RACentreOttawa

volume 74 number 3

MAY 2015

An Auction "Because of Me" the RA is getting RevitAlized! Any capital campaign requires the dedication and support of volunteers. At the first meeting of the Champions Table in February many of the club representatives expressed trepidation at the setting and meeting of a lofty $120,000 goal, especially since the RA has never tried to launch such a campaign in the past. After much discussions the Because of Me RevitAlization Campaign launched at the start of April and wil continue until the end of June.

Each club was asked to set a target to contribute towards the overall $120,000 target. What was unexpected were the incredible stretch targets that some clubs set that when met, the RA and members could see a significant overall contribution towards capital. Immediately the campaign received the first contribution from the Fifty Plus Club! Since then the campaign has taken off.

Bill Gelling (middle) and Doug McGregor (right) delivering $11,700 from members of the Rideau Tennis Club to RA Chief Executive Officer Tosha Rhodenizer.

to Meet a Capital Goal On June 8 the RA will launch an online auction with contributions from many different sources. The online auction will feature special events, items and services members or the public can bid upon. The auction will be hosted at www.eflea.ca. Everyone will be able to view items, place bids and see the auction progress. Members without Internet access will be able to bid at the East Member Service Desk. The Auction will run from June 8 until June 21, 2015. Several items have already been donated from members including Diana Monnet, President, RA Board of Directors, and Pam Holmes, RA LifeFIT member and Brymark representative. If you have items you wish to contribute, please contact [email protected].

At the Rideau Tennis Club, led by Doug MacGregor and Bill Gelling, the RTC RevitAlization team set an ambitious Rita St. John (left) and Claudette Simoneau (right) delivering $50 on behalf of the goal of which they have already achieved over 40% while Fifty Plus Bowling League making the 1st donation of the campaign. only talking to a small percentage of the membership. Meanwhile in the Curling Club, they have already surpassed the 55% mark! Paul Armstrong and his committee are kicking off an advertising campaign that will dramatically change the look of the curling rink. The club is already off to a great start and has an eager core group of members working hard to solicit contributions. In the Judo Club, Gary Boutilier and the 40 club members set a realistic goal and smashed it a month into the campaign. Through a series of personal requests and conversations the club has received donations surpassing 180% of their initial target. The best news is that…they are not done. With so much momentum they could pass 200%! Some of our other clubs have just gotten started, but they are all moving in the right direction. The LifeFIT membership has come together to set a modest goal and have already received 9% of their contributions. While the Photo Club has already contributed over 38.5% a month into the campaign. Each of these groups has identified capital targets that will add to the experience members have in the RA Centre. Many clubs have activities planned in June. Not to be left out the RA Board of Directors and Staff groups have set ambitious targets to contribute to the campaign. The Board of Directors, led by President Diana Monnet, is reaching out to former board members and volunteers to ask for support. So far they have hit 53% of their target. The Staff group, chaired by Brenda Hamm, has established a volunteer payroll deduction program and several events, including the recent Bake and Book Sale. To date staff have contributed over 60% of their stretch target and purchased the first item towards the RA RevitAlization…a new 60 inch television for The Fieldhouse for all to enjoy. The Because of Me RevitAlization Campaign is off to a great start, with much to celebrate. If you are interested in contributing to your club, please visit the East Member Services Desk. If you would like to advertise, sponsor the RA or to contribute to the campaign, please contact Bryan R. Merrett at [email protected]. Thank you to everyone who has contributed thus far and we look to celebrating the achievement of our goals at the end of June!

All funds raised through the purchase of items contributed by individual clubs will be attributed to the contributions set for each club for the Because of Me RevitAlization Campaign. So if the Curling Club contributes items that raise $1,000, these funds would be attributed to their contribution. The RA is simply providing the system and support for the clubs to raise the funds. Help support this initiative into the system and get ready to bid!

A picture is worth a 1,000 words!

When was the last time you updated your Family Album or your Professional Business Portrait? Check out the great offer from the Studio Photographers of the RA Photo Club and reserve your portrait session! All proceeds will be donated to the RA RevitAlization Campaign! www.racentre.com/photo

A publication of the Recreation Association of the Public Service of Canada

RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON K1H 7X7

613.733.5100

May 2015

RA News

Did You Know? • The Because of Me RevitAlization Campiagn results are available online at www.racentre.com/becauseofme and in the Grand Hall centre display. Checkout the latest contributions and kudos! • The RA has added LinkedIn to our social media portfolio. Visit us to get busines updates and news. • Over 125 RA members and guest got together in the West gym to "Shake their Booty for Susy!" in April and raised $3,3000 for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation targeting colon cancer research and patient support. • CTV Ottawa's Terry Marcotte dropped by the RA recently to chat with 90 yr-old Badminton Club Member Frank about his sport.

