Ottawa, May 4, 2012 – Synchro Canada is pleased to announce the 19 clubs selected for the 2012 Club Excellence Program.

Synchro Canada’s Club Excellence Program was created in 2009 to recognize the work of the clubs contributing to the pride Synchro Canada shows to the world in Canadian synchronized swimming. It encourages clubs to streamline their operational guidelines in order to help develop stronger athletes, coaches and club programs with the main objective of keeping Synchro Canada among the world’s elite in synchronized swimming.

While respecting a holistic approach in club success and development, the specific needs of each club that apply for the program, Synchro Canada reviews various criteria in four categories: Business & Organizational Success, Parent & Volunteer Development, Coach Development & Education and Athlete Development & Performance. Clubs that successfully achieve the required points in each category are awarded either Gold, Silver or Bronze status.

“On behalf of Synchro Canada, I wish to congratulate all the selected clubs for their amazing contribution in elevating the level of excellence of Canadian synchronized swimming. I also want to thank them for helping those young athletes to achieve their potential in our sport,” said Synchro Canada’s Domestic Technical Director, Jadine Cleary.  “The success of our national team can be credited to the strength, depth and hard work of our clubs and their coaches. Synchro Canada is thrilled with the level of achievement of the participants in the Club Excellence Program this year and believes this demonstrates the dedication of our clubs to best practices.”

A $18,000 investment
This year, Synchro Canada distributed a total of $18,000 in grants for the Club Excellence Program. Consequently, 19 clubs received a grant from the 2012 Club Excellence Program compared to 17 last year.  In addition, there was an increase in Gold member clubs from 3 in 2011 to 8 clubs receiving Gold level status in 2012.

The amount that each club received varied between $3,250.00 and $1,000.00 for clubs in the Gold category, $750.00 for Silver and $350.00 for Bronze.

The 2012 recipients are:

Gold Club Category
1st place: Synchro-Élite (Quebec City, QC) – $3 250
2nd place: Calgary Aquabelles (Calgary, AB) – $2 400
3rd place: B.C. Aquasonics (Coquitlam and Surrey, B.C.) – $1 500

Other recipients in the Gold Club Category: Regina Synchro (Regina, SK) – $1 000
Dollard Synchro (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC) – $1 000
Pacific Sport Synchro Victoria (Victoria, B.C.) – $1 000
Edmonton Auroras (Edmonton, AB) – $1 000
St. John’s Sea Stars (St. John’s, NL) – $1 000

Silver Club Category
Vancouver Pacific Wave (Vancouver, B.C.) – $750
Atlantis Synchro (Halifax, N.S.) – $750
Winnipeg Synchro (Winnipeg, MB) – $750
Burlington Synchro (Burlington, ON) – $750
Lethbridge Synchrobelles (Lethbridge, AB) – $750

Bronze Club Category
Synchro P.E.I. Charlottetown Naiads (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) – $350
Estevan Mermaids (Estevan, SK) – $350
Neptune-Synchro (Saint-Jérôme, QC) – $350
Aquatica Synchro (Winnipeg, MB) – $350
C.B.S. Synchro (Conception Bay South, NL) – $350
Strathcona Synchro (Sherwood Park, AB) – $350

More information on the Club Excellence Grant Program is available on-line at Synchro Canada’s website: www.synchro.ca
 
About Synchro Canada
Synchro Canada is the national organization governing synchronized swimming in Canada. It represents 10 provincial associations, a territorial association, as well as some 150 clubs and 12,000 members across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing aquatic sports organization, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence by developing the athletes, citizens and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at every level. Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors:

Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, B2ten, the Centre national multisport-Montréal
Official suppliers: Speedo, Knox Gelatine, AdUp, MKI Travel, National Car Rental Official make up: MAKE UP FOR EVER
Official hotel: Hilton Hotels Canada
Official Charity Partner: Plan Canada’s Because I am A Girl Program 

For further information, visit Synchro Canada’s Website at www.synchro.ca or follow Synchro Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.