FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Victoria, BC, December 19 – The Spirit Orcas Swim Club, British Columbia’s only masters swim club for people with physical and intellectual disabilities, is looking for a new place to swim. Increasing maintenance shutdowns and looming referendum has the club fearing Crystal Pool will be shut down permanently and there will be no replacement facility.
There is a lot of misinformation floating around about the need for Crystal Pool and its benefits to the community. Many believe refurbishing is a better investment or that swimmers can easily go elsewhere. “Neither is true” says Spirit Orca Coach Susan Simmons.
Simmons has been in touch with the Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Gordon Head, Juan de Fuca, Saanich Commonwealth Place and Naden pools with no positive response thus far. “People genuinely want to help” she said, “but there is simply no room for the Spirit Orcas or any other clubs throughout Greater Victoria”.
The Spirit Orcas have been swimming at the Downtown YMCA during the current shutdown, however it is not ideal. The team is not able to rent lanes from the private facility. This leaves swimmers with intellectual disabilities who need guided coaching without a coach on deck. It also leaves swimmers with physical disabilities, including blind swimmers, in overcrowded lanes with public swimmers where there is a high risk of collision. Further, the YMCA lease is up July 2025 with no plans in place for a new facility.
“Swimming is a great way for people with and without disabilities to stay fit” says Simmons. “It is a low impact sport making it accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Without a pool the Spirit Orcas will lose their health and sense of belonging.”
The Spirit Orcas are hoping a Good Samaritan will find space for the team between the hours of 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM three days a week. The club operates on a shoe-string budget with no government funding.
About the Spirit Orcas
The Spirt Orcas are a community of adults with intellectual and physical disabilities who believe in possibilities. For much of their lives these incredible athletes have been told no or that’s not possible.
Founded in 2018 the Spirit Orcas are a small but mighty group of unique adult athletes who have a passion for swimming. They are a brave, fearless, and supportive community who seek out opportunities to swim like everyone else.
For more visit spiritorcas.ca
About Coach Susan Simmons
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis over twenty-five years ago, Susan has chosen a lifestyle that manages the disease through physical fitness and diet. Her number one form of exercise is swimming and her diet is vegan. Both minimize the stress on her body, making it possible for her to live an active life.
Susan is well known around Victoria for her double crossing (70km) swim in Lake Cowichan and her world-record swims across Haro and Juan de Fuca Straits. She wholeheartedly believes everyone is worth the effort it takes to be healthy, and for those who have disease or disability their first line of defense should be a healthy and fit self.
For more information visit susansimmons.ca
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