Paralympic swim coach Shane Esau and Canadian Paralympic swimmer Morgan Bird joined the Columbia Valley Otters for three practices in November.  They both recently returned from the London Paralympics.  It was a great opportunity for our swimmers and coaches to learn from Shane and hear Morgan's inspiring story.

Five members of the Columbia Otters Swim Club went to Cranbrook on Sunday, November 4th for an Olympic camp with Brent Hayden (winner of an Olympic bronze medal in 2012 in the 100 metre freestyle) and London 2012 teammate Scott Dickens, who competed in breaststroke. The young swimmers spent two pool sessions 
getting one-on-one tips from Brent and Scott, doing efficient kicking drills and positioning drills, and also spent time listening to their Olympic stories, watching videos of their top swims, and taking a look at Brent’s Olympic bronze medal. Pictured, clockwise from top left: Scott Dickens, Brent Hayden, Carson Tomalty, 16, Madeleine Wrazej, 16, Isabella Hul, 11, Brittany Milley, 13, and Davin van Urk, 16. (from the Columbia Valley Pioneer, photo by Karen Fahrni)

AG Valley Foods presented the Columbia Valley Otters Swim Club with a cheque of the money raised from their community rewards initiative in May 2012. The monies were raised through purchase of community rewards items in store as well as the Saturday hot dog sales the club hosted outside on weekends.
 
Pictured is Coach Karen Fahrni, Madeleine Wrazej, and Carson Tomalty with members of the club.