WELCOME TO OUR FIRST QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER We’re excited to introduce our new quarterly newsletter—a hub for celebrating the achievements of our members, sharing updates on programs and events, and keeping you connected to everything happening within the Swim Nova Scotia community. In each edition, we’ll bring you the latest highlights from around the province, updates on competitions and initiatives, and stories that showcase our athletes, coaches, and officials. | A FANTASTIC START TO THE 2024-2025 SWIM SEASON! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to such an exciting and successful start to the new swim season! We’re thrilled to have already hosted 18 sanctioned swim meets with outstanding participation and support from our swimming community. Thank you to all of the clubs that have hosted meets so far this season - we really appreciate your committment to supporting our meets! A special thank-you to our incredible officials for their dedication in making these events possible and to our swimmers for their terrific performances and enthusiasm on deck. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings! Here’s a recap of the 2024-2025 season so far: | | | 🏊♀️ Nova Tech Meets: - Nova Tech #1: North (TCSC) South (YW) Central (DCSC)
- Nova Tech #2:North (CBD) South (WTSC) Central (SWAT)
| | | | 🏊♂️ Age Group Development Meets: - Dal Sprint & Relays (DAL)
- Distance Meets: North (TCSC), South (GDSC), Central (HTAC)
- AGD #2 (ACAD)
- AGD #3 (SNS)
- Candy Cane Meet (TCSC/SNS)
| | | | 🏊♀️ AUS Meets: - Jack Scholz (ACAD)
- Kemp Fry (DAL)
| | | | 🏊♀️ Masters Meets: - Invitational #1 (HALT)
- Invitational #2 (CGC)
| | | PROVINCIAL RECORDS FALL! Congratulations to the following swimmers for achieving the following new Short Course Provincial Records so far this season! | Brody MacPherson (Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club) - 13-14 Male 50m Breaststroke 30.89
- 13-14 Male 100m Breaststroke 1:06.16
- 13-14 Male 200m Breaststroke 2:22.84
| | | Vita Goeicanec (Halifax Wavecutters Aquatic Club) - 12 & Under Female 50m Breaststroke 35.20
| | | Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club Ben Iwasaki Brody MacPherson Samuel Murphy Benjamin Nguyen - 13-14 Male 200m Medley Relay 1:57.33
| | | Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club Sophia Deane Julie Nolan-McCarthy Mikaela van den Berg Maria MacDougall - 15-17 Female 200m Medley Relay 1:58.30
| | | Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club Dima Popkov Ethan Daniel Ryan Hull John Cluett - 15-17 Male 200m Medley Relay 1:48.64
| | | FALL PROVINCIAL CAMPS: BUILDING SKILLS ACROSS ALL LEVELS This fall, Swim NS hosted diverse provincial camps, offering opportunities for swimmers and coaches alike to enhance their skills and knowledge. These camps reflect Swim NS's commitment to fostering excellence across all levels of swimming, from developing young athletes to supporting lifelong learning for Masters swimmers and coaches. | | | 🏊♀️ Masters Skills Camps: In partnership with the Dalhousie Tigers, Masters swimmers attended two camps. The first focused on freestyle, and the second on breaststroke, offering participants the chance to sharpen their technique and improve performance. | | | | 🏊♀️ Distance Camp: Nova Scotia’s top distance swimmers came together for two long-course training sessions, focusing on endurance and refining distance-specific skills. | | | | 🏊♀️ Next Gen Camp: Led by Amber Hutchinson, a Swimming Biomechanist and Certified HP Sport Scientist, this camp provided swimmers with valuable video analysis and focused on starts, underwater kicks, and turns. Coaches also benefited from professional development opportunities by participating alongside their athletes. | | | CELEBRATING OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS & OFFICIALS! A huge thank-you to everyone who has generously volunteered their time to support our competitions this season—your dedication makes all the difference! Our senior officials have been hard at work conducting clinics across the province, including clinics for Chief Recorder, Referee, Starter, Inspector of Turns, Judge of Strokes, and Meet Manager. These clinics are vital for educating and empowering our officials, ensuring the continued success of swimming in Nova Scotia. Thank you to all of the clinic instructors for your continued support! This season, Swim NS is pleased to announce the launch of our new Officials Leadership Team, dedicated to supporting and strengthening our officiating community. The team includes Kelley Polley (Chair of Officials), Diane MacKenzie, and Maureen Nolan, who will work closely with Swim NS Executive Director, Bette El-Hawary. Together, they are focused on launching a new Officials Mentorship Program later this season, as well as enhancing recruitment efforts and creating opportunities for growth and development for all officials. We’re excited about the positive impact this team will bring to our swimming community. Stay tuned for updates on these exciting initiatives! We deeply appreciate the time, effort, and passion of all our volunteers and officials. Your contributions help create a thriving swimming community. Thank you for all that you do! | SUPPORTING OUR CLUB LEADERS Coaches Swim NS Technical Director, Lance Cansdale, has been instrumental in fostering ongoing professional development for coaches across the province to enhance learning and collaboration. Initiatives include monthly Tech Talks with Lance, regular coach meetings with Swim NS staff, and a virtual Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) workshop focused on creating a welcoming pool deck. We also had our Chair of Officials, Kelley Polley lead coaches through a coach-specific Inspector of Turns and Judge of Stroke Clinic. Through the Coach Mentorship Program, Lance continues to provide personalized support to identified coaches Amanda Bond (GDSC), Chris Cormier (HTAC), and Dan MacKinnon (CBD), helping them grow as leaders in the swimming community. Additionally, coaches had the chance to engage in hands-on professional development during the Next Gen and Distance Camps, open to all year-round coaches. In total, 28 different coaches have participated in these opportunities, demonstrating Swim NS's commitment to supporting and elevating coaching excellence. Club Boards & Presidents This fall, Swim NS hosted two meetings with our club presidents, providing valuable opportunities to share information, resources, and foster meaningful connections through a facilitated networking session. