Persevere in Kindness, Love and Positivity

“Swimming had a huge positive impact in my life” - Daphne Armstrong

By David Grossman

It may sound conspicuous to some, but there is nothing wrong with thriving on the pleasure of swimming while at the same time being scared to dive into water.

That picture remains true for hundreds of individuals of all ages.

Daphne Armstrong, at one time, was in that group.

Back when she was a youngster, living in a community surrounded by lakes in Northwestern Ontario, the odds were quite good that in the warmer weather, you could find Armstrong on a beach.

Her parents wanted their daughter, the youngest of four siblings, and with three brothers, to find an activity that would keep her active. Judo, karate and soccer were options offered, but she had no interest in any of them.

Swim lessons at the Kenora Aquatics Club, as it was known back then, entered the picture. Diving was still a no-no. Progress, maybe, as she was entertained by jumping off blocks, then swimming as quick as she could to catch up to others. Suddenly, there was a bonding to being in water.

Armstrong didn’t wait too long to get absorbed by the sport. At age nine, the interest took off. She became enamoured with competitive swimming and the celebration of competition in local meets across the northwestern part of the province.

She called it an adventure.

It would also turn out to be one of her many experiences. Not just the aggressiveness of racing against others, but the ambitious drive of meeting and working with others.

“Swimming had a huge positive impact in my life,” said Armstrong. “It made me a goal-driven person. Someone who wanted to persevere in kindness, love and positivity. You want to be remembered for good things.”

At the age of 12, she won an incredible five medals competing in the freestyle and butterfly events at two North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). That was in 1995 in Blaine, Minnesota. Two years later, when the event was in Victoria, B.C., Armstrong was again in the spotlight making the trip to the awards podium three more times.

“It was something special for me,” said Armstrong, who is a member of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, an Ojibway Band. “There were not many high performers in that sport back then. My goal was to do well in the CIAU (Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union) competition.”

She along with two other Kenora swimmers – John Tsentouros and his sister Panayiota (Yiota) – won a remarkable, and unheard of, 13 medals; almost half of the entire Ontario delegation of 30 during the 1995 NAIG.

Armstrong may have accomplished something even better. She made the Canadian Nationals at age 16, however, she didn’t attend the competition. In fact, she left the sport, saying she needed a break from intense training. In 2003, Armstrong stopped competitive swimming.

“We don’t have the infrastructure to get people involved in the sport and it becomes quite a challenge,” she said. “I am a big proponent for sport and opportunities. It’s near and dear to my heart.

“I am in favour of creating positive outlets for young people in the Indigenous community and I am sure many would enjoy it. But, it’s hard. To compete, you can’t drive in the winter that easily to Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances.”

Armstrong was the recipient of a Governor General’s award in academics, and pursued post-secondary studies, initially at the University of Western Ontario in London. But things didn’t work out and she chose to move closer to home - and the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, where her focus was on psychology and Native studies.

At a young age, Armstrong wanted to be just like her father – a police officer. Instead, her university education helped her decide that she could help people in a different way. She became President of Community Health Care Professionals, a nursing and consulting company. Now, at age 37, her focus is on program development and policy work.

Janet Hyslop, a swimming coach and mentor in Northwestern Ontario, remembers Armstrong in her early years.

“She was the most beautiful natural swimmer that I had seen in years,” recalled Hyslop. “We would travel with (the Kenora swimmers) and she would always show some exceptional skills. There were very few Indigenous kids who would become swim role models. She was that good – a superb individual.”

Always highlighting the well-being of families, Armstrong likes to lead by example.

Admitting there is always room for improvement in everything, when she gets time, she has returned to swimming. This time, involved in a Master’s program at the only pool in the community – the Kenora Recreational Complex.

David Grossman is a veteran award-winning Journalist, 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.