Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club - Our side.

By Gazette Staff

July 5th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

The Gazette received the following from Cody Bradt, the Chief Operating Officer and Associate Head Coach of the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club.

Labeling what was sent to us as “Our Side” we were given the following:

There has been a great deal of discussion surrounding the recent awarding of the 2025 Competitive Youth Swimming RFP, and I believe it’s time we share our side of the story.

Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club.

Throughout the RFP process, we respected the confidentiality rules and refrained from making public comments. Now that the contract has been awarded, we are able to speak openly.

First and foremost, the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club is not a “Hamilton club.” We are proud to serve swimmers across the entire Golden Horseshoe region—including Burlington, Hamilton, Dundas, and Stoney Creek. We’ve been part of these communities for over 20 years.

This most recent procurement process is not new. It began in 2020, following more than a decade of GHAC coexisting with other user groups. .

On a personal note, I’m proud to have grown up swimming in City of Burlington pools and to have called Burlington home for more than 20 years of my life. I know firsthand the profound impact that competitive swimming can have on shaping a young person’s confidence, discipline, and lifelong friendships. It’s a privilege to now give back to the same community that helped shape me.

This most recent procurement process is not new. It began in 2020, following more than a decade of GHAC coexisting with other user groups in City of Burlington-owned facilities. When the first RFP was released in 2020, we submitted a proposal and narrowly missed being selected. We respected the outcome, requested a formal debrief, and used that feedback to improve our organization. Although we lost nearly 200 members that season, we remained committed to our mission and continued offering high-quality programming outside of city-owned pools.

It’s also important to clarify that the incumbent organization did not “lose” their pool time—they completed their contract term. The 2020 agreement was for three years with two possible extensions, and it ran its full course.

When the City released a new RFP in 2025, we again submitted a proposal—and this time, we were awarded the contract.

Cody Bradt – “the offer for a meeting was declined by their Head Coach.”

It’s important to note that in February 2025—prior to the RFP being issued—we reached out to the incumbent organization to request a meeting to discuss the possibility of jointly approaching the City to return to a shared pool use model, as we had successfully done prior to 2020. This conversation included their Head Coach, President, and Past President.

Unfortunately, the offer for a meeting was declined by their Head Coach. We respected their decision and informed them that, in light of that, we would be submitting a proposal—just as we did in 2020.

At GHAC, we are proud to offer an inclusive program for all swimmers—including Olympic-stream able-bodied swimmers and Paralympic-stream swimmers with physical, visual, or intellectual impairments. Our organization does not distinguish between able-bodied and para-athletes. We have multiple coaches with extensive experience working with para swimmers at all levels—from those learning to swim for the first time to athletes competing internationally.

There has been some public conversation around the statistic that only 28% of our members reside in Burlington, as reported by Swim Ontario. That number reflects home addresses across our entire membership and does not accurately represent the makeup of those training in facilities in Burlington.

Statistics without context can be misleading. Over 85% of swimmers training at our Burlington practice locations are Burlington residents—and that figure has remained consistent throughout our existence.

We are a professional organization that respects every contract we hold, whether it be with municipalities, universities, or private institutions. That includes our former relationship with the City of Burlington, which we maintained respectfully from 2009 to 2020.

Cody Brady: “If an agreement requires that 85% of swimmers come from within a specific community, we meet that requirement.”

If an agreement requires that 85% of swimmers come from within a specific community, we meet that requirement—just as we would meet a condition requiring swimmers to be able to swim 25 metres. These are simply terms we follow, and have always followed, with integrity.

We also take pride in being responsive and professional in our operations. All new inquiries receive timely responses, and we work hard to ensure that every swimmer and family feels supported.

Our experienced coaching staff brings decades of knowledge to the pool deck, with coaches who have served on provincial and national committees and represented Ontario and Canada at international competitions. Their shared goal: to better the sport of swimming for everyone.

The reality is, the youth of Burlington are not losing their place to swim—they are gaining a new opportunity to continue their development with a different organization.

The reality is, the youth of Burlington are not losing their place to swim—they are gaining a new opportunity to continue their development with a different organization. One that is committed to welcoming all swimmers, helping them find a group where they belong, and continuing their journey in the sport. We already have over 120 tryouts scheduled for the fall and are excited to welcome new and returning athletes into our program.

At GHAC, we will continue to act with integrity and respect. We will not engage in tearing down other organizations. Instead, we will focus on facts, solutions, and a commitment to putting the youth of Burlington first.

This is an exciting new chapter, and we look forward to supporting every swimmer through it.

There was no email address or telephone number provided for us to follow up on.  We will dig around and see what we can find.  The Gazette did reach out to the GHAC person for whom we had an email – there was no response.

There was a video and a second document that we will wade through this evening.

Addendum.  The video was of Cody Bradt speaking the words set out in the document we were sent. Photographs were added to this article when they became available.

Mr Bradt – do send us an email address and a telephone number so that we can make sure we fully understand what you have to say.  Our interest is in the interpretation you give the Swim Ontario data.   You can reach me at 905-462-1948.