If you are a local baseball fan, check
http://ktowndiamonddogs.blogspot.com
"Coach," the blogger there, keeps fans up-to-date on his site.
Know any other Kingston-related blogs? Let me know, and let's get connected! Just think how well-informed Kingstonians would be if they check blogs, really got a handle on what's going on, and current opinion. The Whig prints only a smattering of letters it receives, so if you want your views known, check the blog, and be a contributer, not just a whiner!
On this blog we deal with sports, local, national and international.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Time to Step Up!
It's time for Kingston's bloggers and webmanagers to step up, and get their efforts publicized!
There are several great bloggers in the Kingston area. Drop over and start reading and contributing to these blogs, share the information that they contain, and support all of them!
Most are dedicated to a particular feature, issue or activity in the area. All are interesting and informative!
The most informative website that is dedicated to something in Kingston is KCAL's. There the web manager posts items related to the construction and all-related issues of the downtown Kingston Regional Sport & Entertainment Centre (KRSEC), also known as the LVEC. This website is factual. While there is script that accompanies newspaper articles and television reports. Read this website, and be informed. www.kcal.ca
Kingstonians should visit www.k7waterfront.ca to keep up to date on what's happening on and adjacent to the many kilometers of waterfront. Not all of what's happening is good, but judge for yourself.
Check out this blog for fabulous info and underwater pictures taken mostly in the Kingston and Thousand Islands areas.
http://dolphinscubaclub.blogspot.com
And, celebrate Council's decision to continue investigating an aquatic complex with a 50m poool at
http://ktownaquaticcenter.blogspot.com
Now THIS is an exciting development in Kingston!
Do you have a Kingston-related blog? Let us all know!
There are several great bloggers in the Kingston area. Drop over and start reading and contributing to these blogs, share the information that they contain, and support all of them!
Most are dedicated to a particular feature, issue or activity in the area. All are interesting and informative!
The most informative website that is dedicated to something in Kingston is KCAL's. There the web manager posts items related to the construction and all-related issues of the downtown Kingston Regional Sport & Entertainment Centre (KRSEC), also known as the LVEC. This website is factual. While there is script that accompanies newspaper articles and television reports. Read this website, and be informed. www.kcal.ca
Kingstonians should visit www.k7waterfront.ca to keep up to date on what's happening on and adjacent to the many kilometers of waterfront. Not all of what's happening is good, but judge for yourself.
Check out this blog for fabulous info and underwater pictures taken mostly in the Kingston and Thousand Islands areas.
http://dolphinscubaclub.blogspot.com
And, celebrate Council's decision to continue investigating an aquatic complex with a 50m poool at
http://ktownaquaticcenter.blogspot.com
Now THIS is an exciting development in Kingston!
Do you have a Kingston-related blog? Let us all know!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Saskatoon's Blairmore Centre
Saskatoon is building ist SECOND 50m pool, plus many of the bells and whistles!
Follow this link
http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/leisure/programs/blairmore/index.asp
Note also the Public Consultation Process, the on-going community input, the widely publicized info on the website for everyone to see and keep-up-to-date on!
Download the newsletters too!
Follow this link
http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/leisure/programs/blairmore/index.asp
Note also the Public Consultation Process, the on-going community input, the widely publicized info on the website for everyone to see and keep-up-to-date on!
Download the newsletters too!
Kingston City Council Goes Ahead!
City council has forged ahead to investigate the feasability of an aquatic complex that would have a 50m pool in it.
This is cause for celebration in Kingston, where swimming should be second nature to every citizen, considering that the city is virtually surounded by water! The Cataraqui River, Lake Ontario, the St Lawrence River!
It's important to keep an open mind about what this facility might be like. It is NOT just a 50m swimming pool. Yes, we will be well-served in many ways, by having a 50m pool in eastern Ontario. We can host competitions in aquatic sports at the provincial, national and international levels. What an opportunity!
Let's include options that virtually every pool built in the last 10 years has: play features, warmer "family" type pool, zero entry pool, hot tubs, perhaps slides, a shallow toddlers' learn-to pool...there are so many possibilities! It is exciting!
Check out
http://aquatics.nb.ca/xx
where you can see many possibilities for an aquatic complex, albeit one that was built for the 1985 Jeux du Canada Games. Read all the info on the site, and play the little short video that talks about the wide variety of activities that happen in this 20+ year old complex.
Not only is it exciting that the city council enthusiastically supported this initiative, perhaps, just perhaps, it is a sign of things to come. Perhaps it is a sign that this council will be open to new ideas, and say, "Yes, let's investigate this idea!"