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The RA’s

Member Profile

Q & A:

Talking with Rémi Tohmé RA Sports Leagues Ball Hockey Member

We thought it would be interesting to ask a member a few questions and see what they had to say. We recently asked RA Sports Leagues Ball Hockey member Rémi Tohmé the following 8 questions. How did you hear about the RA? I’m originally from Montreal and moved to Gatineau in 2011. I was looking for ball hockey leagues and found one in Gatineau. It wasn’t great, but I met JS Proulx there. We liked playing together and wanted to find a more organized league. JS found the RA online and we registered. We’ve been addicted ever since! Did you know of the RA before joining the ball hockey league? No seeing as I was new to the region. I discovered the RA at the same time as the ball hockey league. The rest of the facilities are very impressive. How long have you participated in the league? This is going to be my fourth year. What are the things you like most about the league? This co-ed league is very well organized and a lot of fun. The play is good for any level since there is an effort made to even out the teams. It’s a great mix of fun and competitive ball hockey. Mark Fish, the league coordinator, is very friendly, passionate about hockey and just great guy. He seems to really care about the program and the people in it and he has an insanely good memory, knowing every single player in the league (two different nights) after meeting them only once. The ball hockey nights are more than just the game played, we end up staying for food and drinks to talk with the rest of the players in the league.

Rémi Tohmé

How is your RA experience different from your other experiences? The things I notice the most are the organization of the league and the rink! The friendliness of the whole league as well as the fact that the teams are made up of individuals looking to play (as opposed to team registration) has allowed me to meet some new people and make friends that I continue to see year round. What do you think of the RA ball hockey facility? The rink is great! I’ve played in many leagues, most of the times in school gyms, but never in a rink like the one at the RA. It was the first thing I noticed on my first day and it really impressed me. Have you checked out The Fieldhouse? Yes, after every game we go have a drink or some food with the other players. The people working there are nice, the food is good and you can catch all the hockey games. The RA Ball Hockey League runs during the NHL playoffs, so I have watched my fair share of games there. And as a Habs fan, you know... I would get into some friendly rivalries with all the Sens fans in the restaurant! Would you recommend the RA to others? Definitely! I wait for the RA Ball Hockey League all year long! The season goes by way too fast (in just two months). If it would go on for the whole year I would definitely register. I play ball hockey in many different leagues but my favorite is hands down the RA Spring Ball Hockey League!

Serving up your perfect post-game social! The SUNdeck

(the RA’s fully licensed patio)

and The Fieldhouse

(the RA’s full service restaurant)

offers nightly food and beverage specials. A proud partner of the RA Centre.

2 RA News May 2015

10 Things You Should Know

When Booking Summer Parties Booking a Summer Party, or any party for that matter, can be overwhelming if you don’t have much experience. It can be a daunting task to be responsible for meeting your colleagues’ expectations. But fear not, here are some great pointers, which may not make you an immediate expert, but will surely help you on your way to a successful event. Follow these simple recommendations and you will be leaving that Summer Party with a smiling face knowing that you rocked it. 1. Book your party as early as possible. This may sound like a no brainer but is almost never applied. How early is early enough? Well, February or March may sound too early to book your Summer Party, and that is a good thing! You will never regret securing a great venue before the best locations are already picked over. Starting early will give you more options as the availability will be wide open. While some places may not accept a booking quite that early, you will save money and stress by booking as early as possible.

9. Know your event coordinator. You will be contacting your event coordinator a lot during the booking process. Notice the speed of replies, whether by e-mail or over the phone, which can be a good indicator of how much attention you will be receiving. At the end of the day, you are not the only customer, so it is important to be reasonable. However, your event coordinator should always be responsive and professional no matter how many questions you might have.

2. Know the basics of your specific event. This is easy if you are the ultimate decision maker, but not so easy if the task is given to you by your boss or other superior. Ask the necessary questions to find out the basics for your event: the date/s, the time, the duration, what type of venue, sit-down or cocktail event, etc. Every Summer Party is different, and you need to understand the characteristics of your event to decide what will best suit your specific needs.

10. Sign an easy to understand and comprehensive contract. You know what they say, “Good contracts make great relationships”. You want a solid, comprehensive contract. Every reputable establishment will provide a contract for every event.

3. Use your resources. Referrals are your number one, go-to resource. If you have friends that frequently coordinate events, ask them for their advice and recommendations. 4. Revisit proven past locations. You may not do every Summer Party at the same location, but the advantages of using a trusted venue are considerable. 5. Know your budget. Have an exact budget and know it. It is okay to let the venues know your budget if you are working with reputable places. Sharing your budget upfront will save you time as this may eliminate some venues that are outside of your price range. Who wants to waste 15-20 minutes discussing the details if the venue is not right for budgetary reasons. Don’t forget to consider the tax and gratuity. Those fees are usually not included in prices. 6. Know the best style that fits your specific Summer Party. This is usually a good starting point when considering different venues. A banquet room vs. a sports field and a outdoor patio, hmmmm quite a difference. Know what will suit your group and book the venue that will put a smile on the face of your guests. Know your group, the demographics, styles, expectations, etc. Use the information to figure out what size and atmosphere will be suitable for your event. 7. Consider any special circumstances. Do you have kids in your group? Any allergies? Disabled guests? Communicate any special needs and circumstances in advance to the prospective venue. Together you can make sure that all guests feel comfortable and have a terrific time. 8. Think about transportation. Especially if you are serving alcohol, you might want to think about the safety of your guests. Reimbursing for cabs or hiring a shuttle may not be cheap, but such measures are definitely a worthwhile investment. Alternatively, you could encourage guests to stay at a nearby hotel by negotiating a special rate or offering reimbursement for the costs.

