Canadians are set to represent our country at the 2011 RLSS Commonwealths Lifesaving Championships in Durban, South Africa.

We will endeavour to provide updated information on the championships while they are underway. This is dependent on connectivity from the venue.

Lifesaving/Sauvetage Canada is pleased to announce that Canada’s National and Development Team for the upcoming Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Durban, South Africa, departed from points across Canada today. Canada is striving fro a top 3 finish at the championships. The next major event will be the World Lifesaving Championships, Rescue 2012 in Adelaide, Australia in November 2012.

Members of the National Team are:

• Nelson GIRALDO, Quebec
• Mario DICOSMO, Ontario
• Ian LEITCH, British-Columbia
• Scott SOUTHWOOD, Alberta
• Jordan ANDERSEN, Ontario
• Gail FINDLAY-SHIRRAS, British-Columbia
• Marie-Eve CHAMBERLAND, Quebec
• Brittany SHAW, Ontario
• Jennifer ELLISON, Ontario
• Audrey PRAYAL-BROWN, Nova-Scotia

Members of the Development Team are:

• David HILDEBRAND, Ontario
• Kris YAP-CHUNG, Alberta
• Gordon HEINE, Alberta
• Jesse CLARKE, Nova-Scotia
• Catherine RICHARD, Quebec
• Alexandra LADOUCEUR, Quebec
• Megan AXENCHUCK, Alberta
• Jessica BURKART, Alberta
• Jonathan Yamashita, Alberta
• August Griffin, British Columbia

The 20 athletes – ten women and ten men – representing Canada at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships will be managed by Chris LINDSAY (Ontario), assisted by Laura TRACEY (Ontario) and coached by Sean NICKERSON (Alberta). The Chef de mission is Patricia Kitchen.

“The teams includes 10 athletes who will compete for the first time for Canada. This will enable us to give them valuable experience prior to the next edition of the World Lifesaving Championships.” Lifesaving / Sauvetage Canada Sport Commissioner Patricia Kitchen said of the members of the Canadian National and Development Team. “As well, we are pleased to see that the athletes represent regions from across the country.”

Canada is well represented in Durban by eight officials:

• Cynthia Cakebread
• Barbara Kusyanto
• Charlene Pugh
• Sarah Ingleton
• Edmund Chan
• Carmen Wong
• Shanna Reid
• Hugo Rodrigues

All of the officials are from Ontario, with the exception of Barb Kusyanto who if from Alberta. Shanna Reid is the deputy referee for the championships.

The Lifesaving Society – Canada’s lifeguarding expert – has been saving lives in Canada for over 100 years through its training programs, Water Smart® drowning prevention campaign, and safety management services. Over 700 000 Canadians participate annually in the Society’s swimming, lifesaving, lifeguard and leadership programs. Lifesaving sport is the only sport that has been developed based on humanitarian principles. The Society is the governing body for lifesaving sport – a sport recognized by the IOC and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

For more information and to interview members of Canada’s National Lifesaving Team, please contact:
Patricia Kitchen
Lifesaving/Sauvetage Canada Sport Commissioner
Phone: 519 589-9509
Email: pkitchen@wlu.ca

For complete information on this event, please keep checking the RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving's website for the RLSS 2011 championships.