Previous councils have been so NEGATIVE, portraying their "No, not us, not in Kingston" mentality.
I, and thousands of residents hope that a new attitude will prevail. An attitude that "we can do this" rather than, "no, it's too hard." That negative attitude does not convey support for the community, an eagerness to get the city on the map, a positive, upbeat style of leadership.
There are up-beat councillors now on council. Let's support them in their efforts to change the mentality on council and in the city administration.
It's time to talk about Kingston, time to offer to lead, time to be proactive. Moving forward on an aquatic complex is a small but extremely signficant step. Kingstonians applaud!
This is cause for celebration in Kingston, where swimming should be second nature to every citizen, considering that the city is virtually surounded by water! The Cataraqui River, Lake Ontario, the St Lawrence River!
It's important to keep an open mind about what this facility might be like. It is NOT just a 50m swimming pool. Yes, we will be well-served in many ways, by having a 50m pool in eastern Ontario. We can host competitions in aquatic sports at the provincial, national and international levels. What an opportunity!
Let's include options that virtually every pool built in the last 10 years has: play features, warmer "family" type pool, zero entry pool, hot tubs, perhaps slides, a shallow toddlers' learn-to pool...there are so many possibilities! It is exciting!
Check out
http://aquatics.nb.ca/xx
where you can see many possibilities for an aquatic complex, albeit one that was built for the 1985 Jeux du Canada Games. Read all the info on the site, and play the little short video that talks about the wide variety of activities that happen in this 20+ year old complex.
Not only is it exciting that the city council enthusiastically supported this initiative, perhaps, just perhaps, it is a sign of things to come. Perhaps it is a sign that this council will be open to new ideas, and say, "Yes, let's investigate this idea!"
Previous councils have been so NEGATIVE, portraying their "No, not us, not in Kingston" mentality.
I, and thousands of residents hope that a new attitude will prevail. An attitude that "we can do this" rather than, "no, it's too hard." That negative attitude does not convey support for the community, an eagerness to get the city on the map, a positive, upbeat style of leadership.
There are up-beat councillors now on council. Let's support them in their efforts to change the mentality on council and in the city administration.
It's time to talk about Kingston, time to offer to lead, time to be proactive. Moving forward on an aquatic complex is a small but extremely signficant step. Kingstonians applaud!
Monday, May 07, 2007
Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame & DREAMS
Last Friday evening, May 4, 2007 was the induction dinner for the KDSHF at the Ambassador. There were many wonderful and memorable moments, but the ones that stood out for me were remarks by swimmer Karin Helmstaedt. She came for the induction from Germany where she now lives, quite a tribute to the Hall.
Although she doesn't know it, her swimming career and my sport admin careers are intertwined. She competed at the World Aquatic Championships in Madrid, Spain in 1986 where I served as the Assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian Team. She competed for Canada in 1987 at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, USA. I was the Assistant Chef de Mission of the Canadian Team at those multi-sport Games.
To get back to her comments, though. She had a distinguished swimming career, and now has a distinguished journalistic career. Karin went to U of T and swam for the university's team coached by expert Byron MacDonald. One of her memorable observations was this: if there had been a 50m swimming pool in Kingston, she would not have had to leave Kingston to continue her swimming career.
An athlete who wants to swim on the national/international stage for Canada, cannot stay in Kingston and train in a 25m pool. It is just impossible to become a Pan Am Games swimmer or Olympian without regular, on-going training in a 50m pool. Wouldn't it be great to have our young swimmers training here in Kingston, then going on to a Canada Games, a Pan Am Games then an Olympics! Wow! What a great thing for other young people to see and strive for!
Not only will a 50m pool allow our swimmers to stay home, an aquatic centre will be a centre of activity for everyone in the community! It will be a gathering place for young parents and their small children (and babies!), offering them the opportunity to become comfortable in and around the water, and learn how to respect the water. Kingston is perfectly located for water sport activities, and respect for our rivers, lakes, ponds is essential.
Additional activities available to citizens will include diving, water polo, underwater hockey, scuba diving training, synchronized swimming, inner tube basketball (you haven't tried THAT? great fun!!), winter kayak training....Red Cross and Royal Life Saving Society lessons and diplomas, fitness for seniors, hydro-therapy for persons with disabilities or injuries of some kind, .....the list is endless!!
I wonder how many little Karins we have in Kingston, wanting to follow their dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer or diver, and not able to do it.
