In 1994, Different Strokes Calgary (DSC) founder Daniel MacGregor attended a swimming event in New York City and discovered he was the only swimmer between Vancouver and Toronto representing Canada. With that pressing on his mind, he returned to Calgary and with co-founder James Cooke, set the goal of starting a gay and lesbian swim club. Starting in 1995 with 2 lanes at the Lindsay Park Sports Center, the club now has about fifty swimmers who meet twice a week to swim at the YWCA on 5th Avenue.
"Members of the club have been to the Gay Games in Amsterdam and Sidney, Australia and [we] are planning on having people in both Montreal and Chicago. We have been to the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatic Championships in Montreal, Washington, San Diego, Atlanta and Toronto. We have only missed two IGLA’s," McGregor, who along with Rob Kremer chatted with GayCalgary.com prior to a recent practice.
The group shares its name with swim clubs in San Diego and Boston, and is open to everyone from those dipping their toes for the first time to those who swim competitively.
"We have every range of swimmer that there is, from the beginner to former University and National team members who have swam with Mark Tewksbury. One of our current swimmers started in lane one, and could go fifteen meters and then stop and grab the edge of the pool. Now they are in lane three doing butterflies and tumble turns, and other more advanced swimming skills. [They] have come a long way. People are naturally uncomfortable in the water. You spend your life vertical on your legs and suddenly you are horizontal and using your arms to move. It is a totally different sport so if you don’t have that skill going into it as a kid, it is a difficult skill to acquire, which is probably why some people don’t come out."
The group is a non-profit, volunteer run swim club inclusive of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and their friends. They are dedicated to the master swim programme philosophy of "fun and fitness for life" in an environment that is both positive and supportive. To this end, DSC attempts to provide a recreational, competitive, and socially active atmosphere in which members may participate in whatever capacity they prefer.
Kremer, who has been swimming with Different Strokes for four years, says that the group is about more than just swimming.
"Swimming is an anti-social activity because your head is under the water all the time. However, this group is particularly social – we go out for dinner after swimming almost every practice. We have a lot of fun at our various other activities and sports. Some of us go hiking in the summer. Eleven [people] from this group went to the Whistler Gay Ski Week. It is a very active group."
It is easy to get involved in Different Strokes. Kremer suggests that anyone, regardless of their body type or swimming experience, is welcome to check the club out (the first visit is free) and join in.
"Come out to the YWCA Wednesdays at 7[pm] or Sundays at 6[pm], or visit our website to get more information on us. I don’t think being shy is a problem as this group is unbelievably supportive. People worry about the competitions but they are designed based on your skills. People who are shy about their bodies have no need to be shy here."
The club charges a $20 fee per year to register with Swim Alberta, which covers their insurance. After the first visit it costs only $5 each time, with different payment options available. The group, which prints out t-shirts and swim-trunks every year that sport the organization’s name, has seen members come and go over the years.
"We have had a lot of long term members, it is about 50/50. It rotates, people move especially in the gay community which tends to be very mobile. We often have people visiting from other clubs in other cities," said Kremer
On March 19th, Different Strokes presents its second annual "Mardi Gras" fundraiser at the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Center. Kremer and the rest of the crew are very excited.
"Last year was the inaugural event. We sold it out a week before, and it was very successful and a lot of fun. This year we have rented the entire space at the community center so we can fit more people in and not turn [anyone away] at the door. We are planning a few extra special events, as well as DJ Mark Tattoo from Vancouver, who has played big parties in Cancun, Palm Springs as well as the Toronto and Vancouver pride events. The event is a fundraiser to send people to the Montreal and Chicago gay games in 2006."
The group fills many roles. For some, the fitness aspect is the major goal, and many have lost weight from the regular workouts. Others overcome their fear of water, while yet others swim competitively. For McGregor, the satisfaction comes from seeing the group thrive and its members achieve their goals.
"Seeing people improve is a huge sense of pride for me. Watching them develop their skills, socialize with people in the community and become more comfortable is fantastic. One of our swimmers went to his first ARGRA dance and was initially very uncomfortable and shy, but by the end of it was having a great time. That is what Different Strokes is about, being with people you enjoy spending time with."
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Contributor Jason Clevett |
Locale Calgary |
Topic Different Strokes | Sports |
