NEWS FROM THE POOL DECK IN OUR THIRD QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER As we dive into summer, we’re proud to reflect on a busy and exciting season across the province. Over the past several months, Swim Nova Scotia has rolled out a number of provincial team initiatives, celebrating the achievements of our athletes, coaches, and volunteers both in and out of the pool. With 43 sanctioned year-round meets hosted this season, our officials have been hard at work supporting competition opportunities for swimmers at all levels - thank you for your dedication! As our summer swimmers gear up for another action-packed season, we look forward to even more moments of excellence! There’s lots to celebrate - and even more to come! | | | 🏊♀️ Nova Tech Meets: - Nova Tech #5: North (PHAST) South (WTSC) Central (HTAC)
- Nova Tech Explosion: (TCSC)
| | | | 🏊♂️ Age Group Development Meets: - AA/AAA (SWAT)
- AA #3 (CBD)
- AAA #3 (DAL)
- AA Spring Champs (HTAC/SNS)
- AAA Spring Champs (SWAT/SNS)
| | | | 🏊♀️ Masters Meets: - Masters Provincial Champs (DW)
| | | NS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON WRAP UP 👏 | | | NS MASTERS PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS A thank you to the Dartmouth Whalers for working with Swim NS in co-hosting this meet with us! 🙏 Congratulations to the Halifax Chronos for taking the top overall team award and to all swimmers for a remarkable Masters swimming season in Nova Scotia!! | | | NOVA TECH EXPLOSION A thank you to the Truro Centurions Swim Club for working with Swim NS in co-hosting with us🙏 This season, we had a total of 61 swimmers graduate from Participation to Level 1, 86 swimmers graduate from Level 1 to Level 2 and 85 swimmers graduate out of Nova Tech into our Age Group Developoment program! Congratulations swimmers 👏 | | | AA SPRING CHAMPS A thank you to the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club for working with Swim NS in co-hosting this meet with us! 🙏 Congratulations to our High Point Winners! 12 & Under Females: - Aria Wood (TCSC)
- Hannah Oakley (PCM)
- Ainsley MacRae (WTSC)
12 & Under Males: - Wyatt Kerrivan (SWAT)
- Kornii Costyuk (HWAC)
- Evan Rosen (HTAC)
13-14 Females: - Molly McQuaid (DCSC)
- Sophia Jiang (HTAC)
- Gabriella Stewart (HTAC)
13-14 Males: - Eason Cui (HTAC)
- Ryan Tang (SWAT)
- Wyatt Mackeigan (WTSC)
15 & Over Females: - Lauren Hull (HTAC)
- Allison Giorno (CBD)
- Maggie MacDonald (CBD)
15 & Over Males: - Bishop Chenell (PCM)
- Khaled Shaaban (CBD)
- Keagan Hillier (CBD)
Congratulations to the Dartmouth Crusaders Swim Club for earning the Team Spirit Award and bringing lots of great energy to the deck all weekend long!! | | | AAA SPRING CHAMPS A thank you to the Sackville Waves Aquatic Team for working with Swim NS in co-hosting this meet with us! 🙏 Congratulations to our High Point Winners! 12 & Under Females: - Ainsley MacPherson (HTAC)
12 & Under Males: 13-14 Females: 13-14 Males: 15 & Over Females: - Sophia Deane (HTAC) & Ava Nettleton (TCSC)
15 & Over Males: Female Swim of the Meet: Male Swim of the Meet: Top Overall Team: Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club | | Nova Scotia at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials Nova Scotia swimmers competed at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, joining over 700 athletes from 148 clubs across the country. Congratulations to Nova Scotia’s top swimmers for their performances!! 👏 Here’s how they performed: Alexia Morgans (Dalhousie University) • Junior Women’s 200m Butterfly – 38th / 2:28.05 Aliyah Bloom (Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club) • Junior Women’s 200m Backstroke – 9th / 2:19.40 Brody MacPherson (HTAC) • Junior Men’s 50m Breaststroke – 80th / 31.04 Julie Nolan-McCarthy (HTAC) • Junior Women’s 200m Breaststroke – 10th / 2:36.54 • Junior Women’s 100m Breaststroke – 9th / 1:12.67 • Junior Women’s 50m Breaststroke – 26th / 33.58 Leanna Morgans (HTAC) • Junior Women’s 1500m Freestyle – 27th / 18:27.02 Owen Nicholson (HTAC / SFU) • Men’s 400m Individual Medley – 12th / 4:31.61 • Men’s 800m Freestyle – 12th / 8:21.01 • Men’s 1500m Freestyle – 17th / 16:07.58 Congratulations to all athletes who represented the province in Victoria!! | | THANK YOU OFFICIALS! A huge thank you to all of our dedicated officials for overseeing 43 sanctioned swim meets this season - including university, masters, and year-round competitions. Your time, expertise, and commitment make it all possible! With two open water meets and the summer swimming program still to come, we’re grateful to have such a strong officiating community supporting swimmers across the province. We couldn’t do it without you! | | PROVINCIAL RECORDS FALL! Congratulations to Halifax Trojan Swimmer Brody MacPherson for achieving the following new Provincial Records! - 13-14 50m Breaststroke SCM 30.76
