This evening Swimming Canada will be holding the Third Annual Big Splash, Canada's version of the Golden Goggle Awards.
The mission of the evening is:
The Big Splash Awards Gala is Swimming Canada’s celebration of the best performances of the year in support of the CANSwim movement to teach every child in Canada how to swim.
There will be a on stage pre-show starting at 7:25 pm EST Co-hosted by Former Canadian Olympian Marianne Limpert who won a silver medal in the 200 IM at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and World Renowned Swim Meet Announcer Chris Hindmarch-Watson.
The show's headliner will be Canadian singer and actress Victoria Duffield. Duffield is best known for her songs ‘Shut Up and Dance' and ‘Break Your Heart.' She has also had roles in such shows as Smallville, Super Natural, Cold Squad and The Haunting Hour.
The evening will be emceed will be Canadian Sportscaster Rob Faulds
The event can be seen by a live web cast at http://swimcanweb.tv/en/live-webcast
2012 Big Splash Award Nominees
In order to be nominated, a swimmer must have qualified for an individual final at their major competition of the year. For 2012, these nominees all competed at either the Olympic or Paralympic Games. The Coach finalists were voted on and determined by the Canadian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association.
CSCTA Canadian Club Coach of the Year – sponsored by IHG
Tom Rushton, Vancouver Dolphins
Kevin Thorburn, Etobicoke
Sean Baker, Oakville Aquatic Club
OMEGA Male Swimmer of the Year
Ryan Cochrane, Island Swimming/Victoria Academy
Brent Hayden, Vancouver National Swim Centre
OMEGA Female Swimmer of the Year
Brittany MacLean, Etobicoke Swimming
Martha McCabe, Vancouver Dolphins/Vancouver National Swim Centre
Sinead Russell, Blue Waves
Team Aquatic Supplies Para-swimming Male Swimmer of the Year
Nathan Stein, Surrey Knights Swim Club
Zack McAllister, Lethbridge Swim Club
Benoit Huot, Piscine Parc Olympique
Team Aquatic Supplies Para-swimming Female Swimmer of the Year
Valerie Grand-Maison, Club Aquatic Montreal Olympique
Summer Mortimer, Ducks Swimming
Brianna Nelson, Island Swimming
Open Water Swimmer of the Year
Richard Weinberger, Pacific Coast Swimming
Canadian Swimming People’s Choice Race of the Year
Our swimming community will choose the winner of the Race of the year in 2012! Stay tuned for the nominees and get ready to vote early and often
Coach Nominations for the 2012 Big Splash Awards
In order to be nominated, a coach must have had a swimmer qualify for an individual final at their major competition of the year, and be their Coach of Record. For 2012, these nominees all coached their swimmers to performances at either the London Olympic or Paralympic Games.
OMEGA Coach of the Year Male Swimmer
Randy Bennett, Victoria Academy, Ryan Cochrane
Tom Johnson, Vancouver National Swim Centre, Brent Hayden
OMEGA Coach of the Year Female Swimmer
Jozsef Nagy, Vancouver National Swim Centre, Martha McCabe
Kevin Thorburn, Etobicoke Swimming, Brittany Maclean
Erin Russell, Blue Waves, Sinead Russell
BFL Coach of the Year Male Para-swimmer
Pierre Lamy, Piscine Park Olympic, Benoit Huot
Reg Shaw, Surrey Knights Swim Club, Nathan Stein
Brad Mori, Lethbridge Swim Club, Zack McAllister
BFL Coach of the Year Female Para- swimmer
Reg Chappell Ducks Swimming, Summer Mortimer
Peter Carpenter, McGill University, Valerie Grand’Maison
Gord Veldman, Island Swimming, Brianna Nelson
Swimming Canada Open Water Coach of the Year
Ron Jacks Pacific Coast Swimming, Richard Weinberger
Ahead of this year's awards night Swimming Canada gave out their Individual Stroke Awards at this year's Canada Cup event in Toronto.
Sprint Freestyle Female Swimmer of the Year
Julia Wilkinson
Sprint Freestyle Male Swimmer of the Year
Brent Hayden
Distance Freestyle Female Swimmer of the Year
Brittany MacLean
Distance Freestyle Male Swimmer of the Year
Ryan Cochrane
Backstroke Female Swimmer of the Year
Sinead Russell
Backstroke Male Swimmer of the Year
Charles Francis
Breaststroke Female Swimmer of the Year
Martha McCabe
Breaststroke Male Swimmer of the Year
Scott Dickens
Butterfly Female Swimmer of the Year
Audrey Lacroix
Butterfly Male Swimmer of the Year
Joe Bartoch
Individual Medley Female Swimmer of the Year
Julia Wilkinson
Individual Medley Male Swimmer of the Year
Andrew Ford