November 28 th, 2004 – Newmarket Synchro proudly hosted yet another first time event at the Aquadome, and scored an overwhelming success, with our 1 st Girl Guide Gala Event.

This year, we have placed a significant emphasis on increasing the awareness of Synchronized Swimming throughout our rapidly growing region. We have held several initiatives already so far this season, and have a few more waiting in the wings. Following the lead of KW Synchro, who spawned the idea for us of working together with Girl Guides, we decided to create our own Girl Guide Gala Event. What a wonderful blend of two organizations, whose primary purpose is to enrich the lives of the young girls and women within our community. The idea is brilliant, and we took great pleasure in planning an event worthy of the cause. After much encouragement and direction from some of our Guide Leader Moms (Thank you Janet, Joanne, Emmy and Sue), we were ready to roll out the welcome carpet to our first group who signed up for the day.

They came prepared, a testament to the motto they follow. Girl Guides and Synchro Swimmers joined together in anticipation of what lay ahead, both groups excited to work together toward a common goal …to share!!

With their arrival, the registration process of so many, was exceptionally quick and went with out a hitch, thanks to the preparation of the Guide Leaders, who so generously gave of their time to make the day an event to remember. After readying for the pool, the Girl Guides, their Leaders and many parents took their place around the deck for their first look into the world of our amazing sport. Our swimmers from Tiers 1 through 5, team by team swam an exhibition Watershow for our honoured guests. There was awe, wonderment and surprise on the many faces, young and young at heart around the pool, as our athletes proudly showed off and shared their efforts to date. But the Best was yet to come!!!

The Girl Guides were tested for their swimming prowess, and broken down into 4 teams….and then the real fun began. Within a very short period of time, we were witnessing sculling, tub turns, pretzels, back somersaults and team patterns emerge around the pool. There were games and water challenges and lots of team spirit. The Coaches and their assistants working with their Guides became a solitary Team, doing naturally, what we had only hoped for as our prime objective…sharing both their desires to learn with our desires to teach…it was awesome!!

After learning some basic skills, the Girl Guides were taught some arm actions and a short routine, and brought the Girl Guide Gala Event full circle. We started with a Watershow to share our skills, and we ended with a Watershow to celebrate their new learned skills. The result was a wondrously successful routine, swum to Lion King music, befitting of the moment…A Circle of Life… A true tribute to the genuine sharing by all.

As they emerged from the pool, we celebrated their successes one by one, by presenting each Girl Guide with a specially personalized Newmarket Synchro Certificate of Participation for them to treasure as a souvenir of another 1 st for our Club.

We are very proud of our new-formed partnership with our community Girl Guides, and we look forward to this 1 st, being just the beginning of a long-term tradition of sharing. Once again to the Girl Guides and your ever caring Guiding Leaders, a very warm and sincere Thank You from Newmarket Synchro.