Dive Ontario AGM Update
Online Zoom Call – This past Saturday, October 2nd, Dive Ontario held its 2021 Annual General Meeting. Every year this meeting gives insight into Dive Ontario’s activities from the past year, and what is planned for the year to come. We want to thank all the members of the Sport Performance Committee, the Sport Business Committee, Finance Committee, the Board of Directors, and our club presidents and coaches, whose efforts made the AGM and this difficult year, a successful one.
We’re feeling very good about the position Dive Ontario is in, heading into next year. We were able to get a good sense of how we are going handle COVID moving forward; as well as add a couple of knowledgeable individuals to our board. I’d say this year’s AGM was a success.
-Nathan Abdelnour, Executive Director of Dive Ontario
Due to COVID-19, most provincial and national events were cancelled, however Dive Ontario was able to keep our divers active with a number of virtual competitions. A virtual dive competition consisting of 62 divers from across the province was held in December 2020, as well as a virtual Dryland Provincials, to see who would represent Ontario in the Dryland Nationals. We want to congratulate all of our athletes on their successes in the past year. Read more about our divers accomplishments in the links below.
Along with the Club Presidents Meeting, Club Coaches Meeting, and Officials Meeting, we had time this year to talk about COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines being put into place, and what they will mean for Dive Ontario moving forward. Government mandated vaccine passports are starting to roll out. While some facilities may have different policies than the government. Proof of vaccination must be shown by divers and spectators above the age of 12 at all Dive Ontario Provincial events (medical exemptions will apply). We understand this may not be ideal for everyone, however we have a responsibility to keep our divers and the general public safe.
The AGM meeting was concluded with our Board of Directors election. Three positions were up for election this year: VP, Finance, VP, Operations, and VP, Sport Performance. Some incredible people put their names forward for consideration, and we could not be happier with the group that was selected. We want to welcome Patti Kennedy, who will fill the role of VP, Finance, Kim O’Hara, who will fill the role of VP, Operations, and we want to congratulate Alex Povzner on his new role as VP, Sport Performance.
With new members coming in, we unfortunately have to say goodbye Anna Dacyshyn and Scott Grant who have served on Dive Ontario’s Board of Directors for two and four years respectively. Anna and Scott were valued members of Dive Ontario’s Board, and we want to wish them luck in their future opportunities.
I want to start off by thanking Anna and Scott for all the work they have been able to do for our board in their years of service. They were able to take Dive Ontario’s values and really make them their own; they will be missed. At the same time I want to welcome Patti and Kim aboard, and of course congratulate Alex on his new position. We have an incredibly capable group of people on this board and I’m excited for the year ahead as we look to get back to in-person competition.
-Francois Bernard, Dive Ontario Board President