The new Aquatic Centre will be an exciting, state of the art facility for every Kingstonian to use, and will give those little Karins an opportunity that isn't available now.
What a thrill!
Although she doesn't know it, her swimming career and my sport admin careers are intertwined. She competed at the World Aquatic Championships in Madrid, Spain in 1986 where I served as the Assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian Team. She competed for Canada in 1987 at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, USA. I was the Assistant Chef de Mission of the Canadian Team at those multi-sport Games.
To get back to her comments, though. She had a distinguished swimming career, and now has a distinguished journalistic career. Karin went to U of T and swam for the university's team coached by expert Byron MacDonald. One of her memorable observations was this: if there had been a 50m swimming pool in Kingston, she would not have had to leave Kingston to continue her swimming career.
An athlete who wants to swim on the national/international stage for Canada, cannot stay in Kingston and train in a 25m pool. It is just impossible to become a Pan Am Games swimmer or Olympian without regular, on-going training in a 50m pool. Wouldn't it be great to have our young swimmers training here in Kingston, then going on to a Canada Games, a Pan Am Games then an Olympics! Wow! What a great thing for other young people to see and strive for!
Not only will a 50m pool allow our swimmers to stay home, an aquatic centre will be a centre of activity for everyone in the community! It will be a gathering place for young parents and their small children (and babies!), offering them the opportunity to become comfortable in and around the water, and learn how to respect the water. Kingston is perfectly located for water sport activities, and respect for our rivers, lakes, ponds is essential.
Additional activities available to citizens will include diving, water polo, underwater hockey, scuba diving training, synchronized swimming, inner tube basketball (you haven't tried THAT? great fun!!), winter kayak training....Red Cross and Royal Life Saving Society lessons and diplomas, fitness for seniors, hydro-therapy for persons with disabilities or injuries of some kind, .....the list is endless!!
I wonder how many little Karins we have in Kingston, wanting to follow their dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer or diver, and not able to do it.
The new Aquatic Centre will be an exciting, state of the art facility for every Kingstonian to use, and will give those little Karins an opportunity that isn't available now.
What a thrill!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Fantastic News!!
This may sound like small peanuts in many communities, but here in Kingston, this is big news!
The city's Arts, Recreation and Culture Committee (ARC) that deals with municipal sport/recreation issues, recommended last night that design be initiated for a 50m pool in the city!
A group, led by Alex P, has worked long and hard toward making this happen. To them, and to Alex in particular, citizens owe a great deal.
A 50m pool and aquatic complex will provide many benefits:
1. more water-related activities
2. more fitness opportunities
3. more health-related benefits
4. more local young people staying in the community to develop their potential (this, rather than having to move to a city that has a 50m pool)
5. more opportunity for locals to see world class aquatic events, like provincial and national competitions in swimming diving, synchro and water polo
6. new opportunities for fans and spectators to come to Kingston and enjoy the city's many amenities
7. new tourism dollars being spent in the city
8. non-residents can look at the city as somewhat progressive in building a 50m pool, when in the past, the city hasn't been seen as very progressive in sport and recreation
9. a new opportunity for aquatic supporters and municipal staff to collaborate on something wonderful for the city. Let's get going!!
More benefits?
To members of the ARC Committee, thanks for being progressive, for demonstrating a vision for sport/recreation in the city, for being pro-active in a positive way. You will find support from many quarters in the city. No doubt, there will be those who disagree, but remember: we are planning for "down the road" in Kingston, not just for the "here and now." This decision will be part of your legacy. Thanks!
The city's Arts, Recreation and Culture Committee (ARC) that deals with municipal sport/recreation issues, recommended last night that design be initiated for a 50m pool in the city!
A group, led by Alex P, has worked long and hard toward making this happen. To them, and to Alex in particular, citizens owe a great deal.
A 50m pool and aquatic complex will provide many benefits:
1. more water-related activities
2. more fitness opportunities
3. more health-related benefits
4. more local young people staying in the community to develop their potential (this, rather than having to move to a city that has a 50m pool)
5. more opportunity for locals to see world class aquatic events, like provincial and national competitions in swimming diving, synchro and water polo
6. new opportunities for fans and spectators to come to Kingston and enjoy the city's many amenities
7. new tourism dollars being spent in the city
8. non-residents can look at the city as somewhat progressive in building a 50m pool, when in the past, the city hasn't been seen as very progressive in sport and recreation
9. a new opportunity for aquatic supporters and municipal staff to collaborate on something wonderful for the city. Let's get going!!