- 13-14 100m Individual Medley SCM 1:01.24
- 13-14 100m Breaststroke LCM 1:07.79
- 13-14 200m Breaststroke LCM 2:28.67
| | | SPRING PROVINCIAL EVENTS: BUILDING SKILLS ACROSS ALL LEVELS This spring, we continued to host diverse provincial initiatives, offering opportunities for swimmers and coaches alike to enhance their skills and knowledge. These events 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. | | | 🏊♀️ April Masters Skills Camps: In partnership with the Dalhousie Tigers, Masters swimmers had the opportunity to attend one camp. Our final camp focused on butterfly/IM, offering participants the chance to sharpen their technique and improve performance. | | | 🏊♀️ Tech to Best Camp: In early May, over 60 swimmers aged 11-14 from across the province joined us at the RECC Pool in Truro for two high-energy camps focused on skill-building, fun, and inspiration! Water sessions were led by Next Gen Swimmer Liam Ferguson (SMBB/HTAC/DAL), alongside coaches from across Nova Scotia. Swimmers sharpened their skills with targeted drills on starts, streamlining, turns, and kick technique. In the classroom, Next Gen swimmer Lily MacLean (PHAST/PCM/ACAD) took the lead sharing her journey, training insights, and what it takes to stay motivated. The session was moderated by our Technical Director, Lance Cansdale who also oversaw the camp. | | | 🏊♀️ Canada Games ID Camp: Swim Nova Scotia hosted our Canada Games ID Team Camp on May 31st at Dalplex Pool, bringing together some of the province’s top developing swimmers With the 2025 Canada Summer Games set for August 9-16 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, this camp marked an exciting step on the journey as we prepare to select Team Nova Scotia next month We’re proud to support our rising stars as they train, grow, and chase the opportunity to represent Nova Scotia at this prestigious multi-sport event! | | | 🏊♀️ Next Gen Long Course Training Sessions: In May and June, Swim Nova Scotia offered long course training opportunities for our Next Gen swimmers, bringing top athletes from across the province together weekly for two back-to-back sessions led by Technical Director, Lance Cansdale. To further enhance the experience, we welcomed biomechanist Amber Hutchison for on-deck video analysis sessions - helping athletes gain valuable insight into their technique and performance. | | 25 summer swimmers from the 2024 Summer All Star Team represented Nova Scotia at the East Coast Games Splash into Summer Meet in Quispamsis, NB. Congratulations to all for a terrific event! Thanks to our coaching staff for working with our provincial team: Head Coach: Daniel Sutherland Assistant Coaches: Olivia Jodrey & Troy MacArthur | | 🚨TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT🚨 We’re proud to announce the Team Nova Scotia Swim Team for the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland! These incredible athletes will represent our province across the Olympic, Paralympic, and Special Olympics programs: Olympic Program – Female Swimmers
Yael Bloom – HTAC
Vita Goricanec – HWAC
Mary-Ellen Holland – HTAC
Sophie Hunter – CBD
Ava Khoury – HTAC
Etta MacLellan – HTAC
Leanna Morgans – HTAC
Addison Myers – HTAC
Maya Rasic – HTAC
Sophia Stade – HTAC
Margaret Stewart – HTAC
Lily Zwicker – DCSC Olympic Program – Male Swimmers
Gabriel Anderson – SWAT
Idan Arie – DCSC
Leon Jacob Bautista – DCSC
Owen Bond – GDSC
Ethan Daniel – HTAC
Luke Ellis – DCSC
Harvey Hadley – KES
Ethan Kershaw – SWAT
Alfred Lai – HTAC
Eugene Legge – SWAT
Brody MacPherson – HTAC
Nicholas Matteau – SWAT Olympic Program Alternates
Haley Pothier – SWAT
Arwen Middleton Meakin – HTAC
Seamus Fanning – PCM
Jack Quinton – HTAC Special Olympics Swimmers
Ellie Hearn – SONS
Aiya Peters – SONS
Landon Arbeau – SONS
