The Masters Swimming Ontario SWIMS Award

Geoff Camp - Passionate About Swimming

While still competing at the age of 14, Geoff established and coached the Montreal West Masters Swim Club in 1973, a team that included his mother. From that familial beginning, Geoff's involvement has grown to the point today where, as President of MSC, his 'family' encompasses nearly 7000 swimmers in the country.

Along the way, Geoff's list of accomplishments begins in Quebec with the 9 years in Montreal West, followed by 2 years as coach of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association and as a member of the Quebec Masters Committee for 4 years. A highlight being the coach of the country's first 280+ mens relay team.

Geoff ended up in Etobicoke in 1988 with a stop in Ottawa along the way. His activities with MSO now span more than a decade, many of those years simply as a friend of the Board, not an elected Director. But always Geoff has provided the clear vision, guidance and wise counsel so needed by us all when the complex, contentious situations arise.

Geoff presided over us all as President in 1994 and his involvement at the provincial level led to positions as the MSC Vice President in 1996, when he acted as emissary to those provinces with secessionary attitudes and as the Canadian Representative to the FINA Technical Masters Congress in 1994, when he represented Canadian swimmers to the world.

Geoff has enjoyed the benefits of a swimming career spanning the country. In addition to Quebec and Ontario, Geoff swam at university in Halifax and now swims intermittently in Victoria. This allows Geoff a vision of the country not afforded many other swimmers. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Geoff is the one we turn to in times of trouble, the one who will ask the tough questions, the one who sees the bigger picture, the one we can count on for resolution and reconciliation.

That national perspective, and as President of MSC, provides Geoff the opportunity to continue to nurture his passion. A passion that began as a top age group swimmer, progressed through the birth of our sport and continues today with the goal of doubling our national membership and hosting Canadian Masters Swimming Championships in each of the 10 provinces.

Swimming through thick and thin (although mostly thick), Geoff continues to display the passion so vital to himself and so comforting to us.