Here's hoping these considerations assist you in planning the perfect Summer Party. When booking a Summer Party or any special event for clients, it is always important to ask what he/she wants to hear the guests say after the event. We work backwards from there to achieve the desired results. Know your group and show them a good time. Written by Gilbert at Communitas Hospitality - available online at https://communitasinsider.wordpress. com/2014/10/23/10-things-you-should-know-when-booking-holiday-parties/ (adapted by the RA)

Membership does have its privileges! Book your next corporate or family event

at the RA Centre or the Rideau Tennis Club and receive 1/2 off the room rental with your RA membership.*

The RA Centre offers nine meeting/banquet rooms with a capacities from 25 to 300 for meetings, dinners and special events. An additional 13,000 sq ft is available for trade shows and exhibits. Outdoor facilities and fully licensed SUNdeck for BBQs and corporate functions. Situated alongside the Rideau River in a picturesque setting, the Rideau Tennis Club offers a private banquet room with an adjacent deck for meetings, dinners and special events. Both locations offer extraordinary food and service, complete audio-visual services and FREE parking. Our Event Coordinators are committed to making your event a complete success. Contact us today! * Discount not available in the month of December and may only used once in a calendar year.

RA Centre Event & Conference Services 2451 Riverside Dr. and 1 Donald St, Ottawa 613-733-5100 | www.racentre.com | [email protected]



May 2015

RA News 3

It is sooo nice outside…

Why do I need to "workout"? Now that the summer is drawing near and the nice weather is finally here, we want to present you with a few good reasons why you should KEEP COMING to the gym through the heat of the summer. We know what it is like; summer barbeques, ice cold beverages, lounging on the deck (or beach) and all the excuses – “I worked out all winter”, “it is sooo nice outside” and our favourite “I just want a cold beverage”! By not continuing your hard work, you can destroy all the good you have done to your body and mind all year! To help you stay motivated we talked to Brenda Hamm, our LifeFIT manager to get her top tips on why is it important to stay on track. 1. Keep working out to help keep it off! Summer barbeques and sugary, blender drinks are very tempting and refreshing, however did you know that the average cheeseburger (154g) packs a whalloping 360 calories and the average margarita (102g) 150? That is a lot of sugar, fat and extra calories to add to your daily intake! Keep your workouts regular, your diet balanced and lifestyle healthy to avoid packing on those extra pounds while enjoying the flavours of summer!

5. Join the gang! Did you know that participating in fitness classes as a group or with friends and family will increase your performance and maintenance of health goals? Fitness centres around the world know the power of peers to help you stay healthy. The bonds that are formed from the people you attend group fitness can lead to lifelong friendships. Classes are a fantastic way to work out and a great opportunity to socialize and keep in touch with friends.

2. Stop the cycle! Over the winter we always tend to gain a few pounds, lose it in the spring, gain in the summer, lose it in the fall... sound familiar? Try and stay consistent with your visits to the gym to avoid this roller coaster of a ride for your body, your health and your metabolism. You have built a solid habit of exercise, be careful not to change this positive activity.

6. If you truly love to go outside, and you are a LifeFIT member park your car at the RA Centre, sunscreen up, and take a walk, jog, or cycle down the beautiful paths along the river. That way, you can come back to the RA for a visit, a shower, and maybe grab some breakfast at the Fieldhouse!

3. Watch your exposure. Those hot hot sun rays feel great for a little while, but you run the risk of heat exhaustion when exercising outside as well as sunburns if not properly protected. Think about climate controlled environments for safety reasons on hot days. 4. Checking the weather report before your bike ride? Frustrated by rain or extreme heat? Not necessary if you attend a SpinFIT class! Continue your routine and keep pedaling. Our air conditioning will keep you cool in a rain free environment!

You have worked hard getting your fitness to a certain level and staying active throughout the summer will only help you meet your health goals. It is a great time to meet with one of the trainers to change up your program, we can design workouts that you can take outside or refresh your current routine.

7. Stay strong! Did you work hard all year in the weight room? Just because that beautiful weather is calling you, you don't want to lose all the gains you have made all year in your strength training. By keeping your strength training regular and consistent and you will not lose the muscle mass you have worked hard to attain. Did you know that after 48 hours your strength training starts to deteriorate? One study on rats found that just 48 hours after exercise, the body hits a lower steady-state rate of protein synthesis and stops building and repairing muscle*! Sure rats and humans are different, but the study had some interesting appilcations to humans musculature. Continue that routine, maintain the hard work!

*Protein metabolism and beta-myosin heavy-chain mRNA in unweighted soleus muscle. Thomason DB, Biggs RB, Booth FW. Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX. Am J Physiol. 1989 Aug;257(2 Pt 2):R300-5

Join the RA's LifeFIT Centre

Add LifeFIT to your RA Club or League

Unlimited access to the LifeFIT Centre, unlimited access to all GroupFIT and SpinFIT classes on the LifeFIT schedule, as well as one complimentary training session per member and a season pass to the RA’s outdoor pool (mid-June to late August).

