By Kimberly Calderbank
July 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We hear the phrase “in good faith” often these days.
It’s used by lawyers, officials, and press releases—meant to assure us that decisions are being made with honesty, fairness, and transparency.
But standing here on July 21st, watching our club, our families, and our 40-year grassroots legacy hang in limbo, I can’t help but ask: what does “good faith” really mean, if it’s not backed by action?
The Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) is a Tier 1 competitive swim club and a community-built legacy. We’ve developed Olympians, taught thousands of children to swim, and made a significant contribution to Burlington’s reputation as a city that supports youth sports.
We entered the City of Burlington’s pool allocation RFP process in good faith. We submitted all required documents. In fact, we went above and beyond, providing a Certificate of Status and confirmation of our non-profit standing—standard and acceptable proof in the Province of Ontario.
And yet, our proposal was rejected.
Why?
Because we didn’t submit a “Current and Valid Certificate of Incorporation”—a document that does not exist in Ontario, and certainly wouldn’t still be current after 40+ years.
Here’s the hardest part: the City knew this.
In the Adult RFP, also issued this year, the City explicitly acknowledged in the addendum question section that a “Current and Valid Certificate of Incorporation” does not exist in Ontario and instructed applicants to provide alternative documentation instead.
That same clarity was not provided in the Youth RFP.
Here’s what’s important to note:
- GHAC applied to both the Adult and Youth RFPs, meaning they received the correct information about the document requirements through the Adult process.
- Burlington Masters applied only to the Adult RFP, and therefore also received the corrected criteria.
- There were only three applicants total across both RFPs.
- Of those, two had access to the updated guidance on documentation—yet it was not shared with all applicants.
Why wasn’t that critical information communicated to everyone?
Especially when it affected a legacy club’s eligibility?
In contrast, GHAC was given until September 1st to meet residency requirements. The City even changed the contract language to accommodate them.
Meanwhile, the City issued press statements calling our advocacy efforts “misinformation.” But everything we’ve shared—every fact, every timeline—has been truthful. We’ve been transparent from the start. We’ve followed the process. We’ve trusted in the system.
And now? We’re still waiting. We’re still asking for the most basic information:
How many hours are we getting so we can plan and move forward?
Summer is slipping away. Swimmers, parents, and coaches remain in limbo. We want to communicate a plan to our community—but we need the information to do so.
This is about more than BAD.
This is about every youth organization that partners with the City in good faith, and trusts that their long-term investment in Burlington will be respected.
It’s about ensuring that municipal policies are followed, not bent or selectively applied.
The City of Burlington’s own Recreation Facility Space Allocation Procedure outlines exactly how decisions like this should be made. It states that:
- Historical use is a core criterion in space allocation decisions.
- Qualified Program Providers are to be allocated core hours each season based on prior usage and community need.
- New and emerging organizations should only be approved if they fill a gap—not if they duplicate services already provided.
- Groups must demonstrate 80% residency and be in-good-standing status.
BAD checks every one of these boxes.
We have a 40-year history. We meet residency requirements. We are in good standing. We are the very definition of a Qualified Program Provider.
By the City’s own policy, we should not be losing our core hours to a non-local club duplicating existing services.
This was not a one-off documentation issue. It was a fundamental breakdown of the City’s own allocation process.
We’ve asked for one thing:
A fair, just, and transparent path forward.
We are still waiting.
Council and the City have the power to fix this.
They have the power to choose fairness over bureaucracy.
To honour legacy over loopholes.
To live up to the very principles they put in writing.
If “good faith” means anything at all—now is the time to prove it.
Kimberly Calderbank is the Volunteer President, Burlington Aquatic Devilrays
Pam, with all due respect, your comments continue to reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of both swimming development and the principles of fairness and inclusivity. More importantly, you do not have the authority to speak on behalf of Burlington taxpayers—especially those who’ve chosen not to use BAD due to concerns about quality and accountability. Families have the right to seek the best environment for their athletes, and many have already done so. It’s time that choice was respected.
