The Diefenbaker Dip – 163 KM Swim for Women

1 Lake, 6 Women, 3 Days, 163 KM of swimming! Help these 6 intrepid swimmers raise $10,000 for YWCA Regina + La Ronge Native Women’s Council Piwapan Women’s Centre.

THE 2022 SWIM IS COMPLETED! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AND FOLLOWING ALONG. YOU CAN STILL DONATE BELOW:

About the Swim

For the 3rd year in a row, a group of dedicated Saskatchewan swimmers will be hopping in the water for a great cause: supporting women and families.

This year, six swimmers will tackle the entire length of Diefenbaker Lake in 3 days! The Diefenbaker Dip: 163 Swim is thusly named in honour of the 1 lake, 6 swimmers, and 3 days to tackle this approximately 163 KM marathon swim in support of women’s shelters. This year’s swimmers are Adrien van Dyke, Dionne Tatlow, Élise Truscott, Kelsey van Dyke, Meghan Chisholm, and Nichole Robinson.

They are swimming to raise $10,000 for YWCA Regina’s Annual Fundraising Campaign #SayYes and the La Ronge Native Women’s Council Piwapan Women’s Centre.

YWCA Regina exists to support women and families in the realization of their full potential to the benefit of our entire society. We provide childcare, shelter and housing, community programs, family support programs, and outreach.

The La Ronge Native Women’s Council’s goal is that all individuals and families within Northern Saskatchewan will have the opportunity to live healthy lives free from violence. They operate a women’s shelter, crisis line, second-stage housing, and sexual and domestic violence support services.

Read below for more information about each organization.

Please note: Funds will be split 60% and 40% between YWCA Regina and La Ronge Native Women’s Council respectively. Donations will be collected and receipted by YWCA Regina, and donors will be tax receipted for the entirety of their contribution at the time of donation. YWCA will then re-direct 40% of the funds to the La Ronge Native Women’s Council at the end of the campaign.

Your donation helps motivate this team to achieve this incredible feat of endurance and supports the strong and resilient families of YWCA Regina and La Ronge Native Women’s Council reach their full potential.

SWIM DETAILS:
Location: Diefenbaker Lake: Saskatchewan Landing Bridge to Gardiner Dam
Swim Length: Approx. 155 – 163 KM
Swim Time: The swim will take about 62 hours to complete.
Date and Time: Starting time: July 19, 5:00 AM

A special thank you to Performance Marine and Dave Miller of JN Millers Service Ltd. in Riverhurst Saskatchewan for donating his boat and piloting for the swim!

$10,000

Fundraising Goal

$15,250

Total Raised

152%

Goal % Reached

Make a Donation

About the Organizations

YWCA Regina Inc:
www.ywcaregina.com
Charitable Registration Number: 10822 7950 RR0001

YWCA Regina supports women and families in the realization of their full potential to the benefit of our entire community.
We provide childcare, shelter and housing, community programs, family support programs, and outreach. We aspire to a world where communities benefit from the full and equitable inclusion and advancement of women and families. The experiences and perspectives of women and families are reflected in all facets of society.

We operate a Kikinaw Residence, a supportive housing residence for women, 4 Children’s Homes, 1 of only 3 emergency domestic violence shelters in Regina, Isabel Johnson Shelter, and Regina’s only emergency homeless shelter for women and families, My Aunt’s Place. YWCA Regina also offers extensive community programming, Outreach and support services, and 3 licensed childcare centres.

La Ronge Native Women’s Council Piwapan Women’s Centre
www.pwcprograms.com
Charitable Registration Number: 123747941RR0001

The La Ronge Native Women’s Council inc. has strong ties to the community of La Ronge and surrounding area, the organization was established in 1978. The council had important roles in bringing the local detox, daycare, and friendship centre into the community, aiding in establishing boards for those projects, and maintaining the Piwapan women’s centre shelter as their primary project. Our goal is that all individuals and families within Northern Saskatchewan will have the opportunity to live healthy lives free from violence.

Piwapan Women’s Shelter offers a place of safety and support for women and their children who are unable to remain in their homes due to violence. Women who stay at our shelter will be provided with healthy, balanced meals, emergency supplies of clothing, transportation to and from appointments and practical assistance in re-establishing in the community. We offer referrals to other community agencies and organizations and can advocate on your behalf. We provide educational programming on the topics of the cycle of violence, personal safety plans, parenting, effects of violence on children, addictions, self-esteem, anger management, goal setting, stress reduction and budgeting, as well as information on legal rights, social assistance, education, job training and community resources.

Meet the Swimmers:

Adrien van Dyke: The water has always been one of Adrien’s favourite places, spending the summers outside in lakes and winters at the pool. Adrien started playing water polo at 10 and has spent the past five years playing for Cal State East Bay’s women’s water polo team. She first started doing open water swimming in spring of 2020 during the pandemic with Dionne and Kelsey. The Last Mountain Marathon was her first open water event!

Dionne Tatlow: Dionne grew up in and around the water (lifeguarding, lake time, etc.) but didn’t start training as a swimmer until 2010 in Toronto with a Masters Team. A move in 2013 to La Ronge left her without a pool, so initially open water swimming was something done out of necessity but quickly became the preferred ‘venue’! Since that time she’s completed a number of swims around Saskatchewan, Canada and the world!

Elise Truscott — Élise Truscott: Élise swam competitively as a synchronized swimmer and transitioned to open water swimming when she was asked to swim the team portion of the Frank Dunn triathlon. She has completed numerous open water swimming races and is an avid hiker outside of swimming.

Kelsey van Dyke: Kelsey started synchronized swimming at the age of nine and swam competitively for many years. Following in the steps of her younger sister, Adrien, she then began playing water polo. She first took the plunge into open water swimming five years ago, when her friend, Dionne, introduced her to the sport.

Meghan Chisholm: Meghan started swimming at a young age, taking swimming lessons and was part of a local speed swimming club. At the age of sixteen she became a lifeguard. In 2014, she swam across the English Channel. Meghan continues to have love and passion for the sport.

Nichole Robinson — Nicole Robinson: For Nichole, swimming has always been a central part in her life, Whether as an athlete, lifeguard, instructor or coach. She grew up swimming competitively in Alberta. Since leaving the competitive swimming world, she’s moved to La Ronge and fallen in love with the adventurous aspects of open-water swimming.

YWCA Regina
1940 McIntyre Street, Regina SK S4P 2R3
Email: ywcaregina@ywcaregina.com
Phone: 306-525-2141 | Fax: 306-525-2171

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION #10822 7950 RR0001

YWCA Regina Inc. is accredited under the Imagine Canada Standards Program.
The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada used under license by YWCA Regina Inc.

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