About the Vancouver Vikings
History
The Vancouver Vikings are a summer swim and water polo club originally known as the Mount Pleasant Swim Club. Some of our trophies still have this name. The name was changed to Vancouver Vikings in 1984 to reflect the larger demographic.
The Vikings are incorporated under the Societies Act of the Province of British Columbia and governed by a set of bylaws (pdf).
The Vikings are a member of the British Columbia Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA) and belong to the Vancouver and District Region, one of eight regions in the province.
Mission Statement
The Vikings are a non-profit, parent-run, competitive summer swim and water polo club and a member of BCSSA.
The club's goals are to:
- introduce young athletes to the environment of competitive swimming and to the game of water polo,
- teach them the skills required for racing and for playing the game of water polo, and
- encourage each athlete to attain his or her own personal best achievement in a fun and friendly environment.
Philosophy
A priority of the club is to foster a passion for swimming and water polo, and to create an atmosphere of fun while learning how to be competitive. The emphasis is on fun. The competitive skills learned at Vikings have proven to be essential life skills that will benefit swimmers not only in the pool, but also in other areas of their lives. These skills include:
- Character Development through commitment, hard work, and perseverance.
- Striving for Excellence through the achievement of best times, ribbons, medals, and trophies.
- Sportsmanship from teamwork and encouragement as well as lessons learned on how to handle winning and losing gracefully.
- Building of Community from learning to build strong and lasting friendships and from learning to create a sense of "family" within the club.
- Active Lifestyle through the promotion of health and fitness as a part of everyday life.
Aside from swimming, Vikings also organizes several social events throughout the season for both parents as well as swimmers. These events help to foster team unity as well as provide opportunities for just having fun! Vikings has a warm family atmosphere that not only encourages but also draws parents to become actively involved in the club alongside their children.