Unlimited access to the LifeFIT Centre, unlimited access to all GroupFIT and SpinFIT classes on the LifeFIT schedule, as well as one complimentary training session per member and a season pass to the RA’s outdoor pool (mid-June to late August).

ADULTS for only

June 1 to August 31, 2015

this Summer

13

$

.50

/per week*

STUDENTS for only

9

$

*Available in 3-month or 6-month options.

4 RA News May 2015

.95

/per week*

Membership

75

$

.00

What's in the new building in the West parking Lot?

boathouse work efficiently. Everything has a home, equipment is in reach and stored safely for members. With the completion of the RACCC new Many of you may be wondering what is the new structure sitting in the RA Centre West home, members have been left to pursue parking lot. It's the new home of the RA Canoe Camping Club (RACCC). Despite some what they love… the outdoors and delays during construction, the RACCC members are over-the-moon pleased with the paddling. In fact, during the RACCC Open final results. House about 200 people visited, and 61 “To have a facility that can properly accommodate the club’s fleet is fantastic,” says of them became members, bringing the Mark Scott, RACCC Chairperson. member total to 256 so far, 66 of them Much of the success for the RACCC’s utilization of the new boathouse is the ingenuity of new members. Many people signed up Celeste Morley and her team of helpers. This crew designed and built the inner working for training and tripping, and the Gear of the building. This crew are all paddlers themselves, so they knew how to make the Swap was a big success. The best thing

about the Open House though, was the chance to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones, especially those who just joined the Club and glad to see some friendly faces. As always, it’s the volunteers that make these events happen, and they volunteer with the RACCC because they enjoy being part of the club. Thanks to all those who made the newcomers feel welcome, especially to those who staffed tables, to Don for his tempting campsite exhibit, to Celeste for showing off the new boathouse. See you on the water!

adidas Canada and the RA

Working Together to Fit Up Members

adidas Canada has established a new relationship with the RA to offer members exclusive access to teamwear and sport products. The relationship will connect RA members to premium adidas products in a variety of sport and fitness activities, including hockey (ice and ball), soccer, basketball, racquet sports, softball and workout wear. Although the RA’s selection of clubs and sports leagues is diverse, members can be assured that their needs will be covered by this new relationship. This summer alone, the RA will coordinate a 133 softball and close to 80 soccer team leagues. Annually over 600 adult teams participate in sporting activities through RA Sports Leagues. “The relationship with adidas Canada offers members the opportunity to enhance their affiliation to clubs and teams through a fantastic product line,” shared Chief Executive Officer Tosha Rhodenizer, “The range of options through adidas Canada is a strong fit with our diverse lineup of sport, recreation and fitness offered by the RA is another example on why you would want to be an RA Member.” RA members have the opportunity to purchase competitively priced teamwear for their sport league competitions. This includes the full spectrum of sweaters, jerseys, pants and warm-up gear. Members participating in club activities will also have the benefit of browsing the strong breadth of the adidas lineup to select club wear through our supplier Gadar Promotions. “adidas Canada is excited by the possibility of supporting the diversity offered by the RA,” describes Andy Nera, adidas Canada Representative, “By working with the RA, adidas Canada continues to demonstrate their strong commitment to supporting sport at all levels across Canada.” adidas gear, apparel and products will be fully sourced through Gadar Promotions. Gadar Promotions have dedicated a representative to work collaboratively with the RA to coordinate their specific needs, ensuring high quality service and timely delivery on all orders. “Gadar Promotions is extremely pleased to showcase their seamless order and delivery process to the entire RA membership,” says Tony Ricciuti, President of Gadar Promotions.



For all your adidas team needs contact [email protected] adidas and Gadar Sportswear are proud partners of the RA.

May 2015

RA News 5

Molson Coors Rewards Patronage to The Fieldhouse In September 2014 the RA switched beer suppliers to Molson Coors inspired by their commitment to reward members supporting the on-site services particularly The Fieldhouse. While beer drinkers can be loyal to certain brands, the first nine months of the partnership have demonstrated exceptional support from RA members and they have been rewarded with a variety of contests and promotions.

Andrea receiving her ice level tickets from C.E.O. Tosha Rhodenizer.

Donna shows off her set of Stanley Cup rings.

Molson Coors has also helped get other members and patrons to hockey games through their Puck Party evenings. In January and early March Molson Canadian hosted two Puck Parties that included a $50 gift certificate, a limousine ride to the Canadian Tire Centre and four glass seats. Each package was worth over $1,000! Our two Puck Party winners – Andrea (from the January party) and Mike (from the March Party) are both frequent members and patrons of the RA.

Molson Coors Representative Craig Apostle and the Molson Extreme team hosted two Puck Parties evenings. In October the first set of promotions commenced with the Ottawa Senators Hockey House #AnythingForHockey program. This program rewarded over 40 patrons with exclusive tickets to the Molson Canadian Zone located at the Canadian Tire Centre. Guests received upper level seats in a customized suite to celebrate #AnythingForHockey.

