National Coaches Week

National Coaches Week is September 14-20 and we will be highlighting five coaches from the Swim Ontario community. It is a time to celebrate positive impact that coaches have on our athletes, sport and community. #ThanksCoach

By David Grossman

There’s a saying that ordinary people can achieve incredible things.

That happened, as an example, to Canadian actor and comedian Jim Carrey. He was born in Newmarket, at one time owned a private vacation property near Bancroft and now, after years of living in the Los Angeles area, resides in Hawaii.

Let me introduce you to another Ontario-born individual who has proven that there’s an innovator in all of us. That’s Dana Labrie, not as well-known as the Hollywood celebrity, but that doesn’t matter. She has also watched her dream come true.

For her, that fantasy has become a reality in more ways than one.

The 55-year-old Labrie, born in Toronto, has roots in the Pontiac municipality of Quebec. She has lived in Ohio and Texas. She now calls Whitestone her home.

It’s a rural municipality, more of a retreat for its lakes, forests and scenic beauty. Located about 40 kilometres northeast of Parry Sound, Labrie knows home fits well with her ability, as an artist, to find superb locations as inspiration for landscape paintings.

But Labrie has been enthusiastic about other things. That includes being an advocate and the driving force for something unique to the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. For years, to access an indoor pool in that area, people had to rely on hotels and resorts.

In October of this year, things will change.

Labrie devotes a great deal of time in Parry Sound – a community known as the birthplace of hockey legend Bobby Orr, the gateway to the world-renowned 30,000 Islands, and the location of the deepest natural freshwater port on the planet.

Soon, Parry Sound will benefit from the multi-million-dollar Tamarack North Centre. It’s a 40,000 square foot multi use facility that includes a six-lane indoor pool.

“Fabulous – we’ve been working on something like this for a long time,” said Labrie, who is the Founder and President of 7 Gens Swimming, formerly known as the Parry Sound Nation Swim Club. “This will give us a chance to launch structured training programs to improve technique, build endurance, and improve athletic performance.”

Not only is it a time for celebration, but Labrie knows a great deal about swimming. She’s also the creator of what just might be one of several Indigenous swim clubs in Ontario.

“We've worked closely with, and sought input from, the area First Nations communities, and Indigenous inclusion is very important to the club,” she said. “(7 Gens Swimming) is an inclusive community swim club welcoming Indigenous and non-Indigenous swimmers alike.

Labrie intends to devote time to the important job of coaching. It’s something that interested her at the age of 17 with the East York Aquatic Club in Toronto. That’s where her initiation to coaching started, sharing time with an introductory program for young kids.

Highlighting National Coaches Week in Canada, set for Sept. 14 – 20, Swim Ontario is shining the spotlight on Labrie. It’s part of an annual campaign across the country celebrating the positive impact coaches have on athletes.

For Labrie, with years of huge success as a competitive swimmer, the sport has done much more for her than just see her get in the water. As for coaching, she can’t say enough about the huge impact it has had on her.

After what some might call a late start to swimming, which began as a 13-year-old with the North York Aquatic Club, Labrie would move on to a prestigious honorary list of individuals recognized for having achieved great success, notoriety and popularity.

Recruiting coaches saw Labrie competing at the Canadian Nationals held in Toronto. That may have been enough for staff at Cleveland State University (CSU) to offer the then 19-year-old a full athletic scholarship.

“I was over the roof (with the scholarship) because my family couldn’t really afford sending me to college,” she said. “School always came first, but swimming was close behind. I worked hard at it, but coaches did a lot for me.

“I took advantage of opportunities, something I encourage others to do. I wouldn’t be where I am today without swimming, the skills and everything I learned because of it.”

Earning academic degrees in Marketing and International Business, Labrie also was dominant in the water as a 10-time university record holder. A former three-time “Outstanding Female Swimmer of the Year,” team captain, and conference champion in the 200-metres individual medley, Labrie was inducted into the Cleveland State University Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame in 2005.

“I actually became a better swimmer at university than in my club age group,” recalled Labrie, who, as a 16-year-old, made it to the 1988 Canadian Olympic Trials in the 100-metres backstroke, as a member of the Ajax Aquatic Club.

After graduation, Labrie coached at the collegiate and age-group levels, guiding swimmers into competitive meets. She remained active as a Masters swimmer and in 2016, was a medal winner at the Ontario Masters Championship.

With some memories of those toddler days adjusting to water at a family cottage on the Ottawa River, Labrie is now focussed on bringing out the best for a variety of age class swimmers at the new pool.

With more than four decades of combined swim and coaching experience, her astuteness and wisdom gained from the sport, Labrie has come a long way.

“There was a time when I had very little confidence in myself,” said Labrie. “Some thought I also had a learning problem, but things changed for the best. I think I was around 13 at the time. Swimming taught me to focus. Also, about discipline and drive. Now, with a new pool, we have work to do that will help young people find ways to benefit as well.”

With coaching experience gained from her involvement with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One school, Labrie’s vision of pushing for a sustainable, high-performance swim program will now benefit the community-at-large and develop athletes, foster leadership, and establish competitive swimming excellence.

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations. In 2026, he was inducted to the Toronto Sports Hall of Honour with a Lifetime Achievement Award.