The British Columbia tree growing in the forest symbolizes the beauty and strength of our community and those who contribute to it. Each set of wooden blocks are unique and cut from the same tree as we are unique and parts of the whole.Beautiful British Columbia
We are a province of diversity. BC has Canada’s third largest population, with over 5 million people, and is the most ethnically diverse province in Canada. Almost 30 percent of British Columbians have immigrated to BC from another country. Our Indigenous peoples, with 198 distinct First Nations – 30 languages, and almost 60 dialects, have lived and cared for the lands and all its beings for over 10,000 years.
British Columbia is the third largest province in size. It is huge! BC is 1,200 kilometres from north to south and 1,000 kilometres from east to west – the size of France, Germany and the Netherlands – COMBINED. To drive from the southern-most point of BC to the Yukon boarder would take 24 hours – non-stop.
The province is known throughout the world for its beauty, its climate, and its people. Our cities are consistently ranked among the most liveable on the planet. People travel to BC from around the world to visit our sites, to recreate (golfing, skiing, sailing, cycling, hiking, and fishing), to eat our fresh foods, for the diverse cuisine, and drink our wines. When people think of British Columbia, they think about our beauty – the rocky coastline, sandy beaches, islands, lakes, rugged mountains, and our vast forests.
Over seventy-five percent of BC is covered in mountains and the province has over 149 million acres of forest.
Our Forests
British Columbia has a higher degree of ecosystem diversity in our forests than in any other Province or Territory in Canada and is among the most diverse in the world. A forest ecosystem is made of fertile soil, plants, animals, decomposers, and fungi. A tree will grow, die, fall to the forest floor, decompose, and nurture the plants and fungi around it.
A single tree will not thrive without that ecosystem.
And yet, life is still difficult for a tree in the forest. A tree is exposed to the elements, including rains and flooding, droughts and fire, extreme heat, extreme cold, and wind.
Every tree in the forest is unique. It will shape itself to and by its surroundings. The roots of the tree will reach across rocks, intertwine with the roots of other trees, and reach deep into the soil for nourishment. The branches will reach out to drink from the rain and feel the warmth of the sun.
The Team
Our Swim Team is a tree in the forest. We are shaped by the beauty of our landscape and diversity of our ecosystem. We have been nurtured and are strong. We have endured and persevered through hardship.
Individuals
Each wooden block has been cut from a single BC tree and the rough edges have been carefully smoothed.
On at a time, please pick two wooden blocks from the centre of the circle. One block represents your mind and the other your body.
No two blocks are the same – each having their own patterns and knots each are perfectly imperfect. Your blocks reflect you – unique, beautiful, and part of the bigger tree.
Contribution
You contribute to this team by displaying your recognition of support, community, diversity, uniqueness, beauty, strength, and perseverance. We do this by clapping the blocks together. It is the commitment of your mind and body to the team.
The FINA Swimming World Cup hosted the second leg of the World Cup in Toronto this past weekend. 64 BC swimmers and 22 Alternates were selected to compete against the best of the best in Toronto.
A major highlight from the weekend was Nicholas Bennett setting a World Para Swimming Record in the Men’s 200 Freestyle S14 with a time of 1:51.40!! Congrats Nick!
BC Swimmers represented Canadian Clubs 9 times during the finals. We would like the recognize:
Madisen Jacques – 8th – Women’s 200m Butterfly
Emma O’Croinin – 7th – Women’s 400m Freestyle
Danielle Hanus – 6th – Women’s 50m Backstroke
Blake Tierney – 8th – Men’s 200m Backstroke
Danielle Hanus – 6th – Women’s 100m Backstroke
Liam Clawson-Honeyman – 6th – Men’s 800m Freestyle
Adam Wu – 7th – Men’s 800m Freestyle
Danielle Hanus – 6th – Women’s 100m Butterfly
Eloise Allen – 6th – Women’s 50m Breaststroke
Congratulations Swimmers! This was an incredible opportunity for BC Swimmers to make their international debuts.
Three BC athletes joined the Canadian Junior Open Water Team at the FINA Open Water Junior Championships in Mahe, Seychelles. Swim BC would like to recognize the following swimmers who attended the competition:
Aidan Erickson (LOSC)
Zach McLeod (WDSC)
Julia Strojnowska (CDSC)
More than 150 athletes from over 50 countries are competing at this year’s premiere event. Races are organized on a 2,500-m lap course in the Beau Vallon region of Seychelles, on the northwestern coast of Mahé. The same course was used during both the 2018 and 2019 FINA Marathon Swim World Series in Seychelles.
Julia Strojnowska competed in the Women’s 7.5km finishing in 21st with a time of 1:30:13.20. Aidan Erickson competed in the Men’s 7.5km placing in 23rd with a time of 1:22:33.20. Zach McLeod competed in the Men’s 5km placing in 17th with a time of 51:55.40.
In the relay event, Julia Strojnowska & Zach McLeod represented Canada on the 14-15 4x1500m Mixed Relay. The relay finished in 8th place, the highest Canadian finish of the weekend.
Congrats swimmers!
The Golden Flipper Butterfly Challenge wrapped up at the end of August. After a season of competition, British Columbia has won the Golden Flipper Challenge! Alberta has been a worthy rival throughout the season, and we congratulate all the swimmers, coaches and clubs who participated.
On the club side, the University of Calgary Swim Club took the top spot in the club rankings with a score of 932 combined points. Hyack Swim Club took the top spot in British Columbia with a combined score of 394 Points. Congrats to both clubs!
Top Performers are the swimmers who have the top combined point from the LCM results in the 50, 100, and 200 Butterfly. Top performers include:
The 18 top performers will receive a $50.00 online store purchase voucher. Participation prizes were awarded to 36 swimmers chosen at random from the top 16 athletes. They will receive a $25.00 online store purchase voucher. We would like to thank Team Aquatic Supplies & Speedo for their support in this challenge.
The full result breakdown is available here.
Swimming Canada has released the invitation list for Canadian swimmers for the FINA Swimming World Cup in Toronto, October 28th through October 30th, 2022.
Swim BC swimmers are well represented with 64 invited to compete and another 22 on the alternates list. Congratulations to our BC swimmers, coaches, and clubs.
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