Developing Champions for Life
About Us
Ignite Artistic Swimming Club (formerly known as Burlington Synchronized Swimming Club) is a volunteer-run, non-profit club that has successfully been serving young athletes and teenagers in Halton and Hamilton Wentworth for nearly 50 Years – beginning in 1972!
Ignite is passionate about inspiring athletes of all ages and abilities (Recreational, Regional or Competitive) to not only learn the sport of artistic swimming, but to develop and improve their fitness, team sportsmanship and respect for others. We strive to provide a positive learning environment that encourages goal-setting, work ethics, excellence, and pride of accomplishment and success!
2023-2024 Board Members
President/Acting Finance Director
Nora Endicott
Financial Advisor to the Board
Mikhail Zaitsev
Secretary
Helen Bartens
Marketing
Meg Shuker
Member Services
Yuan Shi
Fundraising
Rebecca Kielbiski
Events
Karen Markowsky
Human Resources
Vacant
Director at Large
Kim Carver
Director at Large
Vacant
Head Coach
Elly Van Fleet
In July 2015 BSSC/Ignite hired long time BSSC/Ignite coach Elly Van Fleet to take over the Head Coach position from Jennifer Scott who retired after successfully leading BSSC from 2007. Promoting Elly with her many years at BSSC beginning in 1994 as an athlete, team coach from 1999, Recreational Coordinator from 2005 – 2010 was an excellent next step in this club’s illustrious Head Coach history that has previously included Janet Herman, Judi Enns Bradette and Margaret White prior to Jennifer Scott.
Highlights for Elly as a BSSC athlete include 2 international Competitions; Glasgow Open in Glasgow, Scotland, (1995 – winning Gold) and Trygg Hansa Open in Goteborg Sweden (1996 – winning silver) amongst many more successes in her athlete career.
Elly has also been a Level 3 NCCP Certified Coach (Competition Development) since 2005.
Head Coach Elly Van Fleet – “I believe in Sport for Life”
“I believe in Sport for Life. Sport has an important role in developing young athletes for the future by helping to give them the tools they need to become responsible, driven, focused, passionate, decisive and confident young people. At Ignite we offer programming for all age groups and abilities from our Recreational AquaGo! for the little swimmers to full season High Performance Provincial & National Competitive teams. Ignite has been a huge force in my life for so many years, and I hope that I can help these athletes look back at their time here as valuable, positive, encouraging, fun and successful!”
About Ignite Artistic Swimming accomplishments
2019-2020 Season
Ontario Winter Games
- 13-15 Provincial team (Purple team) 5th
- 13-15 Soloist Evelyn Goddard Bronze
- AUA Duet Holly & Jade Garner Gold
- AUA Duet Allison and Lacey Silver
- AUA Solo Mel Robillard Silver
2018/2019 Season
Trillum 12&Under Championships
- Sophie and Asria 10U duet Bronze
- 11/12 Team Silver (Pink Team)
- Melanie Robillard AUA Solo and Figures Gold
- Jade Garner AUA Figures Gold
- Parrish Myers-Cochrane AUA Figures Silver
- Jade and Parrish AUA Duet Gold
Ontario Championships
- Cailyn Wallace 13-15 Provincial Figures Gold
- Cailyn Wallace 13-15 Provincial Solo Gold
- Grace and Emma Junior Free Duet Bronze
- Melanie Robillard AUA Solo and Figures Gold
2017
- 13-15 Provincial Team Silver (Purple Team)
- Cailyn Wallace 13-15 Provincial Figures Gold
- Cailyn Wallace 13-15 Provincial Solo Gold
- Claire Desormeaux and Caroline Scott 13-15 Provincial Duet Silver
- Emma Wansborough and Grace Chapman 16-20 Provincial Duet Bronze
2016
Cailyin Wallace won Silver as part of the 11-12 Ontario/Canada Team at the UANA Pan Am Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
Junior Combo team won Gold for Thematic Combo
2010
Junior Combo team won Gold for Thematic Combo
2005
Junior Combo team won Gold for Thematic Combo
2006
Tier 6 team won Bronze at Espoir Nationals
** Ignite has been chosen to represent Canada twice, winning Gold in 1995 in Glasgow Scotland, and Silver in 1996 in Goteborg, Sweden.
** Ignite swimmers have gone on to represent Ontario at the 1999 and 2007 Canada Winter Games (Cate Ahrens and Stephanie Saunders), Canada at the Junior National level (Cate Ahrens – 1997, 1998 American Cup) and at the Senior National level (Isabelle Rampling – 2007 World Championships, 2008 Olympic Games Team).
Mission
Ignite engages in promoting, teaching and fostering the sport of artistic swimming
Our Vision
To inspire athletes of all ages and abilities to achieve their full potential as artistic swimmers and as whole individuals in a fun, positive and inclusive environment.
Our Values
Fun Is first and foremost why we participate in the sport of artistic swimming and we enthusiastically share our passion, enjoyment and friendship with others.
Family Spirit We care for, respect and support each other.
Excellence We strive to be the best we can be through a commitment to our training and practice.
Sportsmanship We enjoy artistic swimming for its own sake and demonstrate fairness, self-control, respect and fellowship with competitors, teammates and coaches.
Teamwork We commit to working together to achieve our success.
Work Ethic We work hard at everything we do with honesty, integrity and accountability.
Club Policies & Documents
Ignite Artistic Swimming Club Policies
Ontario Artistic Swimming (OAS)/Canadian Artistic Swimming (CAS) Policies
CAS Appeal Policy: https://artisticswimming.ca/about-canada-artistic-swimming/board-governance/bylaws-and-policies/
Coach Registration and Certification Policy: https://artisticswimming.ca/about-canada-artistic-swimming/board-governance/bylaws-and-policies/
CAS Conduct Policy: https://artisticswimming.ca/about-canada-artistic-swimming/board-governance/bylaws-and-policies/
CAS Discipline and Complaints Policy: https://artisticswimming.ca/about-canada-artistic-swimming/board-governance/bylaws-and-policies/
CAS Screening Policy: https://artisticswimming.ca/about-canada-artistic-swimming/board-governance/bylaws-and-policies/
OAS Privacy Policy: https://ontarioartisticswimming.ca/ontario-artistic-swimming-policies/
OAS Concussion Policy: https://ontarioartisticswimming.ca/ontario-artistic-swimming-policies/
OAS Social Media Policy: https://ontarioartisticswimming.ca/ontario-artistic-swimming-policies/
OAS Records Retention Policy: https://ontarioartisticswimming.ca/ontario-artistic-swimming-policies/
OAS Accessibility Policy: https://ontarioartisticswimming.ca/ontario-artistic-swimming-policies/
OAS Confidentiality Policy: https://ontarioartisticswimming.ca/ontario-artistic-swimming-policies/
OAS Equity and Inclusion Policy: https://ontarioartisticswimming.ca/ontario-artistic-swimming-policies/