Swim Ontario is expanding its Grassroots reach in the Ontario Swimming Community

During discussions with our clubs and stakeholders, common feedback that we receive is that more attention is required at the grassroots of the sport, including recruitment or retention of swimmers and coaches, the focused understanding of strengthening the early stages and the base skills of swimming development.

Swim Ontario is pleased to launch a ‘grassroots development’ approach in the 2023-2024 season. This will include an educational support system that goes beyond theoretical to practical experience based discovery and club mentorship with in the field support. Heather Bruce will be joining the Swim Ontario leadership team as the Grassroots Development Coordinator beginning September 5, 2023 in order to develop this new initiative and direction.

“Heather brings more than twenty years of community building, grassroots leadership and mentorship training with people from a variety of backgrounds and careers. She has worked in club coaching, leadership and mentorship with the idea of ‘world class swimming begins with world class grassroots’. Her passion, knowledge and experience over the years makes her an outstanding choice to lead this initiative,” said Dean Boles, Swim Ontario CEO.

“I am looking forward to meeting with clubs and grassroots coaches across the province to discover strengths in programming and coaching to build connections not only with Swim Ontario but with each other at the club level. Together we can be stronger by sharing information and ideas,” said Heather Bruce.

One of the first deliveries of this project will include a panel at the Swim Ontario Conference on September 22nd where Heather will sit on a panel with Darda Sales, Stu McLean and representatives from each region to discuss grassroots development across the province.

Swim Ontario is pleased to expand and grow the staff to continue to assist the Ontario swimming community reach their potential and thrive.