Maxim Thibault – SONS Paralympic Program Swimmer
Dylan Balmaceda – CGCSA Staff Lance Cansdale – Head Coach Angela MacAlpine – Team Manager Chris Cormier – Assistant Coach Matt Pederson – Assistant Coach Mikayla Tyrell – Assistant Coach Mike Balmaceda- Special Olympics Coach The road to St. John’s is underway - let’s go, Team NS! 🌊 | ✨SWIMMERS RECOGNIZED AT THE SUPPORT 4 SPORT AWARDS✨ We’re proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our 2023-2024 Swim Nova Scotia Award recipients who were recognized at Sport Nova Scotia's Support 4 Sport Awards for their excellence in and out of the pool. Please join us in congratulating this year’s honourees: 🌟 Female Junior Swimmer of the Year: Julie Nolan-McCarthy, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club 🌟 Male Junior Swimmer of the Year: Yannick Morgans, Dalhousie Tigers 🌟 Female Senior Swimmer of the Year: Ella Collins, Acadia Varsity Swim Team 🌟 Male Senior Swimmer of the Year: Liam Ferguson, Dalhousie Tigers | ✨CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN SWIMMING✨ As we reflect on the achievements of the 2023-2024 season, we are proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of our members: 🌟 Julie Nolan-McCarthy, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club – Female Junior Swimmer of the Year 🌟 Yannick Morgans, Dalhousie Tigers – Male Junior Swimmer of the Year 🌟 Ella Collins, Acadia Varsity Swim Team – Female Senior Swimmer of the Year 🌟 Liam Ferguson, Dalhousie Tigers – Male Senior Swimmer of the Year 🌟 Performance Coach of the Year: Kris Bell, Acadia Varsity Swim Team 🌟 Development Coach of the Year: Daniel Sutherland, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club (Voted on by club head coaches across the province) 🌟 Official of the Year: Maureen Nolan Maureen is a committed leader in the officiating community, supporting officials’ development at every level and helping launch Swim NS’s new mentorship program. Her experience, guidance, and passion have elevated officiating across the province. 🌟 Volunteer of the Year: Sean Myles As President of the Wolfville Tritons Swim Club, Sean has led with integrity and care—especially through the Acadia pool closure. His leadership continues to strengthen our swimming community and guide it forward. Congratulations to all our award recipients! Your hard work and dedication inspire us all. 🎉 | CELEBRATING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS📚 These outstanding swimmers in grades 10-12 have achieved a minimum GPA of 90% and excelled in the pool, qualifying for a Swimming Canada Designated event (Canadian Senior Open, Canadian Swimming Trials or Canadian Short Course Championships). Join us in recognizing their dedication and hard work beyond the pool: 👏 Aliyah Bloom, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club 👏 Clara Durling, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club 👏 Julie Nolan-McCarthy, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club 👏 Mikaela van den Berg, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club Congratulations to these exemplary student-athletes! | | | 📚💦 Meet Henry Stewart! For a recent school project at Le Marchant St Thomas, Henry dove into the history of swimming in Nova Scotia and with the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club. He did an incredible job highlighting the impact of our sport and sharing the many benefits of swimming with his classmates and community. | | | | 🏊♀️💡Meet Sophie Hunter! A proud Cape Breton Dorados swimmer and a standout member of our Canada Games ID Team (recently named to our Canada Games Team) who's making waves far beyond the pool! For her high school science fair project, Sophie designed and built a robotic device that travels along a lane line to help swimmers maintain pace during solo training sessions - a brilliant innovation to support swimmers training on their own. After winning the regional science fair in Cape Breton, she advanced to the Canada-Wide Science Fair, competing against 400 of the country’s top young scientists… and brought home a Bronze Medal! 