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication of our club presidents and board members, who tirelessly work behind the scenes to support their teams and communities. Swim NS remains committed to working closely and collaboratively with our club leaders to ensure the ongoing growth and success of our clubs across the province. Together, we’re building a stronger swimming community. | CELEBRATING OUR LEADERSHIP 👏 | | | Virginia (Ginny) Smith Virginia (Ginny) Smith has been inducted into the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association (CSCA) Hall of Fameas a Community Coach! Ginny was a trailblazer for women in coaching and a volunteer coach for nearly 50 years. In addition to mentoring and inspiring countless young swimmers and coaches, she fostered a strong sense of respect, camaraderie, and community. Even in retirement, Ginny continues to contribute to swimming as a director at large on the Swim NS Board of Directors, ensuring her legacy of leadership and support lives on. We are honored to celebrate Ginny’s remarkable contributions to our sport and community. Link to CSCA | | | | Mikayla Tyrrell Congratulations to Mikayla Tyrrell, Head Coach of the Dartmouth Crusaders Swim Club, for being selected as one of five female coaches across Canada for Swimming Canada’s Women in Coaching Project! Mikayla had the incredible opportunity to attend the World Short Course Championships in Budapest from December 10-15, 2024. During the event, she received mentorship from top-tier coaches. We are proud of Mikayla’s achievements and look forward to the positive impact that she will continue to bring to our swimming community! Link to SNC | | | | Nigel Kemp Congratulations to Nigel Kemp, the 2024 recipient of Swim Nova Scotia’s Presidents Award! Recognized by Swim NS President Martin Laycock, Nigel’s dedication and outstanding contributions to swimming in Nova Scotia continue to make a lasting impact. Thank you, Nigel, for your commitment to growing and strengthening our swimming community! | | | | 2024 David Fry Memorial Bursary Recipients Swim Nova Scotia proudly recognizes Lily MacLean and Alex Jonsen-Humble from Acadia University for their remarkable achievements both in and out of the pool. Lily MacLean: A true example of resilience and dedication, Lily began her swimming journey with the Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team and Pictou County Mariners. Overcoming significant challenges, she pursued her passion for swimming with determination. Lily is now studying Biology at Acadia University. Alex Jonsen-Humble: A talented swimmer with the Dartmouth Crusaders Swim Club, Alex has made a lasting impact as a coach and official, demonstrating leadership and a commitment to giving back to the swimming community. Alex is currently pursuing a degree in Kinesiology at Acadia University. | | | ADVOCATING FOR AQUATIC INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS NOVA SCOTIA Swim Nova Scotia’s Executive Director has been hard at work this fall, meeting with municipalities and the provincial government to advocate for improved aquatic facilities. These discussions focus on the importance of accessible, affordable, and high-quality aquatic infrastructure that meets the needs of our growing swimming community. From enhancing existing facilities to planning new ones, Swim NS is committed to ensuring that swimmers across the province have the resources they need to thrive. For the latest updates, visit our webpage to stay informed about our ongoing efforts and progress! Link to Swim NS Facilities Page | WELCOME OUR NEW SPORT DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR! Swim Nova Scotia is excited to announce the addition of Angela MacAlpine as our new Sport Development Coordinator! Angela brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role. With a background as a swimmer, coach, and club supporter, she has a deep understanding of the swimming community. Her professional experience in leadership roles with prominent organizations has honed her skills in organization, collaboration, and adaptability—all of which will contribute to the success of our programs. Angela is excited to support competition development, provincial team programming, and provide robust support to our clubs across Nova Scotia. Please join us in welcoming Angela to the Swim Nova Scotia team! | | MARK YOUR CALENDERS - MORE EXCITING EVENTS TO COME! Get ready for more exciting events this season! From competitions to development camps and professional development opportunities, there's something for everyone in our Swim NS community. Don’t miss out on the action—check out what’s coming up and join us poolside! 📅 Upcoming Events: - Truro Masters Invitational (TRU) - January 11th, 2025
- AA AGD #1 (DCSC) – January 18th, 2025
- Nova Tech #3 North (PHAST), South (YW), Central (HTAC)– January 19th, 2025
- AAA AGD #1 (Swim NS) – January 24-25th, 2025
- AUS Invitational (DAL) – January 25-26th, 2025
- Next Gen Camp – February 1st, 2025
- Club Presidents Meeting - February 4th, 2025
- Tech Talks with Lance – February 5th, 2025
Stay tuned for more details and updates through Club Contacts! | HAVE A SAFE & ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY SEASON! The Swim Nova Scotia office will be closed on December 20th and will re-open on January 6th. Stay tuned for our next edition of our quarterly newsletter in March 2025! | | | | |
