“Volunteers, especially in a sport like swimming, make it happen.”

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer, and over the next few weeks, Swim Ontario will be featuring stories about some of our many volunteers who give back to our sport. Thank you to all of our hard working and dedicated volunteers!

She is the epitome of a champion.

It’s a word that is often associated with the world of sport, or a trophy, medals and all the camaraderie and accolades that goes with it.

For the record, Carolyn Bodnar-Evans did participate in track and field and gymnastics when she attended high school in Oshawa. But there were no major awards, medals, or titles. She even held the title of Prime Minister - with the student council in her grade 12 year.

There are those who know of her, while others will learn more about the courage, dedication, and fortitude of this admirable woman in this story. Talk with her, and there is a connection between the need to live out a passion, pursue a career and to excel in the world of volunteerism.

You may have heard of her father. He was August "Gus" Bodnar, a professional hockey player who was the Calder Memorial Trophy winner as the National Hockey League's rookie of the year for the 1943-44 season. He had played 12 seasons - from 1943 to 1955 – as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks and Boston Bruins. When his playing days were over, he went on to coach the Toronto Marlies to a Memorial Cup and was the recipient of the Ontario Hockey League Coach of the Year.

So, what does all of that have to do with his daughter?

Plenty.

There is an ancient proverb, varying in versions since the 1300’s, that goes something like this “like father, like son”. You’ve likely heard it many times. The meaning of the phrase shows resemblance, in some way, to a parent. I’m going to alter it – “like father, like daughter”.

While Carolyn Bodnar-Evans, grew up in a hockey family, she did have an affinity for her father’s courage, leadership abilities, and desire to help others.

“While I grew up with hockey, I did benefit a great deal in learning, then gaining interest in teaching, coaching and instruction while working in the Oshawa Recreation Department,” said Bodnar-Evans, adding that she gained a real appreciation for the importance of volunteering during one of her career stops.

Bodnar-Evans took the legacy of her father, one of inspiration and passion to excel, and linked it to her lifestyle. That zeal of affection would vibrate into a superb professional career, and an allotment of many hours of personal and family time given to volunteering.

As a youngster, whose mother was Scottish, Bodnar-Evans was also interested in Highland dancing. That’s the Gaelic folk repertoire that has similarities to ballet. She would connect with that world of dance, but not as a performer. Instead, her role - with one of the top ballet training schools in the world- was in the area of finance.

Bodnar-Evans would eventually focus on investing several years at the University of Waterloo, focussing on a future in business and economics that would lead her to earning a Bachelor’s degree in Economics followed by a Masters in Accounting.

Formal volunteer work didn’t enter the picture until after she had become a Chartered Professional Accountant and did some work in the charitable sector.

She would progressively gain experience from financial and administration work at Price Waterhouse, the National Ballet School, Save the Children Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute of Canada. Currently, she’s responsible for finance and administration with the not-for-profit Canadian Partnership Against Cancer – an organization funded by Health Canada.

“When I was with the National Ballet School, I learned that to put on ballets and shows, you need more than paid staff,” she said. “In the charitable sector, you gain a real appreciation for the importance of volunteerism.”

Water safety has always been a big priority for the family. Both her son and daughter took an interest in swimming. But it was her son Aleks, who at the age of eight caught the attention of swim instructors. Competitive swimming was his forte, and it wasn’t long before he joined the Toronto Swim Club.

“In the past few years, there has been a turnover in the club, and volunteers were in great demand,” said Bodnar-Evans, who would earn her Level 2 status as an official. “(Officials) were needed, and I had to find more time, so that all swimmers would continue to have opportunities to compete.”

Committed and focussed to volunteering when she could, it was in 2019 that doctors shared some serious health news with her and her family.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she said. “I am a breast cancer survivor and continue to volunteer because I enjoy doing it.”

At the 2022 FINA Swimming World Cup, hosted by Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) and held in Canada for the first time in 20 years, Bodnar-Evans - and her son, Aleks – both answered the call for volunteering assistance.

“There was a call for volunteers, and we knew it would be a great opportunity to help out at event at that level,” said Bodnar-Evans, who devoted 20 hours over five days.

“There was this need to contribute to the success of the event. It was not only interesting to watch so many swimmers from various countries, but I knew volunteer work was important to me.”

At the World Cup, Bodnar-Evans helped set up the day before the athletes had arrived, which entailed putting up signage on the deck and main levels. Later, it was with athlete registration, providing coaches and swimmers with their credentials. There was also shifts in the ticket booth and later sorting and organizing event shirts for officials, volunteers and others.

What caught her attention was the generosity of people to pitch in.

“I make a point of telling people that it’s good to volunteer,” she said. “I feel good about (volunteering) and understand that volunteers, especially in a sport like swimming, make it happen.”

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations