a lot harder for us to complete it. Now, the true test will
be the full implementation of the program." says Catherine
Gosselin-Després, Sport Development Manager with Synchro
Canada.
Many people have contributed to the program and Synchro
Canada would like to thank the following people for their
great contribution in the development of this program:
Irene Van Hooft
Claudia Cronin-Schlote
Wendy White-Morrow
Sharon Devana
Catharine Edwards
Mary Jane Ling
If you have any questions on the new NCCP Synchro Instructor
Program please contact Catherine Gosselin-Després at
catherine@synchro.ca
Synchronized Swimming Nationals
set to begin in Winnipeg and Toronto
May 10 - Synchro Canada will assemble Canada's top synchronized
swimmers at two National Championships in Winnipeg and Toronto
this year. The Canadian Open Synchronized Swimming Championships
will begin this week in Winnipeg at the Pan Am Pool from May
11th - 14th. The Canadian Espoir Synchronized Swimming
Championships will take place in Toronto at the Etobicoke
Olympian Pool from June 7 - 10, 2006. Following the championships,
the A, B, Junior and 13-15 National Teams will be selected.
Julie Sauvé Inducted into
the Canadian Sport Hall of Fame
May 8 - On behalf of Synchro Canada`s Board of Directors,
Staff and Community, a warm congratulations to Julie Sauve
for her induction into the Canadian Sport Hall of Fame. Julie
is one of the most celebrated coaches in the world in synchronized
swimming. Julie was the Personal Coach of Olympic and
six-time Canadian solo champion Sylvie Fréchette; and
seven-time Canadian duet champions Penny and Vicky Vilagos
who won a silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games. As
Montreal Synchro's Club Coach for 31 years, Sauvé has
been with Canada's National Program for 23 of those years. Julie
returned from the Commonwealth Games in March where she coached
Duet Partners Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon and Isabelle Rampling
to Gold. Julie will retire from the City of Montreal
this month. More...
LTAD Information Session Open to
Winnipeg Synchro Community
May 4 - Synchro Canada invites all coaches, parents, athletes,
administrators, officials and volunteers to attend a Long
Term Athlete Development (LTAD) information session on Thursday,
May 11 at 8 p.m. at the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg.
New Children's Fitness Tax Credit
by Government
May 3 - Included in the Conservative Government's 2006 Federal
Budget announced yesterday was a new Children's Fitness Tax
Credit. Effective January 1, 2007, a tax credit
to promote physical fitness among children will be implemented. For
each child under 16, the credit will be provided on up to
$500 in eligible fees for programs of physical activity. The
Government will consult with a small group of experts in health
and physical fitness to determine which programs should be
eligible for the credit. Click here to read responses
to Sport in the Federal Budget from the Sport Matters Group.
For more information on the government's announcment, click
here.
A "Squirt Thanks" to
Gail Botten at the Canadian Red Cross!
May 2 - Synchro Canada would like to express its sincere appreciation
to Gail Botten, the Ontario Zone Water Safety Advisor for
the Canadian Red Cross, for her outstanding support of the
AquaSquirts program. Gail has been a wonderful ambassador
for AquaSquirts, expressing her enthusiasm for the program through
both her role as administrator and course facilitator. It has
been a pleasure to work with Gail and we look forward to staying
connected through her new aquatic role!
|