More benefits?
To members of the ARC Committee, thanks for being progressive, for demonstrating a vision for sport/recreation in the city, for being pro-active in a positive way. You will find support from many quarters in the city. No doubt, there will be those who disagree, but remember: we are planning for "down the road" in Kingston, not just for the "here and now." This decision will be part of your legacy. Thanks!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Swim coach in court
The CCES, Coaches of Canada and Swim Canada are in couort to persuade the court that CEC RUSSELL should not coach in Canada, because he was misleading in 2005. He did not reveal that he had been convicted in the USA on a coonspiracy charge related to trafficking.
Canadian children have the right to be coached by people who are trained and certified as coaches. It is high time that every person who coaches our children was REQUIRED to take NCCP courses.
People think that just anyone can coach. Not true. Providing leadreship to children is not some innate quality, any more than parenting is!
Let us hope that the Ontario Supreme Court will see that Cec Russell is unfit to coach swimming or any other sport in this country.
We support the three sport organizations in their quest to make sure he is out of Canadian sport.
Canadian children have the right to be coached by people who are trained and certified as coaches. It is high time that every person who coaches our children was REQUIRED to take NCCP courses.
People think that just anyone can coach. Not true. Providing leadreship to children is not some innate quality, any more than parenting is!
Let us hope that the Ontario Supreme Court will see that Cec Russell is unfit to coach swimming or any other sport in this country.
We support the three sport organizations in their quest to make sure he is out of Canadian sport.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thorpe Reports
So here they go.
Leaked reports (L'equipe, France) of Ian Thorpe having failed a drug test. Not much of a way to wrap up the World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne. One wonders if this is to deflect light from Michael Phelps of the USA, who is poised (as they say) to become the greatest male swimmer in history. If so, it also clouds Thorpe's achievements in the pool.
Canadian men won a bronze medal in a relay today, another achievement.
Leaked reports (L'equipe, France) of Ian Thorpe having failed a drug test. Not much of a way to wrap up the World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne. One wonders if this is to deflect light from Michael Phelps of the USA, who is poised (as they say) to become the greatest male swimmer in history. If so, it also clouds Thorpe's achievements in the pool.
Canadian men won a bronze medal in a relay today, another achievement.
Great Day in the Poool!
Brent Hayden of Mission, BC yesterday won GOLD in 100m free at the WorldAquatic Championships in Melbourne, AU. What an accomplishment for him, and a credit to the coaching and support staff of the swim team! President Dan Thompson and CEO Pierre Lafontaine provide fine leadership to swim Canada. Wouldn't it be great if every NSO in Canada had people like them at the helm?!
As the Worlds come to a conclusion, it is clear that synchro and diving have some work to do. The synchro and diving worlds have changed dramatically even since Sydney's 2000 Olympics, and Canadians in both these sports are going to have a tough time getting to the podium.
With announcement today that FINA has changed the qualification process for the 2008 Olympics, Canadian synchroo athletes (team) have a challenge just getting to Beijing now. Continental champions plus 3 additional teams that go to a Q Tournament in April in Beijing will be in the team event at the 2008 Olys. The struggle will be at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio this summer, when the USA and Canadian teams vie for the gold in the team event. The winner of the gold will sigh in relief.
As the Worlds come to a conclusion, it is clear that synchro and diving have some work to do. The synchro and diving worlds have changed dramatically even since Sydney's 2000 Olympics, and Canadians in both these sports are going to have a tough time getting to the podium.
With announcement today that FINA has changed the qualification process for the 2008 Olympics, Canadian synchroo athletes (team) have a challenge just getting to Beijing now. Continental champions plus 3 additional teams that go to a Q Tournament in April in Beijing will be in the team event at the 2008 Olys. The struggle will be at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio this summer, when the USA and Canadian teams vie for the gold in the team event. The winner of the gold will sigh in relief.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
What the feds didn't do
The federal budget that came down on Monday is a disappointment to many Canadians. For now, let's just register that anyone who values Canada's performances and success at major multi-sport games is not only disappointed, but still disillusened about this government. What is says and what it does are two different things, and it's word cannot be taken at face value.
This creates a climate of suspician for Canadians, who don't know if this government (not new, it is now old) has more on it's mind than spending wildly in order that Canadians will vote for it in the next federal election. This is certainly what it seems to be doing.
Canadian athletes, their sport federations and multisport organizations in Canada are once again left to struggle.
