Canada Artistic Swimming is proud to announce that Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, will be the host city for its 2022 National Qualifier. Saskatoon was originally scheduled to host the event in 2021, but it was transformed into a virtual event to ensure participant safety amidst the COVID pandemic.
The 2022 event will be held at Saskatoon’s Shaw Centre, on March 28 – April 3, 2022. Hosted in partnership with Saskatchewan Artistic Swimming and the Saskatoon Aqualenes, the event is scheduled to welcome over 450 athletes from across Canada.
This will mark the first time in eight years that Canada Artistic Swimming stages an event in Saskatchewan, since the Canadian Championships (then only for the junior and senior age groups) were also held at Saskatoon’s Shaw Centre in 2014. Opened in 2009, this internationally-recognized venue features a 10-lane 50m pool that is at least 3m deep over its entire length, making it particularly well-suited for artistic swimming.
Kathleen Reynolds, Executive Director at Saskatchewan Artistic Swimming (SAS), is very proud that Saskatchewan will host this event in Saskatoon. “We’re very pleased to congratulate the Saskatoon Aqualenes for their continued commitment to now play host to the 2022 National Qualifier, after the cancellation of the in-person version of the event in 2021. It’s heart-warming that the Aqualenes have the support of their membership to continue with this endeavour and bring this exceptional event to Saskatoon. We welcome everyone to Saskatchewan as we embark upon the full return of our sport’s activities next season.”
“We are definitely pleased and excited that the Saskatoon Aqualenes, in partnership with our provincial sport organization, will host the 2022 National Qualifier,” stated Jennifer Friedt, President of the Saskatoon Aqualenes Artistic Swimming Club. “We can’t wait to host athletes, coaches and officials from across the country and come together again to celebrate this amazing sport. See you all in March 2022!”
The City of Saskatoon, through its Sports Tourism bureau, has also committed to support the event. “Saskatoon Sports Tourism is incredibly excited to welcome all of Canada Artistic Swimming’s athletes, staff and fans to our city in 2022,” stated Heather Bury, the organization’s Business Development Specialist. “We were very disappointed that we weren’t able to host this event in 2021 due to the pandemic, but we feel fortunate to have the opportunity in 2022. The Shaw Centre is a fantastic facility for artistic swimming and our industry is excited to welcome these athletes to Saskatoon. We’re hopeful we’ll have the opportunity to showcase our prairie hospitality and we look forward to the event in 2022!”
More details about the competition will be available as the date nears.