🥉 Sophie’s achievement are just one example of the amazing things our swimmers are doing outside the pool. We’re so proud to celebrate her creativity, dedication, and passion! | | | FAREWELL TO THE ACADIA UNIVERSITY POOL On June 15th, the Acadia swimming pool officially closed its doors after more than five decades of service. This marks a significant and emotional loss - not only for the local community in the Annapolis Valley, but for swimmers, coaches, and families across Nova Scotia. More than just a pool, Acadia was a hub of connection, health, and achievement. From welcoming beginners and supporting seniors, to hosting provincial champions and university athletes, its impact was far-reaching. Its closure leaves a deep void in our province’s aquatic landscape. Thank you to the entire swimming community for your efforts in trying to help keep the pool open in the short term! While we are saddened by the loss, Swim Nova Scotia remains committed to advocating for sustainable aquatic infrastructure and meaningful partnerships to ensure a brighter future for swimming in Nova Scotia. | NOVA SCOTIA SWIMMING POOL INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY Swim Nova Scotia, in partnership with the Recreation Facilities Association of Nova Scotia (RFANS) and with support from the Province of Nova Scotia, has launched a provincial swimming pool infrastructure feasibility study. The goal of this project is to assess the current condition, sustainability, and future viability of aquatic facilities across Nova Scotia and to ensure long-term access to pools that meet both recreational and competitive needs. This initiative is being led by Aquatic Associates, a nationally recognized consulting firm with extensive experience in aquatic facility planning and development. With outreach and support from RFANS, data collection will be underway for all 55 pools across the province the first week of July. The final report will be completed by the end of October 2025, and your contributions will play a vital role in shaping the recommendations and priorities outlined in the findings. Clubs will be invited to participate in engagement sessions taking place in September. The final report will be shared with municipalities, the provincial government and all aquatic facilities. Swim Nova Scotia Facilities Information Page | Meet the 2025 Summer Program Coordinators! We’re excited to welcome five incredible summer students who will be supporting our clubs and programs across the province through to the end of August. With a mix of returning leadership and new energy, our team is ready to take the plunge! Meredith Coolen - Heading into her third year at Dalhousie and a member of the varsity swim team, Meredith brings 16 years of competitive swimming experience in Nova Scotia & Ontario. Katharine Dawson - A current Acadia varsity swimmer entering her third year, Katharine has been competing for over a decade with various clubs in Nova Scotia. Olivia Jodrey - Going into her second year at Acadia, Olivia recently graduated from the Dartmouth Crusaders and has coached both summer and year-round programs with DCSC & Colby Sailfish. Daniel Sutherland- A third-year Dalhousie student and former competitive swimmer of 13 years with the Bedford Beavers & Halifax Trojans, Daniel now coaches with HTAC. Liam Ferguson- Returning for his fifth season as one of our Program Coordinators, Liam is a recent Dalhousie University grad in Environmental Science and Oceanography, and recently wrapped up his varsity career with the Dal Tigers as Team Captain. | | 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: - Open Water Event #1 - July 8, 2025
- East Coast Champs, St. John, NB - July 10-13, 2025
- Windsor Bluefins Invitational Meet - July 12, 2025
- Bedford Beavers Invitational Meet - July 13, 2025
- Bridgewater Barracudas Invitational Meet - July 19, 2025
- Digby Dolphins Invitational Meet - July 20, 2025
- Kentville Marlins Invitational Meet - July 26, 2025
- Colby Sailfish Invitational Meet - July 27, 2025
- Waeg/East Hants Invitational Meet - August 2, 2025
- St. Margaret's Bay Breakers Invitational Meet - August 3, 2025
- Open Water Event #2 - August 6, 2025
- 2025 Speedo Canadian Short Course Championships - August 7-10, 2025
- 2025 Canada Summer Games - August 10-15, 2025
- Summer Provincial Championships - Lunenburg - August 15-17, 2025
2025-2026 Schedule of Events & Competition Information Stay tuned for more details and updates through Club Contacts! | | | | |
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