The PM will go to events and will certainly appear at the OOlympic Winter Games in Vancouver, smile, shake hands, and enjoy the applause (if his government lasts that long). We who administer and lead sport will mutter under our breath, and observe the duplicity.
This creates a climate of suspician for Canadians, who don't know if this government (not new, it is now old) has more on it's mind than spending wildly in order that Canadians will vote for it in the next federal election. This is certainly what it seems to be doing.
Canadian athletes, their sport federations and multisport organizations in Canada are once again left to struggle.
The PM will go to events and will certainly appear at the OOlympic Winter Games in Vancouver, smile, shake hands, and enjoy the applause (if his government lasts that long). We who administer and lead sport will mutter under our breath, and observe the duplicity.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
March 17 at the Worlds!
Check out the World Aquatic championships website at
http://www.melbourne2007.com.au/default.aspx?s=home
They've done a fine job of providing info about Susie O'Neill pool construction and about water reuse. Both interesting for the aquatics fan. The "temporary" pool is now in vogue, and destined to be a feature of future World championships because of cost of building a 50m pool, and subsequently maintaining it.
We are hopeful that in Kingston a 50m pool will be built in the near future. It is desperately needed in this part of Ontario, and will be put to many, many uses by citizens as well as competitive swimmers, synchro swimmers, water polo players, and I hope, divers. To build a pool without 10m tower capacity in this day and age, would be a great mistake. Sort of like the mistake that the city has made in the now-being-built sport and entertainment centre, which has been "shoe-horned" (a fine phrase coined by former Councillor Beth Pater) into a site that is far too small. Consequently, many features (and size) that are essential for top-of-the-line events have been deleted from initial plans. But all that is another story for another day.....
Canada's duet placed 5th in prelim technical event. Scores are well-below the leading Russian duet, and a stretch from the 4th place Chinese duet. Here's looking for better scores in the next event.
http://www.melbourne2007.com.au/default.aspx?s=home
They've done a fine job of providing info about Susie O'Neill pool construction and about water reuse. Both interesting for the aquatics fan. The "temporary" pool is now in vogue, and destined to be a feature of future World championships because of cost of building a 50m pool, and subsequently maintaining it.
We are hopeful that in Kingston a 50m pool will be built in the near future. It is desperately needed in this part of Ontario, and will be put to many, many uses by citizens as well as competitive swimmers, synchro swimmers, water polo players, and I hope, divers. To build a pool without 10m tower capacity in this day and age, would be a great mistake. Sort of like the mistake that the city has made in the now-being-built sport and entertainment centre, which has been "shoe-horned" (a fine phrase coined by former Councillor Beth Pater) into a site that is far too small. Consequently, many features (and size) that are essential for top-of-the-line events have been deleted from initial plans. But all that is another story for another day.....
Canada's duet placed 5th in prelim technical event. Scores are well-below the leading Russian duet, and a stretch from the 4th place Chinese duet. Here's looking for better scores in the next event.
Friday, March 16, 2007
World Aquatic Championships
Well, the Worlds are about to start! Will be interesting too see how Canada does in synchro. Too bad the Head of Delegation isn't doing a cool blog from Melbourne. Maybe it's not too late to start one!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Municipal Election Heating Up
Getting close to THE day. Tonight is the Mayoral All-Candidates' forum hosted by Sport Kingston. Hope we get a good crowd, and that they actually say more than blah blah blah.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Turin coming up!
Olys coming up soon. We'll see just how much this extra money has done. There's no doubt that it has purchased equipment, better accomodations meals, etc. Athletes will attest to that. What Canadians have difficulty doing is getting that last bit to the podium...the mental edge to get there. The HR available to athletes over a long time just hasn't been there; the mental skills take a long time to develop and implement, so that when they get to the "big game" the skills are ingrained, and aren't susceptible to external factors...like the crowd, the compeititve situation, etc.
Friday, December 03, 2004
Westsport.....a forum for sports talk
This is a forum for discussion about sports' issues with a Canadian focus.
I'm going to comment on what's going on, and invite you to too! When you want to express your views about what's happening in Canadian amateur sport, this is where you can do it!
This is not a forum to talk about hockey! It's a place to chat about and hear what others think about sport policy, how the government is doing, how the sport community is doing.....you name it!
I'm going to comment on what's going on, and invite you to too! When you want to express your views about what's happening in Canadian amateur sport, this is where you can do it!
This is not a forum to talk about hockey! It's a place to chat about and hear what others think about sport policy, how the government is doing, how the sport community is doing.....you name it!
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