SWAM Ottawa Executive Team

Anna B.

Anna has been a member of the SWAM executive team since 2023. She has worked as a lifeguard and aquatics instructor since 2019 and specializes in providing aqua-therapy classes for people with disabilities and chronic pain. She is currently finishing her Honours degree in Health Science in the French Immersion stream. ​Anna has a lot of experience in instructor training, advanced aquatic programs, and swimming lesson management. She is ecstatic about the growth S.W.A.M. Ottawa has undergone since Fall 2023 and can't wait to work on our big goals!

Gabby T.

Gabby has been with SWAM Ottawa since Fall 2023, starting as an instructor and then becoming VP Social and Communications Executive, and now President. As President, she enjoys seeing our swimmers thrive and supporting our volunteer team as we continue to grow. Swimming was a big part of her life growing up , and she believes everyone should get to experience the joy and confidence that comes from being in the water. Outside the pool, Gabby is a Health Sciences student at uOttawa, dog lover, and WNBA fan.

Maya W.

Maya has been a dedicated volunteer with SWAM since Summer of  2024. She is currently studying Biomedical Science with a minor in psychology and joined SWAM because of her love for working with kids and wanting to give back to the community. SWAM has given her the perfect opportunity to do both. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and dancing. Maya is excited to be part of the SWAM team again this year and looks forward to another great year!

Scarlett R.

Scarlett has been a dedicated volunteer with SWAM since 2023. She grew up taking swimming lessons and eventually worked up to a lifeguard/ swim instructor. Scarlett has always loved teaching lessons. When she came to university, she didn’t know anyone and found SWAM by chance on Instagram. Having grown up neurodivergent, and with a brother who has a disability, she thought it would be a great opportunity for her to use lived experiences to help others. She joined us as a permanent instructor and the rest is history!

Gemma R.

Gemma started volunteering with SWAM as an instructor, and now she is a head instructor. Gemma is excited for the upcoming year with this organization. Gemma has extensive experience in aquatic instruction and is very strong at adapting lessons to individual needs. She is currently a Multidisciplinary Design student in the Faculty of Engineering at uOttawa. Gemma is looking forward to seeing the progress of kids who return to the program and getting to know her peers!

Paige R.

Paige has been SWAM's head instructor since 2024, and has been working in aquatics since 2021, serving as a Head Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, and Advanced Aquatic Program Trainer. She is also a third-year Nursing Student with a strong passion for pediatric nursing. Paige chose to join SWAM because she believes every child should have equal access to swimming lessons and essential water safety knowledge. She is excited to bring her experience and dedication to creating a safe, fun, and inclusive environment for all children. She looks forward to all the progress the swimmers will make and seeing their bonds grow with the instructors.

Myriam B.

Myriam has been a volunteer instructor with SWAM since Winter 2024, and is now one of our lesson coordinators! She loves swimming and being around the water, as well as working with kids. SWAM allows her to combine these passions while helping kids gain confidence in the pool and have fun! She is excited to see the kids grow each week with our SWAMily. 

Eva N.

Eva has been with SWAM since Winter of 2024. She is currently in her 4th year at uOttawa studying Psychology and has a huge passion for working with children. Before SWAM, Eva worked as a swim instructor helping swimmers of all abilities and she is able to continue this passion on our team. When not in the pool, you can find Eva studying at coffee shops and playing Sudoku.

Teslin H.

Teslin started volunteering with SWAM 2025! She has just graduated from architecture school and is taking a gap year before going into a masters of planning. Teslin has an athletic background, playing competitive ringette for most of her life along with a handful of other sports to keep her busy. She wanted to be a part of SWAM because she loves making a difference within the community. Having volunteered for a therapeutic riding association before SWAM, getting back into volunteering for children with disabilities is really special for her. She also has a love for content creation and being creative which she is able to tap into with this role. She looks forward to getting to know the other executive members and SWAM kids!

Claudia W.

Claudia has been volunteering with SWAM since 2025. She is a Health Sciences student at the University of Ottawa, and outside of school she loves skiing, running, and staying active. Coaching has been a big part of her life, and she really enjoys being a positive role model for kids and helping them build confidence. Claudia joined S.W.A.M. because she believes every child deserves the chance to learn essential skills. Swimming is such an important life skill, and she loves being part of a program that makes lessons accessible to all families.

Brayden M.

Brayden has been one of our wonderful volunteers since Winter 2024. He has been a lifeguard for 6 years and worked at numerous different places. During that time, he gained a lot of experience with water safety and supporting swimmers in a pool environment. Brayden chose to be a part of SWAM because he wanted to use the skills that he  has acquired over the years to good use, making a positive impact by helping participants feel safe, confident, and happy in the water. He is looking forward to seeing the joy on swimmers faces this semester.