Olympians Tewksbury and McCabe kick off program to teach 70,000 kids to swim

As part of RBC’s ongoing commitment to children’s well-being across Canada, RBC Insurance will announce a new multi-year partnership with Swimming Canada on Tuesday. Canadian swimming icon and Olympic gold medallist Mark Tewksbury will help kick off this program along with RBC Olympian Martha McCabe, Swimming Canada and RBC Insurance executives.

This partnership will include support for the development of Canada’s Swim Team, an initiative to teach every Canadian child how to swim 25 metres before the age of 12. According to Canada’s Swim Team partners, a large majority of drownings are preventable when a child can swim 25 metres. RBC Olympian Martha McCabe and fellow Canadian national swim team member Brittany MacLean will be on hand to conduct a swimming clinic for the newest members of Canada’s Swim Team.

As part of the RBC Learn to Play Project, the RBC Foundation will also be announcing a $10,000 donation to the Junior Blues Adapted Aquatic Program for children with physical, mental and developmental disabilities. This program will help towards ensuring all Canadian kids have an equal opportunity to learn to swim.


When: Tuesday, May 13, 2014

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Where: University of Toronto Athletic Centre

55 Harbord St, Toronto, Ontario

*at the University of Toronto pool

Who: Mark Tewksbury, Olympic Gold Medallist

Martha McCabe, Canadian national team member & RBC Olympian

Brittany MacLean, Canadian national team member

Ahmed El-Awadi, Chief Executive Officer for Swimming Canada
Rino D’Onofrio, Head, Canadian Insurance Business, RBC Insurance

 Swimming news release is courtesy of Swimming Canada.

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Christopher Mercer
10 years ago

This is pretty much the same as the Lifesaving Society’s Swim To Survive program, is it not? It would have been nice to see this money and star power put behind existing infrastructure.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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