If that was not enough, the partnership recently sent a lucky winner to each of the three Ottawa Senator home playoff games and is offering 9 sets of Stanley Cup Rings to patrons. The three playoff game winners were treated to the exclusive Molson Canadian Zone with a great view to cheer from. The RA has already awarded four sets of Stanley Cup Rings. Each set is worth close to $1,000. Congratulations to Donna, Ian, Josh and Pat. Molson Canadian and the RA have five more sets of rings to give out, so don’t miss your chance to get a piece of the action! The RA and Molson Coors is already hard at work planning the fall promotions and look for the exciting activity coming out on the SUNdeck.

3 Star Specials! Great for sharing!

In December the most significant piece of the first year of the partnership was awarded to the winner of the #AnythingForHockey Barbados Trip to Chris Clarke and his wife Darlene. Chris and Darlene stayed at the scenic Accra Resort in Barbados. Over their 7-day trip they received exclusive invitations to several exciting events! •

They visited Bert’s Bar and met with Mr. Eugene Melynk, owner of the Ottawa Senators.

•

The Accra Resort hosted a Beach Party BBQ great food and a chance to meet fellow Sens fans over a cold drink.

•

Two excursions, a Catamaran Dinner Cruise and a Jeep Safari, provided rum punch, Banks Beer, loud music mixed with great scenery.

•

A trip to Oisten’s Fish Fry on Friday night was a wonderful chance to taste fresh seafood, meet lots of people, listen to music and do some dancing. More importantly there was cold beer onsite.

Chris and Darlene had a wonderful time exploring Barbados, but found it fun to bump into some hockey buddies from Ottawa at Bert’s Bar so far away from home! Make sure you checkout The Fieldhouse next fall for the new destination!

6 RA News May 2015

Fieldhouse

Chris Clark (left) winner of the #AnythingForHockey Barbados Trip.

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Showcasing the Beautiful Game in Ottawa!

players and use the game of Soccer as a means to develop both great athletes and also great people. We strive to challenge each player in a fun and suitable training environment, while prioritizing our core values of hard work, encouragement, leadership and determination," says Nicki Paterson speaking to their training philosophy.

This summer our city will explode with excitement around the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup playing six days of competition from Landsdowne. This premier event will pit the top women players against each other in a journey to crown a World Cup Champion. Four years ago in Frankfurt, Germany the upstart squad from Japan defeated the powerful USA team in a penalty shoot-out. This summer Ottawa, Edmonton, Montreal, Moncton, Winnipeg and Vancouver will host players such as Christine Sinclair (Canada), Abby Womback (USA) and Marta (Brazil) in matches sure to excit fans. Adding to the FIFA excitment is the fact that this summer the RA is delivering top level soccer experiences to camp participants. The “beautiful game” has been around for many years, but with a professional team now in Ottawa, top talent is being showcased regularly and now a part of our city. The RA is excited to announce that this summer's Soccer Camps will be led by a trio of Ottawa’s top professional soccer players! These three players are well seasoned and well traveled players from around the world. Born in Scotland, Nicki Paterson has played with Motherwell FC (Scottish Premier League), Charleston Battery (USL) and University Nevada, Las Vegas

(NCAA). Furthermore he has served as the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL2J) Summer Camp Director and Charleston Battery (USL2) Academy Coach. Tom Heinemann of St Louis, USA has been coaching since the tender age of 11! He has coached with the Columbus Crew Pre-Academy’00s and PreAcademy’99s, as well as the University of British Columbia. Tom’s playing career has taken him to the Charleston Battery (USL), Carolina Railhawks (NASL), Columbus Crew (MLS), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) and Rockhurst University (NCAA).

The camps are designed to allow parents to choose an all-day soccer camp for children aged 7-13 and a afternoon Development Camp for player's aged 11-16 years old. The Development Camp will push players to explore the limits of their abilities to take their game to the next level, while learning what it takes to be a Soccer Pro! This summer of world-class soccer is a first in the city of Ottawa. Children and their parents can really explore the “beautiful game”. Plan to take in some of the FIFA World Cup or the Ottawa Fury games, or better yet, sign up now for summer soccer camps by visiting the RA web, and get in the game!

The third member of the team is Canadian Mason Trafford from Vancouver, BC. This capped Canadian National Team Player has played with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USL), IFK Mariehamn (Finnish Premier League), Guizhou Zhicheng FC (China League 1) and University Nevada, Las Vegas (NCAA).Mason’s coaching credentials have him as yjr ‘Korpen’ (Finnish Summer Soccer League) Girls Head Coach, with the British Soccer Academy in Maryland, and with summer soccer camps, elementary school clinics and working with youth soccer players.. This is a unique opportunity for players of all skill levels to learn from experienced international players. "We are dedicated to the development of young

