Canada Artistic Swimming Celebrates Century Award Winners at Century Gala Event

Canada Artistic Swimming marked a major milestone at its annual conference in September with its 100-year anniversary gala in Montreal. The evening honoured a century of achievements, from early pioneers to modern champions, and featured the Century Awards, recognizing athletes, coaches and clubs who’ve shaped Canadian artistic swimming.

Opening the evening, host Claire Carver-Dias welcomed guests to this historic celebration, briefly recounting her own journey through artistic swimming and reflecting on the community’s growth.

“Since 1924, when Peggy Seller won the first national championship at Montreal’s YWCA, Canadian artistic swimming has come a long way,” she noted, “tonight, we honour that journey.”

Century Awards: Recognizing Excellence Across the Decades

Florence Klein, President of Canada Artistic Swimming, introduced the Century Awards, highlighting achievements spanning a century of Canadian talent. In her remarks, she emphasized the significant contributions of Canada’s artistic swimmers on the international stage, from winning 33 Pan American Games medals and 15 Commonwealth Games golds to standing among the top five globally at the World Championships.

Klein stated, “Tonight, we celebrate the athletes, coaches, and officials who defined Canadian artistic swimming and left a lasting impact on the world stage.”

Celebrating Icons with Athlete Century Awards: Honouring Sylvie Fréchette, Carolyn Waldo, and Jacqueline Simoneau

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Athlete Century Awards, an honour given to three of Canada’s most celebrated artistic swimming legends: Sylvie Fréchette, Carolyn Waldo, and Jacqueline Simoneau. These awards recognized not only their extraordinary athletic achievements but also their lasting impact on the sport, both within Canada and internationally.

Sylvie Fréchette received her Athlete Century Award in recognition of a career that has inspired countless athletes. Her iconic performance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where she ultimately received gold after a historic correction for a scoring error, is celebrated as one of the most defining moments in Canadian Olympic history. Sylvie’s legacy continues beyond the pool as she passionately advocates for the sport, mentoring young athletes and promoting the values of perseverance, grace, and integrity.

Carolyn Waldo, the first Canadian woman to win two gold medals at a single Olympics (Seoul 1988), was honoured for her contributions to Canada’s global artistic swimming success. As an athlete known for her precision, dedication, and poise, Carolyn has set a standard that has influenced generations of athletes. Her partnership with Michelle Cameron Coulter captivated audiences worldwide, and she remains a cherished figure in the artistic swimming community.

Jacqueline Simoneau, the recipient of the final Athlete Century Award of the evening, was honoured for her recent accomplishments and her role as a leader in the next generation of Canadian artistic swimming. After earning multiple Pan American Games golds, World Championship medals, and her historic World Championship title in 2024, Jacqueline’s journey is a testament to resilience and excellence. Returning to the international stage and the Olympics after a short hiatus, Jacqueline’s dedication and success have solidified her place as a Canadian sports icon, inspiring young athletes across the nation.

These Athlete Century Awards celebrated the unique contributions of Sylvie, Carolyn, and Jacqueline, whose legacies continue to shape and inspire the artistic swimming community in Canada and beyond. Their stories remind us of the heights of excellence achievable in sport and the power of perseverance, artistry, and passion.

Honouring Coaches and Legacy Clubs

The Century Awards also honoured standout coaches and clubs whose contributions continue to shape artistic swimming in Canada.

The Coach Century Awards were presented to Biz Price, Debbie Muir, Sheilagh Croxon, and Jojo Carrier. These exceptional coaches have each played a pivotal role in elevating Canadian artistic swimming, from inspiring generations of athletes to pushing boundaries in choreography and advancing high-performance standards. Through their leadership, vision, and commitment, they have not only shaped the careers of individual athletes but have also defined what excellence looks like in Canadian artistic swimming, both nationally and internationally. Their contributions continue to influence the sport today, leaving a legacy that resonates across communities and competitions.

In the Club category, awards were presented to Synchro Élite (now Québec Excellence Synchro), Olympium Artistic Swimming Club, the Calgary Aquabelles, and Montreal Synchro. Each of these clubs has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence, setting high standards in athlete development and pioneering new approaches that have enriched the sport. Their work has fostered countless champions and cultivated a supportive environment for athletes at all levels, from young swimmers to national team members. Through a mix of technical precision, innovation in routines, and dedication to athlete well-being, these clubs continue to be pillars of the artistic swimming community, helping to inspire and shape future generations.

Honouring Dedication: Recognizing Canada’s Artistic Swimming Officials

The gala also honoured the invaluable contributions of Canada’s artistic swimming officials with the presentation of various service awards.

A highlight of the evening was the prestigious Bridge Builder Award, awarded to Nancy Reed. Known for her unwavering dedication to artistic swimming, Nancy recently retired from a distinguished career officiating at regional, provincial, national, and international events. Nancy’s commitment to fostering the next generation of athletes and officials earned her the award, which celebrates individuals who bridge gaps across generations, skill levels, and distances. Her journey, which even took her to the Paris Olympics as a proud supporter of Team Canada, exemplifies the enduring spirit and camaraderie of the artistic swimming community.

Following this, officials received service awards in recognition of their many years of dedicated volunteerism:

• 5-Year Certificates: Awarded to officials marking their first milestone, including Kelly Hoop, Julie Chin, Janelle Wells, Christina Demiris, Ann Gillis, and Kristie Schmidt.
• 10-Year Pins: Recipients included Ted Smith, Wendy Yule, Melanie Lacroix, Miranda Spensley, Danielle Sorgo, and Erika Lindner.
• 15-Year President’s Pins: Awarded to Erin Bartsch, Jessica Lamontagne, Lesley Ahara, and Kari McKnight.
• 20-Year Certificates: Presented to Louise Newburry and Kirsten Brough.
• Board of Directors 25-Year Pin: Awarded to Bridge Builder honoree Nancy Reed.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Honoured Jackie Hiscock for her 40 years of service.

This recognition of officials underscored their essential role in the growth and success of Canadian artistic swimming, with their expertise and commitment helping to foster a resilient and thriving community for years to come.

Special Recognition for Canada’s 2024 Olympians

As Canada Artistic Swimming wraps up its first century, the gala served as a nod to its roots and an inspiring look forward. With its history and influence reaching across generations, the community is set to build on a strong legacy for the future.