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24 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 5, 2008 Advertorial Advertoria www.oakvillebeaver.com OGC wins Canadian Club of the Year Award! Oakville Gymnastics Club (OGC) has received the 2008 Ed Brougham Award from Gymnastics Canada, recognizing the top contribution by a Canadian Gymnastics club to the sport and to its membership. The award was presented by Jean-Paul Caron, Gymnastics Canada CEO to Allister Paterson in Ottawa on June 21. Oakville was previously awarded the Ed Brougham Award as top Ontario Club for 2007 by Gymnastics Ontario this past October. The Ed Brougham Award, named after a longtime Canadian Gymnastics community member and volunteer, represents the highest award available to a gymnastics club at either a Provincial or National level. The award recognizes all around excellence including (among other things) the number of participants trained, program quality, coaching strength and qualifications, Provincial and National athlete performance, community involvement, and financial strength. "This award is a real tribute to what the staff, athletes, and volunteers of our club have accomplished", said Allister Paterson, OGC Chairman. "It is flattering to be singled out of a group of such strong organizations across Canada." Since its inception in 1975 the Oakville Gymnastics Club has provided quality gymnastics training to the children in this community. It provides both recreational and competitive programs but the focus of all programs is "making kids feel special". Started in August 1974 the Oakville Antoinettes' was formed by then President Ken Westin under the guidance of coaches John Hall and Karen Ingram. At the time Westin, attributed the idea to Hall and his dedication to working with young girls in gymnastics. The Club grew out the Woodside Community Project where Hall had been teaching gymnastics for the previous two years. The initial equipment which cost $2500 was paid by the coaches out of pocket initially although Westin and his board were serious about their venture and spent little time before developing a fundraising plan, mostly focusing on the $75.00 yearly fee, in place. Initially training three hours a day three times a week, the Club began with 15 girls in it's first year, and grew in its second year to 40 girls with 6 competitive athletes, a far cry from the over 3000 gymnasts the club services yearly today. Although the Club quickly developed a competitive edge, the goal of the Club "was to develop young ladies poise and grace". "The Coach's objective was to be the best Club they could become". Thirty ­ four years later, that goal is now been officially recognized by Gymnastics Canada. Today the program operates in it's current location in the Glen Abbey Recreation Centre with its 25,000 square foot gymnastics centre providing the space to expand programs and create one of the best gymnastics facilities in Canada. In addition to the 3.6 million dollar investment into the new facility, the Club has also added $200,000 in new equipment and bleachers to its existing inventory, creating a state of the art training center and competition hosting venue. Currently more than 5000 local girls and boys from the age of 18 months to 18 years participate in a variety of sessions, programs and camps. In fact, gymnastics ranks in the top three in the community with hockey and soccer in numbers of annual participants. The Oakville Gymnastics Club is now recognized as the third largest gymnastics club in Canada. Of course, the strength of a true leader is in the caliber of people it attracts. Oakville Gymnastics Club over the last three years has attracted a number of well known and respected gymnastics coaches in its recreational and competitive programs. The Oakville coaching staff consists of: three time Canadian Gymnastic coach of the year, Kelly Manjak is the Women's Program Director/Co-Head Coach with wife Susan Manjak. Kelly is the long-time former coach of Olympic gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt. Don Holmes, former coach of the National Power Tumbling Team and Niki Lavoie, who currently co-coaches the National Tumbling Team. Greg Jackson continues to oversee the men's artistic program, which includes 5 members of the Canadian Senior and age group teams. Other notable coaches include former Olympian and National Coach L o r n e Bobkin, former Men's National Team m e m bers Eric Kafka and Kyle Charbonneau, top ranked tumbling judge Dave Harris, and Women's Artistic coaches, Megan Burke, Candice Feinrip, Irene Kis, and Ashley Sportun. The Oakville Gymnastics Club investment in coaching has translated into a 40% increase in competitive