Aquatics | Fencing | Soccer and more... RA Centre | 2451 Riverside Dr, Ottawa, ON K1H 7X7 | 613-733-5100

www.racentre.com May 2015

RACentreOttawa

RA News 7

RA Badminton Club

RA Squash Club

Members Finds Success at Perform Well Canadian Nationals on National Stage The RA Badminton Club was well represented at the 2015 Yonex U23 and Junior National Badminton Championships held earlier this month at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Seven of the RA’s juniors: Aswini Ganesh, Felix Lafortune-Lemieux, Serena Lam, Nia Patel, Kevin Stadnyk, Evelyne Wilkie and Liam Woodside, were amongst Canada’s best and brightest young stars completing in various age groups. Liam Woodside, who has grown up at the RA Badminton Club, came out with the best result. Liam competed in the under-23 age category, and as a 20-year-old he was one of the younger participants. “Liam cruised through the tournament, making the finals, where he lost to top seed Nyl Yakura of Toronto, 25-23, 13-21, 21-12. This was Liam’s first big result at a National Tournament,” shared his coach, Andrew Dabeka, “A silver medal is a huge feather in his cap!”

The RA Squash Club sent a contingent to the Shop.ca 2015 Canadian Squash Championships held in Toronto at the start of May and came away many wonderful finishes and a national champion! However, the best finish almost did not happen. Club Members Martin Aass and Julie Springer Aass were nearly not in the tournament at all. They missed the entry deadline but as fortune would have it, the draws had not yet been completed and they were permitted to register. The real excitement began when Julie took to the court in the Women 45+ category. Julie was in a round robin with four other players and had to save two match points in a previous match to make it to the finals. She played the #1 seed, Julie Hisey, on Saturday afternoon in the finals. Losing 1-0 and down in the 2nd game, Julie got hit with her opponent’s racket and had to leave the court for around 15 minutes to apply ice to a huge bump on her forehead. She shook this injury off and resumed play, but was not at 100%. She battled hard but lost the second game to go 2-0 down. The third and fourth games were all Julie to tie the match at 2-2. The fifth game was a see-saw battle with Julie going 10-8 in front with two match points, only for her opponent to bring it back to 10-10, but Julie dug deep and reeled off the next two points to win the match and become Canadian Women’s 45+ National Champion. “It was amazing to watch Julie play,” offered RA Squash Professional Dave Morrish, “Watching her battle back from two games down demonstrated a lot of courage and determination. Her performance demonstrated the level of skill playing at the RA. We are very proud of her.”

In February, the RA Badminton Club members came away with three of the five titles at the Canadian National Championships in Gatineau, Quebec. Andrew D’Souza won the men’s singles, while Alex Bruce won the mixed doubles and women’s doubles. These results, combined with the performance of Alex and Andrew in other competitions has contributed to their qualification for the 2015 Pan American Games, which will be held in Toronto this coming July. And finally, the RA Badmindton Club played well at the Canadian Masters Badminton Championships in Edmonton, Alberta with some of our members winning big! Three Golds for Wilf Côté, Golds for Ian Bishop and a single  Dedicated Traveltwo Manager Gold for Shirley Graham Silvers for Peter Christensen,  Guaranteed choice ofand travel options Bryan Blanchard and Mike Levasseur.  Management reporting  All-inclusive flat feeto structure These results continue demonstrate the high level of play support Club. Congratulations to all competitors! in  RA24/7 Badminton  No Contracts

Julie Springer Aass

Squash Group

Many members made the trek to Toronto to watch the competition and cheer on Julie including Barb Byrne, Rex Jung, Lynda McCallum, Steph Bazin and Jane Hicks. Carlos and Charlie Loo were there cheering Julie on and it is rumoured a tear could be seen rolling down Carlos' cheek when Julie won! Julie’s performance was not the only one to be proud of from the competition. • Dave Morrish came 4th in the men’s 45+; • Joceleyne Caloz came 4th in the women’s 60+; • Martin Aass came 5th in the men’s 50+;

• Debbie Witham came 5th in the women’s 50+; • Clark Johnston lost in the 45+ consolation; • Bill Mohan lost in the men’s C consolation.

RA Members will be looking forward to making shots at the 2016 Championships spurred on by Julie is and the others success stories.

RA members receive discounts with CAA North East Ontario. 1 613 299 0173

[email protected]

8 RA News May 2015

If you require more information or wish to take advantage of this offer, please don’t hesitate to contact RA Member Services at 613-733-5100 or visit the Member Benefit section on the RA’s website at www.racentre.com.

RA Sport Shooter Hits the Target Patrick just finished a provincial warmup tournament, the Lakeshore Smallbore Association Marksmenship event, where she had some impressive results. At the Lakeshore tournament, she had five firstplace finishes — in Expert for Sporting Rifle Prone, Intermediate Junior for Sporting Rifle Prone, Overall for Sporting Rifle 3-Position (Match Champion), Expert for Sporting Rifle 3-Position and Intermediate Junior for Sporting Rifle 3-Position. She also finished fourth overall for Sporting Rifle Prone.

