The Masters Swimming Ontario SWIMS Award

Kay Easun - A Leader in Masters Swimming

It all started in the playground pools of London, Ontario. At the age of 7, Kay began her competitive swimming career. In 1947, Kay became one of the original members of the London Y Swim Team. At the Olympic Trials in 1948, Kay placed second in the 100 freestyle, but was not selected to the Canadian Team. However, 2 years later, she represented Canada on the international stage at the British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand, competing in the 100 and 400 freestyle. Returning to Canada, Kay claimed 11 intercollegiate championships, swimming for the University of Western Ontario.

Hanging up her suit in 1954, Kay then tackled the job of coaching the Western women's team, leading the team to 2 championships over the following 3 years.

Taking time out to pursue a career in teaching and raising her 3 children, Kay returned to the pool in 1977. And in short order became a Provincial and National Champion and Recordholder, as well as co-coaching the North York Masters for a number of years.

Kay played a part in the early years as a Director and Registrar of the Ontario Masters Committee of CASA - Ontario Section. In 1982 Kay was elected to lead our organization as Chairperson.

During the next 5 years, Kay took leadership roles in various swim meets held in the province.

1982 - 1987 : Meet Manager : North York Pentathlon

1982 : Co-Meet Director, with Sheila Marsden : Ontario Masters Swimming Championship

1985 : Meet Director : Masters Games

1987 : Meet Director : Canadian Masters Swimming Championship

The Masters Games was the largest Masters Swim Meet held in this country at the time with 1200+ swimmers and still ranks as the second largest meet, after the World Championship in Montreal in 1994. And swimming was the only sport at the Masters Games which returned a profit to the organizers.

The 1987 Nationals were exceeded in size only by the 1995 Nationals and was the last Canadian Championship hosted in Ontario.

But Kay always understood that Masters Swimming was more than big, competitive meets. She recognized that many swimmers in the province simply swam for the fitness and social benefits. In an effort to provide the non-competitive swimmer with a means of measuring themselves, Kay created the STOW programme : Swim The Ontario Waterways. Anyone could purchase a specially drawn map of Ontario (prepared by Jack Galvin) and a series of markers to identify the swimmer's progress around the province. All the participant had to do was swim.

And in a partnership that is still reaping benefits today, Kay created the Heart Fitness Swim : a swim to benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Swimmers would collect pledges and swim for an hour or half an hour. Kay was assisted by Lorraine Walter and Bruce Fairbrother and the swim resulted in increased awareness of Masters Swimming Ontario and provided a small profit to our organization to cover operating costs. As the success of the swim expanded, the Heart and Stroke Foundation took over the operation, renamed it Swim for Heart and proceeded to earn in excess of one million dollars over the years. The MSO partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation continues today with our programme of a $1.00 donation for returned medals and the sponsorship arrangement between Etobicoke and the HSF for this year's Ontario Championship.

A leader through organization and innovation, we honour Kay as a Swimmer Who Impacted Masters Swimming.