Owen Sound Swimming

Lead Coach spotlight #3 - Coach Mark

Waves Lead / Devo Associate

Hello swimmers and families and welcome to another season. I am excited to be returning to the role of coach after a twenty year break. For six years (1999-2005) I had the opportunity to be the Head Coach for OSAC. Before coming to Owen Sound I was an age group coach for the Trent Swim Club and a University team coach for Trent. Many people in our community know me as Mr. Avery, the teacher. Over the last two decades I have taught grades 1-8, mostly French Immersion.

I have been involved in many sports throughout my life, including swimming, triathlon, running and rowing. My passion remains with swimming, however, and there is rarely a week where I am not in the pool 3 times. I am excited to share my knowledge of the sport with our developing athletes in the Waves group.

Terrific to welcome Mark Avery back to the deck with Big Blue!

Lead Coach spotlight #2 - Coach Kourtney

Tides Lead / Devo Associate

Kourtney first joined the OSAC team at age 8 where she swam as a competitive swimmer for 10 years before moving onto post-secondary school.

“I remember the early morning practices and the friends I made as a swimmer that became some of my closest friends”.

She found herself coaching a smaller competitive club in London, Ontario and was able to propel and support swimmers to the Provincial level.

Kourtney feels that being part of a team sport that is also very individualized is unique; allows for growth, both mentally and physically. It also teaches youngsters to excel with the support of teammates, while also being their biggest cheerleaders.

“What other sport can you push yourself until you have nothing left in a race and then turn to the side for a breath and see your entire team lined up along the side of the pool cheering you on. This is when you know it’s a team sport”

Kourtney is very excited to be part of the coaching team again this year.

Introducing our Lead Coach spotlights for the 2026-27 season!

Coach Virginia is our Splash Lead - Devo Associate:

Virginia has been involved with OSAC in a variety of roles since 2000. She has been a swimmer for as long as she can remember, starting out in Kitchener-Waterloo and later varsity swimming at Brock University.

"I was never a super-star swimmer, but love the feeling of being in the water surrounded by positive, hard working, and motivational people." She is currently a masters swimmer and competes provincially-nationally (and internationally at the Worlds).

She has been coaching, teaching and mentoring for several years and enjoys being a part of a swimmer's knowledge and progress, in and out of the water.

Virginia believes that swimming helps make good life choices, because swimmers need to organize (manage their time and belongings) themselves, and work hard if they want to succeed.

Of course our young athletes need family support all the way along!

Virginia thanks parents for choosing swimming and encouraging your child to be active!

See you at the pool!

Registration for the 2026/2027 Season is Live!

Together, we swim stronger!

See you in the pool on September 14! 🏊🏻‍♀️🏊🏽‍♂️ 💦

Is your child ready to SPLASH? 💦 🏊🏻‍♀️🏊🏽‍♂️

SPLASH is the pre-competitive program of the Owen Sound Aquatic Club. Learn more about the skills and thrills of in a fun and friendly environment.

✔️ Ages 8 and up
✔️ swimmers must be able to swim one length, unassisted, of the big pool at the YMCA
✔️ sessions offered Tuesday and Thursday evenings
✔️ have fun with new friends!

Assessment Appointments and Registration now underway.
📧 Contact [email protected] for more information.

YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce

🏊‍♀️🎉OSAC BANQUET 2025-2026 🎉🏊‍♂️

Wrapping up the 2025-2026 swim season with a wonderful banquet celebrating our swimmers and a successful season with numerous club records, as well as regional, provincial and national level qualifiers and strong performances at various meets!

💙 Congratulations to the award recipients!

💙 Huge shoutout to our coaches, officials, volunteers, Board of Directors, and families for cheering on the swimmers every step of the way! Your support makes all the difference

💙 A big THANK YOU to our sponsors - Powell Contracting, Mink Marine, I Bergeron Automotive, TD Wealth - Scott Kocher & Ryan Hood, Middlebro & Stevens, SaveSight Vision Centre, Stemvox, Pharmasave Thornbury, Pioneer Masonry, Connect Rehabilitation, Bayshore Physical Therapy, Barebirch and Hometown Sports.

💙 Goodbye to our graduating swimmers - we wish you all the best on your next adventure!

OSAC congratulates all of its swimmers on another outstanding season and thanks everyone who contributed to its success! Cheers to new PB’s, friendships, and life-long skills 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️

Savesight Vision Centre savesight Stemvox pioneermasonry thornbury_pharmasave connect.rehab bayshorephysicaltherapy barebirch

💥2026 Ontario Swimming Championships💥
Good luck to our OSAC Big Blue swimmers competing at the 2026 Ontario Swimming Championships! 🏊💙
Congratulations to Owen, James, Brennan, Graeme, and Thomas on qualifying for Provincials! Your dedication, perseverance, and countless hours of training have earned you this opportunity—we're incredibly proud of you! 👏💪

We're also cheering on Anna and Audrey, who join OSAC during the summer season! 💙

Swim fast. Have fun. Leave it all in the pool.
💙 Go Big Blue! 💦
swimontario swim.coverage

🎉Good luck to Olivia at the Canadian Transplant Games 2026🎉
Good luck & fast swimming to this young and maturing swimmer, Olivia L, who is heading to Sherbrooke, Quebec for the Canadian Transplant Games. A celebration and opportunity to showcase her successful return to health and strength in the pool following a kidney transplant 18+ months ago.

From this coach's perspective, you've already conquered a big life-changing challenge. Race your heart 💙 out!

All the best, Olivia! .connect

🌟Senior Spotlight🌟
A very special congratulations to Sarah, Liston, Graeme, Thomas, and Olivier! It is bittersweet as we say goodbye to our senior swimmers who are diving into their next chapter.

Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and countless hours you've invested in OSAC and yourselves. You have helped inspire the younger swimmers! As we wrap up another incredible season, we celebrate the memories, lessons, and voices of our graduating swimmers 💙

Thomas Stredwick (2019)
🫶Fav memory: Cooking with Comp Gold in the Markham AirBNB and telling Mafia stories at Long Course Regionals.
💬 Swimming was never just about what we do in the water — it’s about building mindset, breaking barriers, building bridges, and pursuing excellence.

Graeme Manwell (2019)
🫶Fav memory: Seeing the ocean on our training trips in Spain and Portugal.
💬Have fun!

Olivier Lafleur (2016)
🫶Fav memory: Making the OYJ cut for 100 breast at the London meet in 2024.
💬Take care of your mental health as much as your physical health. Stay ambitious, set goals, work hard, show up to practice — and have fun.

Sarah Wignall (2016)
🫶Fav memory: My first Markham travel meet — spending time with friends and dominating the 200 breast!
💬 Don’t fixate on others. You are on your own path.

Liston Brown (2016)
🫶Fav memory: Winter drylands with Coach Jordan — especially pulling each other on sleds.
💬 Be honest with each other. Real friendship means being able to tell the truth, even when it’s hard.

Thank you for the memories, leadership, and legacy you leave behind. Once a team, always a family 🤍🏊‍♂️