Mary Patrick As a grade 11 student you have a lot to deal with on an average day. Maintaining a 96 % in school, making the track and field team, playing soccer and exploring the art of drama can really put demands on your time. Not impressed? How about being a Warrant Officer in the Army Cadets with an impeccable uniform all the time. No, still not enough? Then this will impress you: travelling from Cornwall weekly since November to practice and hone your skills in the RA Gun Club to make the Canadian National Shooting Team and get to the Olympics in 2020. That is exactly what Marian (Mary) Patrick has been doing. Her dedication has paid off with some outstanding results in junior competitions. She has shot well enough to make it to the National level twice. The first time as a Junior (under 15) in 2013, where she won 5 medals. This year in the Open (over 16) category she won three medals. She finished 4th in all of Canada for Cadets. However, the most important target for Mary is to land in Tokyo in 2020 for the Olympic Games. “That is the ultimate goal. I want to make it to the podium for Tokyo in 2020, in the air rifle standing 10 m,” said Patrick, a 16-year-old student at CCVS (Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School), and one of the top shooters in Ontario. That’s a little far down the road though. More immediately, there are provincial championships to deal with, followed by a trip to England, followed by the national championships.

As for that Olympic dream, is it attainable?

something, she really listens, and applies it. She really wants this.”

“Yes, it is. She can definitely do this,” said Richard Saucier, her coach. “Just the way she approaches it. Her drive, her determination. When you tell her

Adapted from an article that appeared on the Cornwall Standard Freeholder (http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2015/03/27/ her-aim-is-true) written by Kevin Gould.

MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT Ottawa’s only 7-day PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE.newspaper. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBI MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT In such events, competitors are at PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE different venues across the province, with scores tabulated and results only ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBI known later. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT “A lot of them I don’t even know,” said PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE Patrick. All the more reason to remain focused ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBI on what you can control, which is your MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT own performance. “The shooting is 90% mentalPRINT. I think, andONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE that’s one of my secrets,” said Patrick. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBI It’s something she has tried to pass on to others, taking up coachingMOBILE. this year in PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT the cadets program. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE “It’s something I really enjoy, coaching. Teaching proper breathing, proper trigger MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBI ONLINE. squeeze,” she said. “Focus, you have to MOBILE. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINTO have a lot of focus, be patient.” MOBILE. PRINT.PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT.MOBILE ONLINE The provincials are the next big ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. competition, coming up next month, MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBIL and then it’s offPRINT. to merry oldONLINE. England ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. M for Patrick, who made the Canadian MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. National CadetMOBILE. Rifle Team, thus PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. O PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. qualifying for the trip to England. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE “It’s pretty cool, lots of touring,” said Patrick of the trip, “I’ll be going right PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. M into Nationals after that. It will take a PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. O lot of planning,MOBILE. and a lot of work, but I’m really excited about it, really looking forward to it.” ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. M Planning shouldn’t be a problem. Patrick is pretty good at juggling her MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. O competitions with her school work, maintaining a high average in high ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE school. She also competes in track and field, and playsPRINT. soccer “whenONLINE. I can find MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. M the time.” MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. O Much of her time is spent practising, which consists ONLINE. of a trip to the RAMOBILE. Gun PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE Club every Tuesday, Fridays practising MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. M with the cadetsPRINT. in Cornwall, ONLINE. and Sundays practising and/or coaching in To subscribe call 613-739-7200 or PRINT. O MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT. ONLINE. MOBILE. Cornwall. visitONLINE. ottawasun.com/subscribe ONLINE. MOBILE. PRINT.

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May 2015 Promo Sun 3"x7"_RACENTRE.indd 1

RA News 9 5/11/15 4:17:29 PM

Tennis Life...

A lifestyle that will change your perspective on life! One of the best parts of Tennis Life is sitting on the Upper Deck with an ice cold beverage on a beautiful summer day while watching the tennis action on our main courts after your game. On a beautiful evening, this alone can transport you out of the city and into an oasis. The Rideau Tennis Club’s Tennis Life can be adopted by anyone looking for a change in the

The RA's Rideau Tennis Club has been part of the Ottawa community for over a hundred years connecting people from all over region around the sport of tennis. Today, with Canada’s athletes excelling on the international stage, more and more of us are choosing to play tennis… a truly lifetime sport. Tennis Canada research shows that more than 6.5 million Canadians played tennis this past year which is a 32% increase from 2012. This result is part of a study that shows that tennis continues to be on the rise in Canada at the grassroots level.

Look for this article in the June edition of the Sandy Hill Image. Follow RideauTennis on twitter and facebook to experience #TennisLife.

TENNIS

PLAY

Zhenya Kondratovski

challenges of day-to-day life. As a member, you will enjoy your summer experience and share a life of ground strokes, volleys, serves, outdoor play and laughs.