athlete numbers since 2005. The competitive program has expanded to 180 athletes across three disciplines, men's artistic, women's artistic, and power tumbling. The quality of competitive programs have increased significantly, with all three programs now training athletes in both the top provincial and at the national levels. In 2007, Oakville Gymnastics Club has grown to include 7 national team members and had their first National Champion, Cory Paterson, who won the Argo Men's National Division. Laurie Chambers recently recognized for Ontario Coaching Excellence is the Director of Recreational Programs for the Oakville Gymnastics Club. With over seventeen (17) years of combined coaching and administrative experience, Laurie has taught gymnastics to a wide range of children and adults including children with special needs. Laurie has been Director of recreational gymnastics with the OGC since 2002, where under her direction the program has seen amazing growth. Currently the recreational session numbers are1,300 + which is up from 800-900 last year. . As well summer camp participation 700 + which is also up from 350-400 over the years. In fact the summer camp program is so popular that the Club is now offering an expanded summer evening schedule due to the popularity of last year's sell out session. The recreation program has also been the recipient of a Provincial Grant to introduce gymnastics as a means to increase health benefits and healthy living in youth. Gymnastics is an excellent way to develop strong bones and muscle, advanced motor skills, flexible joints and aerobic endurance in a fun and motivating environment. Nothing builds a more well-rounded body than gymnastics. Gymnastics also helps develop balance, coordination, confidence and concentration. Conditioning and personal development gained through gymnastics transfers well to other social activities, schooling and all sports. Chambers heads up an excellent team of recreational coaches which include Karen Dance who has 25 years of teaching experience, Megan Burke, a graduate of the Humber Coaching Program and a retired Provincial Level Athletes. Other former/current OGC athletes now coaching include: Adam Kassam, Brad Schnurr, Jaime Stewart, Lindsay Corlett, Heather Lawton, Lianne Girard, Natasha Jimenez, Olivia Turi and Hannah Hyland. Soon to join the Recreation Coaching team will be a new Assistant Recreation Director. This person will implement new daytime programs, provide increased supervision and increase staff development. Strong leadership from the Board is the final winning element. A few years ago the Oakville Gymnastic Club Board evolved its business model by investing in a full time Chief Operating Officer, who is a level 5 coach and ex-head of the Canadian Women's Basketball Team. Wayne Hussey, a recent inductee in the Oakville Sports Hall of Fame, has worked closely in partnership with the Town in the development of the new Gymnastic Centre, and in the promotion of the sport of gymnastics within our community. The Board focus on its business model is particularly important in the evolution of the Oakville Gymnastics Club, as many other clubs have to rely solely on volunteer parents Boards to make program decisions. Hussey could not be prouder of his staff and board of directors under the leadership of Allister Paterson and directly attributes the success of the Oakville Gymnastics Club to them. He singles out Agnes Jankura, the Club's Administrator who oversees the logistics of all the programs. She has been with the Club for over 16 years. The Oakville Gymnastics Club has proven a worthy choice to be recognized as gymnastic club that has demonstrated exceptional services and provided an outstanding contribution to the development and promotion of the sport of gymnastics at the National and Provincial and local level. OAKVILLE GYMNASTICS CLUB "CONGRATULATIONS" TO OAKVILLE GYMNASTICS CLUB FOR BEING NAMED GYMNASTICS CANADA CLUB OF THE YEAR FOR 2008! The Club would like to recognize the support from the Town, Provincial and National government, Gymnastics Ontario and Gymnastics Canada as well as all of our corporate sponsors that have contributed over the years to the Club's success. Thank you to the talented Staff, Board of Directors and Parent Volunteers. FALL REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN Fall Term Sept. 8 to Dec. 21 REGISTER NOW FOR SUMMER CAMPS · Arts & Crafts · Girls & Boys Recreation (Ages 6+ years) · Trampoline & Tumbling (Ages 7+ years) · Gym Mini Crickets (Ages 3 - 5 years) "GYMNASTICS ONTARIOCLUB OF THE YEAR 2006/07" "GYMNASTICS CANADA CLUB OF THE YEAR 2007/08" 905-847-7747 · www.oakvillegym.com 1415 Third Line (enter at Glen Abbey Gate)