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In BC, the sport of artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, dates back to at least 1952 with recorded participation at Vancouver "Y" Swim Club, the Catholic Youth Club (CYC), the Burnaby Dolphinas, and the Arbutus Swim Club. Nearly 30 years later, The British Columbia Amateur Synchronized Swimming Association was established in 1980 as the sport's provincial governing body. In 2018, FINA (International Swimming Federation) and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) rebranded the sport as artistic swimming. In 2019, we formally changed our name to the British Columbia Artistic Swimming Association to align our name and brand with Canada Artistic Swimming. Commonly called BCAS, we are recognized by viaSport as the official governing body for artistic swimming in BC.
In 1992, Donalda Smith was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame as Builder of Sport and remains the Hall's only inductee in the sport of artistic swimming.
As one of the earliest coaches, Donalda amassed a prolific resume as coach, judge, and administrator in BC, across Canada, and around the world. Beginning in 1953, she coached for over four decades. Her judging career began in 1957 and culminated at the 1984 Olympic Games. Donalda's administrative career was equally diverse. She may be best known for her work on the CASSA handbook, which she developed in 1959, and revised several times over the years. She also developed the Star Program which is still used today. In 1974, she headed the committee that organized the first International Conference on Synchronized Swimming.
In addition to induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, Donalda's years of service have been recognized through numerous awards including Canada Artistic Swimming's first Distinguished Service Award in 1971, and the Order of Canada in 1983. A bursary in her memory is annually awarded by BCAS to recognize excellence by an athlete and their coach.
Click here for Donalda Smith's biography in the the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Jean Peters founded Burnaby's one and only synchronized swim club, the Burnaby Caprice, with Lorraine Rowland in 1972. Jean was the Caprice club's president and coach until her untimely death more than 25 years later.
Peters started the club with just seven swimmers and learned on the job, being solely responsible for all coaching, financial management, and administrative duties. When numbers grew, Peters hired coaches and organized volunteers, while earning her level one coaching certificate and volunteering as a judge. She was also a masters athlete, coached by her daughter Leona Hamm, and attended Masters Worlds in Denmark with her duet partner Lorraine Rowland.
Jean Peters was inducted to the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame on Feb 21, 2008. She also received a Burnaby Chamber of Commerce award for dedication to sport in 1987.
Jean Peters was a true pioneer for artistic swimming in our province. BCAS's annual provincial stream provincial championships, held in May each year, is named in her honour.
When Mable moved from Vancouver to Calgary, she and her family joined the newly opened Calgary Winter Club. She had heard about artistic swimming lessons being offered and decided she would give it a try. Her coach was Marg Scott. When the Winter Club offered artistic swimming instructor courses, Mable registered and quickly became an instructor at the Club. From there, Mable became a Star Examiner and eventually became a National Judge.
Mable continued to coach and judge in Calgary and to judge across Canada. She was also invited to judge in Sweden and Germany. In the early 80s her husband was transferred back to Vancouver, where Mable continued to coach and judge. Upon Mable's return to Vancouver, she met Donalda Smith who asked Mable to be the BC Judges Chairman. Mable continued in this role for two years, arranging various courses, traveling and attending meetings.
Mable retired from judging at 70 years of age in the early 2000s but we saw her coaching most recently at the 2018 Mable Moran Championships, Synchro BC's provincial stream qualifier competition held in April each year and named in her honour.
Artistic swimming grew as a sport from ornamental swimming and theatrical water ballets of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the early days, male swimmers, decorated with garlands or Chinese lanterns, performed circular dances in the water as a swimming art form. In 1891, the Royal Life Saving Society of Great Britain published a handbook for swimmers encouraging "ornamental swimming" or "scientific swimming."
1961-2004
Want to learn more about artistic swimming? Check out FINA's Artistic Swimming brochure.
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