Rideau Tennis Club

Nestled along the Rideau River, the Rideau Tennis Club offers members something much more fulfilling and community minded. The Rideau Tennis Club provides members of all walks of life the opportunity to experience the “Tennis Life”. “Tennis Life is the feeling you get when you enter our club and the front desk staff knows your name, members are excited to see you and your experience is more than a tennis match,” shares Club Manager, Nancy Kirkwood. “At the Rideau Tennis Club we strive to create an environment that brings together like-minded individuals, who are connected by a passion for tennis, have an appetite for socializing and enjoying the camaraderie of the Club”. Tennis Life at the Rideau Tennis Club means that members can play in ladders, leagues and programs that improve health and wellness. In the summer, they can also enjoy a dip in the outdoor pool and refreshments on the Club’s Upper Deck. When you are a member of the Rideau Tennis Club, Tennis Life drives you to get to the club, meet up with your playing partners, participate in friendly competition, enjoy the outdoors and socialize after the game! “We have many members who genuinely play to compete and improve their skills. The other pros and I help them develop their technical abilities and build on their strengths. Many members take part in competitions around the region,” says Zhenya Kondratovski, Rideau Tennis Club’s Head Tennis Professional. “However there is a significant portion of members who just want to have fun, learn the game and socialize with their friends. Programs like “Learn to Play” and “Cardio-Tennis” are wonderful opportunities to enjoy the Tennis Life. These programs are built on a solid foundation of Long-Term Athlete Development.”

10 RA News May 2015

Special First-time Member Rate

Play now through September for only $399*! learn-to-play programs | summer camps house & city leagues | tournaments, clinics & social events

Enjoy #TennisLife this summer! Contact us at 613-749-6126 today. * This special offer is available to first-time Rideau Tennis Club members only. No additional court fees. Summer Membership is valid until September 30, 2015. Fees do not include HST.

Rideau Tennis Club, 1 Donald Street, Ottawa, ON 613-749-6126 www.rideautennisclub.com

K1K 4E6 RideauTennis

A member of the RA’s Sports & Recreation family. The RA is a not-for-profit serving our community for over 70 years.

Did you know…?

from Smith Petrie Carr and Scott Insurance Brokers Inc.

Did you know you must have a working smoke detector on every level in your home and outside of sleeping areas? It is mandatory under the Ontario Fire Prevention Code to have a smoke detector installed on every floor. Tenants and homeowners who fail to have a working smoke detector on every level in the house could face fines up to $235.



Since electric smoke detectors will not work if there is a power outage, anyone with smoke detectors that plug-in or are wired to the home’s electrical system are reminded they also need a battery back-up model. Check your smoke detectors regularly. They can save lives only if they are working properly.

May 2015 RA News 11

RA Outdoor Pool Schedule - Pool opens Saturday, June 20, 2015

Bring the Whole Family! Staying in town this summer? Consider a Family Pool Membership! Swimming is a great way for families to get moving and have fun together. Whether you want to swim laps, join an AquaFIT class, enrol the kids in swimming lessons or simply cool off, the RA’s Outdoor Pool is the place to be! This outdoor facility offers a large, heated L-shaped pool with a diving section and a smaller teaching pool with a constant depth of 3.5 feet. The spacious pool deck is equipped with shady awnings, lounge chairs and picnic tables, and toys such as flutter boards and pool noodles. An outstanding team of aquatics professionals lead programs and oversee the operations. All of this makes the RA outdoor pool the best place in Ottawa to spend a sunny afternoon.

Time

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Adult

Adult

Adult

Adult

Adult

Adult/Family

Adult/Family

12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

AquaFIT

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Adult/Family

Adult/Family

Adult/Family

Adult/Family

Adult/Family

Adult/Family

Adult/Family

AquaFIT

Family Swim: The purpose of a family swim is to provide play time for families. Children 15 years of age and under must be accompanied in the water by a participating adult 18 years or older. Maximum of 4 children per participating adult. Family Swim is offered in the small pool.

AquaFIT

Pool Day Passes

RA Pool Membership

RA Member

Non-RA

RA Member

Non-RA

Child/Teen

$ 3.00

$ 5.00

$ 45.00

$ 65.00

Adult Swim: The purpose of an adult swim is to provide an opportunity for leisure and lap swimming. Adult swims are open to patrons 16 years of age and older.

Seniors

$ 5.00

$ 7.00

$ 60.00

$ 80.00

Adult

$ 6.00

$ 8.00

$ 80.00

$ 100.00

Open Swim: The pool is open for anyone who qualifies under the RA Outdoor Pool Admission Policy.

Family*

$12.00

$17.00

$160.00

$180.00

AquaFIT: July 3 to August 21, 2015 (no class Monday, August 3) Enjoy our fitness classes in the pool! Strengthen your muscles and improve your cardio fitness without the additional wear and tear while you workout in the water.

Pool Rental Ask about our special rental rates for birthday parties, club get-togethers, camp groups and other special events.

Admission Policy In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our patrons we have based our admission criteria upon current provincial guidelines.

* Family members include spouses as well as dependant children in full time attendance at an educational institution.

AquaFIT Passes AquaFIT

RA Member

Non-RA

LifeFIT Member

$ 6.00

$ 9.00

Free

Smart Choices Keep your body and mind fit and fueled.

• Children between the ages of 6 to 9 who cannot comfortably swim one uninterrupted length of the large pool must be supervised by a guardian 12 years of age or older (in the water who is able to render assistance). Maximum of four children per guardian. • The above maximum may be increased to eight children per guardian if all of the children are wearing approved personal flotation devices. • Children five years of age and under must be directly supervised (within arms reach), regardless of swimming ability, by a guardian 12 years or older. Maximum of two children per guardian.

12 RA News May 2015

Available throughout the RA Centre PepsiCo - A proud sponsor of the RA.