End of Season Fiesta

Nepean Kanata Barracudas

End of Season Fiesta
June 27, 2025

NKB believes that greatness is not achieved in isolation; it is built together as a community. Our End of Season Fiesta is a perfect reminder of this belief, where sun hats replaced racing caps, cheers gave way to laughter, and podiums transformed into dinner tables.

With the sun shining and energy high, we gathered swimmers, parents, coaches, and all NKB families to celebrate the season with food, games, fun, and an abundance of gratitude. The day was not just about swimming but about everyone who makes this club feel like home.

We laughed, cheered, and most importantly, we also honoured and presented well-deserved awards to recognize our incredible volunteers and officials' effort, progress, and team spirit, who are behind-the-scenes work that makes meets and memories possible.

Of course, the louder shoutout goes to our amazing parent community—not just for volunteering at meets or behind-the-scenes roles but for being the ultimate support crew: driving to early practices, washing gear, calming nerves, and cheering through every finish. Your belief in our swimmers fuels their drive more than you can imagine.

This year's Swim-a-Thon was another standout event, as we support CHEO every year, a cause close to the NKB heart. More than just a fundraiser, the event celebrated courage and growth. Swimmers set big goals, push through mental and physical limits, and discover their capabilities. The joy on deck, the confidence built, and the team spirit were as powerful as the money raised. To our top fundraisers and every swimmer who participated, thank you for showing what dreaming big and giving back looks like.

More than just a send-off, the Fiesta reflected what sets NKB apart: our commitment to fostering not only fast swimmers but also strong connections, positive values, and lifelong memories. This season reminded us that when the lanes go quiet, the NKB spirit doesn't stop; it lives on in every shared story, every teammate hug, and every moment that reminds us why we love this sport. 💚🖤

Thank you to every swimmer, parent, coach, official, and volunteer who made this year unforgettable. Let us carry the momentum—and the magic—into summer."

We couldn't finish an NKB event without recognizing a few of the many MVPs who keep our club running strong. See the complete list of award recipients below, and join us in celebrating their contributions!

Awards and Recognitions

For the Kids Award, Heidi Wechselberger—for her tireless efforts behind the scenes, coordinating logistics, events, and meeting management with a heart-centred approach on the kids' joy and success.

Volunteer of the Year, Cynthia Handler — For stepping into new roles, chaperoning, managing logistics, and supporting athletes and staff with dedication and heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Level Officials 

  • Level 3: Brian Hill, Lance Miller, Mike Duford, Whitney Rose, Wei Lei, Alison Kennedy.
  • Level 2: Raymond Chen, Lin Zhang, Lisa Xie, Sarah Forbes, Emily Chen, Lori Sauze, Yvonne Butt, Ian Butt, Diana Kurtyan, Shannel Yang, Nicole Lauro, Krista Marsden, David Skeaff, Heather Bell

10-Year Officiating Pin, Megan Dodge, for her 13 years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Volunteer Contributions 

  • Electronics Team: Dave Beyea, Russ Hitchcock, Kelvin Lee, Ned Lebouthillier, Bing Zhang.
  • Competition Coordinators: Julie Hewitt and Andrew Barton.
  • Meet Management: Heidi Wechselberger & Cynthia Handler.
  • Streaming System Development: Wade Holmes

CHEO Fundraising Top Contributors 

  • Overall Individual: Kadey Taylor - $1,005
  • Overall Family: Caleb & Liam Ko - $1,750
  • Youth Kanata: Caiden Henricks
  • Youth White: Caleb Ko
  • Youth Green 1: Grace Gordon
  • Youth Green 2: Kadey Taylor
  • Youth Black: Gwen Hickling
  • Senior Black: Leah Hitchcock and Lilian Skeaff
  • Senior Green: Grace Cagiannos
  • Performance: Ellie Fournier
  • Elite: Liam Ko

Thank you to Julie Hewitt, Lisa Guilbeault, and Shari Schaepper for your ongoing leadership and support as our Club Officials' Chairs and Administrators.

Here's to the team behind the team. Let's keep growing together.