“I owe it to swimming to engage, give back and make things even better.”

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 has learned from a vast array of personal and professional experiences.

Well-spoken and eloquent in her choice of words, Dr. Janet Morrison has always been one to champion human potential. Have a conversation with her, and it becomes quite evident that she really believes in amateur sport.

For her, there’s a bit of a bias towards swimming. More about that, including standards, influence, and advice, comes later in this story.

Committed and articulate, Morrison champions the value of working hard, doing what’s right and giving back.

Many will remember John F. Kennedy as the 35th President of the United States. He attended Harvard University and gave up football to focus on swimming. Kennedy was known for his commentary – and he had this quote. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

Morrison knows something about leadership and learning.

“Swimming, and sports in general, fueled my leadership skills,” said Morrison, who is now President and Vice Chancellor of Sheridan College, a dynamic educational institution with a student population of 40,000 that includes those in fulltime and continuing education studies.

Education has always been important to Morrison, not just as a student or administrator, but because she sees the experience of attending college or university as game changing.

And, yes, there is a solid link to swimming.

Morrison has worked at Toronto’s George Brown College and York University in leadership positions focussed on student success. Today, at Sheridan, she’s enhancing the College’s reputation for excellence in the arts, technology, and health. She’s also Chair of the Board at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association.

So, what would bring her to accepting a nomination to the Board of Directors of the largest provincial swim organization in Canada?

“Engagement is very important to me,” she said. “Sports can drive phenomenal outcomes for people. It’s not just about being physically fit, but also about being mentally well. Swimmers learn to set goals, manage their time, regulate their energy and support their teammates – these are fundamental and transferable life skills.”

Like her other eight Board leadership colleagues at Swim Ontario, Morrison believes that strong governance is a key to building a dynamic organization. Asked about her role, Morrison focuses on positioning Swim Ontario for success through strategy, managing risk and supporting the organizations Chief Executive Officer.

Morrison learned to swim at the age six at a city program in Mississauga’s City Swim program, but a stress fracture in her back derailed a bright competitive future. She swam with varsity teams while earning academic degrees at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Guelph and talks enthusiastically about what she gained from that experience. She earned a Doctorate in Higher Education from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Drawing on her 35 years of experiencing and supporting post-secondary students, Morrison is adamant that sport, and swimming in particular, must become more accessible and inclusive.

“It isn’t about a verbal commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Morrison. “If you truly believe sport and swimming deliver these great outcomes, you’re obligated to ensure those benefits are available to as many people as possible.”

Physical fitness is important to Morrison, who works out in the Sheridan gym several days a week to maintain her wellness and stay connected with students.

As for swimming, her daughter is training nine times a week. As a Swim Ontario Board member, and senior official, Morrison enjoys interacting with athletes, parents, and coaches through her volunteerism.

“I am immensely grateful for what swimming has done for me, and for my daughter,” said Morrison. “I owe it to (swimming) to engage, give back and make things even better.”

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 sport, education and Government relations.