Nine BC Officials Represent the Province at the 2026 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials, held July 5–9 at the Olympic Pool in Montreal.
The BC officials selected to officiate at this year’s national championship were:
Larry Chrobot (PGB), Sheila Nelson (BC Official), Glenn Grieg (BC Official), Aysha Haines (EVDSC), Will Li (RAPID), Kathy Rice (PGB), Norma Lachance (BC Official), Yusula Choe (PSW), Edmund Cheung (CDSC)
While athletes competed for national titles and international team selection, officials played an equally essential role in ensuring the competition was conducted according to the standards.
Edmund Cheung shared his experience of officiating at one of Canada’s premier swimming events:
“It is a privilege to be among the 9 BC officials on the deck at the Olympic Pool in Montreal for the 2026 Canadian Swimming Trials.
While the stakes are high, being part of this event is a massive reminder of how much fun swimming can be. Beyond the strict protocols, one of the best parts of travelling to a national meet is the opportunity to make new friends and reconnect with peers from across the country.
An event of this scale relies completely on teamwork. Working alongside a dedicated crew of officials to run a seamless meet is always a great experience. It’s also our second time applying the new World Aquatics rules this year following the Canadian Open in April. Navigating these updates together on deck has been a fantastic reminder that every meet is a learning opportunity for everyone involved.
The atmosphere in Montreal has been unforgettable, driven by history-making moments in the pool. The energy was electric when Lorne Wigginton took down Brian Johns’ 18-year-old Canadian record in the men’s 400 IM, and when Taylor Ruck swept all 5 of her events. But the absolute climax of the meet was witnessing a spectacular, history-making race by Summer McIntosh in the 200m butterfly, where she shattered the longest-standing individual women’s world record on the books.
I am incredibly grateful to represent BC here and look forward to bringing this energy and experience back home to our local decks!”
Swim BC congratulates Larry Chrobot, Sheila Nelson, Glenn Grieg, Aysha Haines, Will Li, Kathy Rice, Norma Lachance, Yusula Choe, and Edmund Cheung on representing British Columbia. Their commitment behind the scenes plays a vital role in the success of competitions at every level of the sport.
