Colleagues, Partners and Friends

I have to say this year that I understand how all those parents of our many athletes across the country feel. I am extremely proud of all of our National Teams, and coach this year. They have accomplished much success on the world stage.

I am also very proud of our wonderful staff and volunteers all whom have worked hard together for the common good of the sport.

That is not to say that I am not proud the rest of the year. There is no doubt that recent success of Canadian National Teams   has affected our world positioning. There is no doubt too that Synchro Canada has a great opportunity to be a leader. There is even less doubt in my mind that each of you own a part of the success in Synchro Canada.  The business of sport is a challenge and each of you have contributed together collectively and worked hard to develop promote and grow our sport in your area.

There are many different sorts of Christmas messages but the Christmas letter to colleagues and partners must be unique. It is unique in that many of us spend more time together than lots of married couples. This sport brings together all those who work together for a common purpose, some of whom may never have met before. It is unique in that you can see for yourselves that the Board of Directors and staff are, despite the rumors to the contrary, actually human beings! I would like to confirm that I am very human and very appreciative of all your hard work during the past year. I look forward to a new year in which we will all continue to pull together to make Synchro Canada a leader in its field.

During the Second World War the English and German soldiers declared a truce for Christmas and sang Silent Night across the barbed wires. I think this is probably the greatest example of the real meaning of peace on earth, goodwill to all. It should, I believe, be taken as the ideal for our conflicted World today. Christmas gives us an opportunity to think on that ideal, to ponder the message of the real meaning of the feast. Whatever your faith or belief, I do not think that anyone can deny that we need peace in our world.

Our Sport is a fantastic ambassador of peace.

I want each of you to know no matter where you live, we all have a perfect excuse for painting the Town the traditional color of Christmas. 

Christmas is a time for holly and mistletoe, for wine and good cheer. It's a time when we forget our troubles and think only of having a good time. It's a time for glamour and glitz and high spirits and Synchro Water Shows.

So here's to Christmas and all it can mean. Here's to those we once knew and those we hope to know. Here's to good sportsmanship and good cheer.

"And May God bless each an every one of you!"

Lisa Schott
President Synchro Canada