Hi everyone,

Please find below important news from Synchro Canada:

1. Happy Holidays!
   On behalf of Synchro Canada staff members, we would like to wish all of our members Happy Holidays. Please note that the National Office will be close from December 23rd to January 2nd. The office will reopen on January 3rd. Also, please note that the next Synchro Canada’s newsletter will be sent January 13th. Happy Holidays everyone!
   
   
2. Canada wins overall bronze at FINA World Trophy
   Canada won the overall bronze medal at the 2011 FINA World Trophy synchronized swimming competition held December 9-11 in Beijing, China. Swimming for Canada were Geneviève Bélanger, Camille Bowness, Annabelle Frappier, Rachel Fréchette, Sandy Gill, Emilia Kopcik, Rachel Kowalski, Rebecca Maule, Lisa Mikelberg, Marie-Lou Morin, Marie Rondeau and Erin Willson. Lyne Piché and Kasia Kulesza were the team coaches. Congratulations!
   - Check out the press releases. 
   - Check out pictures on Synchro Canada’s Facebook page.
   
   
3. Synchro Canada’s Talent Acceleration Camp
   Synchro Canada will hold a Talent Acceleration Camp being this weekend in Montreal. A total of 26 Junior age eligible athletes selected from last season results will attend the 3-day camp.  The focus of the camp is physical testing as well as figure and routine training. It will be lead by Centre of Excellence coaches, Meng Chen, Anastassia Goutseva, Lyne Piché, Kasia Kulesza and 2011 Junior National Team Head Coach Jenn Tregale. The domestic technical staff will also be part of this to support the coaches from the Centre of Excellence. Drills and figures suggestions will be posted after the camp on Dartfish.TV.
   
   
4. Schedules for the 2012 Eastern/Atlantic and Western Divisionals Championships
   Check out the first tentative schedule for the 2012 Western Divisionals Championships and the second one for the Eastern/Atlantic. Please note that first tentative schedules for the 2012 Canadian Open and Espoir championships will be available in January. Check them out now.
   
   
5. Access to Dartfish.tv
   If you would like to have access to useful videos and great content, including presentations of the 2011 Convention, availables on Synchro Canada's Dartfish.tv Website, please contact your PSO for your Dartfish username and password.
   
   
6. Blog from Karine Thomas
   Check out the latest blog from Karine Thomas talking about this past season for Synchro Canada’s Senior National A Team.
   
   
7. Kyle Shewfelt Joins Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport Board of Directors
   The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is proud to announce that Olympic gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt is the newest member of its board of directors. More details.
   
   
8. This Christmas, give a gift of hope
   Why not give a holiday gift that will bring hope to a child in a developing country? When you give a Gift of Hope, real dollars go to real projects in the communities where Plan Canada, a partner of Synchro Canada through the initiative Because I Am a Girl, works – and these gifts change real lives. Think outside the gift box this holiday season and surprise family and friends with gifts from the new collection! Shop now.
   
   
9. Share your best synchronized swimming pictures!
   Synchro Canada is inviting you to submit your best synchronized swimming pictures. Each week, a picture will be selected as the synchronized swimming picture of the week on Synchro Canada's Facebook page and Website. Please note that the pictures you send should be free of rights. You can send your pictures to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with an explanation for why your picture should be the picture of the day! Check out this week’s picture.
   
   
10. News from the members
    Do you have any news that you would like to share with other provinces and members? Your news can be on any subject, including about an athletes, coaches, administrators or officials. It can even be about your provincials programs or competitions. Send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we’ll be more than happy to share it with the other members.
    
    KW Synchro
    KW Synchro is proud to annouce that the Synchro Parent learning Tool is now up and running on their website. This ressource is an interactive Learning experience which includes the following modules: e-Learning Modules and Resource Area. Check it out now.
    
    Synchro Swim Ontario
    Synchro Swim Ontario is pleased to announce that the 8th annual Burning Bright for Breast Cancer campaign in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Chapter raised $40,000! The Burning Bright 8-year grand total is a staggering $292,800.71. The Top Fundraising Club and winner of the Myra Gerow Award was Sudbury Synchro with the highest club total ever of $14,551.85.  Burlington Synchro was second with a total of $6,209.81 and Toronto Synchro was third with a total of $3,442. The Top Fundraising Athlete was Elizabeth Sweeny of Sudbury Synchro for the 7th consecutive year with a total of $2,790.00. Clubmates Megan Sarmatiuk  was second with $1,020.00 and Emmah Cacciotti was third with $1,003.50.
    
    Valérie Welsh
    In the past week, Valérie Welsh met athletes from the clubs Aquadanse, Chaudière-Appalaches and Neptune Synchro.