For the first time under its new name and brand, members and registrants involved in Canada Artistic Swimming from across the country will gather in Calgary for its initial Convention and Annual Meeting since the name change from Synchro Canada. Close to 100 people will take in the activities, ranging from seminars and workshops to in-pool demonstrations at the University of Calgary’s Active Living Department, from September 13-16.

“This Convention and Annual Meeting marks an exciting new chapter in our sport,” said Jackie Buckingham, CEO, Canada Artistic Swimming. “We will be celebrating our new brand, sharing it with our members, as well as launching our new entry-level aquatic literacy program – AquaGO! And along with our hosts, Synchro Alberta, we’ll be recognizing key volunteers, coaches and athletes for their contributions to the sport in a Gala Celebration dinner.”

Members, coaches and club representatives will work together to align on best practices in workshops covering:

  • Risk Management – Overview of risk in Sport + Developing and Using a Risk Registry
  • Code of Conduct – bringing your conduct policy from paper to practice with confidence
  • Harassment/ Abuse – a Temperature Check in Canadian sport
  • Managing Conflict of Interest in Sport and Coaching
  • Insurance – the practicalities

Specific sessions for coaches include Professionalism in Practice, and a “Back-to-Basics” technique tips session in the pool with Olympic coach Debbie Muir, along with NCCP courses for Competition Development and AquaGO! Instructor certification. Planning sessions are scheduled to bring member input on continuing to define roles and responsibilities for maximum organizational efficiency and continuing to work on the development of a uniform national competition structure.

In addition to the Saturday workshops, the Annual Meeting, scheduled for Friday, September 14, from 2pm – 4pm Mountain time, is available for participants not in attendance to join online. Governance changes being considered include enlarging the national board by one director-at-large and increasing the terms of office from two years to three years with a maximum of nine years of service instead of six. As well, elections to select three board members will be held.

Added Buckingham, “With all the activities planned from the live in-pool demonstration of our new AquaGO! Program to the update on our strategic planning, and the focus on the exciting times ahead for the sport, it’s going to be a significant and motivational gathering of the Canadian Artistic Swimming community.”

More details about the Canadian Artistic Swimming Convention and Annual meeting can be found on the event page.