It’s time to retire the tired narrative about “GHAC expansion.” GHAC is, was, and will continue to be in Burlington—run by local coaches, serving Burlington kids, and providing high-quality programming in appropriate pools and timeslots. This isn’t expansion—it’s restoration of fairness and access for families who’ve been sidelined for years.
At this point, BAD needs to respect the outcome of the City’s RFP process. The contract was awarded. That’s how public systems work—you don’t get to rewrite the rules after the game ends. Instead of continuing this divisive campaign, BAD should focus on collaborating with the City and other providers to secure alternative pool space that doesn’t violate the awarded contract.
Tansley Woods and Aldershot arenas are perfectly suitable for developmental programming, and there’s nothing stopping BAD from reaching out to Oakville about shared use of QEP—a facility just five minutes from Centennial and ideally located for the 100 Oakville-based swimmers in their membership.
Meanwhile, the transition is already underway. Many families have tried out at GHAC and are ready and excited to move forward. Unlike BAD, GHAC’s coaching team actually lives in Burlington. Their roots are here. Their focus is here.
Let’s be honest: GHAC is more “Burlington” than BAD—and right now, it’s also a better choice for Burlington kids who want strong coaching, development, and community support without the drama.
Well said Bruce. If BAD genuinely believed they had a strong legal case, they would’ve already filed for judicial review. The reason they haven’t is simple: doing so would open a Pandora’s box. Every decision, every number, every incident would be subject to scrutiny—and that’s not a spotlight they’re prepared for. Their legal counsel likely understands that the more this gets examined, the weaker their position becomes.
Madame Calderbank has shown disregard for the City’s terms during her time overseeing the BAD “kingdom.” Under her leadership, Burlington residents were denied fair access to city pools while out-of-town swimmers were prioritized—so much so that BAD failed to meet the minimum Burlington residency threshold required in the RFP. That’s not opinion; it’s documented.
And yet, she now has the audacity to point fingers at GHAC—using irrelevant, misleading math that calculates residency as a percentage of total club membership rather than aligning with the City’s actual requirements. It’s a sleight of hand, not a legitimate argument.
Repeating the same flawed talking points over and over doesn’t make them true. What it does reveal is desperation—an attempt to rewrite reality rather than take accountability for what went wrong under her watch.
At this point, many BAD families are simply annoyed. They just want clear schedules from GHAC and to move forward—without the ongoing drama. The truth is, swimmers have already made their choices. They’re not coming back.
Most families are focused on preparing for the school year ahead, not on Madame Calderbank’s demands, emotional appeals, or threats. GHAC looks organized, local, and ready. BAD, unfortunately, just looks… bad.
Let’s talk about actual pool availability.
Angela Coughlan and Centennial pools each operate roughly 270 days per school year, with about 6 hours of prime-time availability per day—before and after school, when children actually train. That amounts to 1,620 prime hours per pool, or 3,240 hours combined for the 2 indoor competitive facilities.
Add summer access at Nelson Pool, and you’re looking at approximately 3,500 hours annually available for structured programming.
Now let’s talk weekends. The school year includes about 80 weekend days. If just 6 extra hours per day are used for programming fundamentals and learn-to-swim sessions, that’s an additional 500 hours—without touching weekday competitive time.
Altogether, we’re talking about over 4,000 hours of prime pool availability that could—and should—be allocated strategically across Burlington’s swim ecosystem.
This isn’t about a lack of pool time. It’s about responsible planning, athlete development, and ensuring that public facilities serve the full spectrum of swimmers, from first-time learners to nationally ranked athletes.
Yet the City’s RFP only covered 2,000 hours.
This leaves a significant amount of unused—or underutilized—time on the table. It’s time to shift priorities. Instead of blocking out these hours for open lap swims and non-competitive programming, the City should prioritize club swimmers and athlete development.
Weekends are wide open. BAD can easily use full-day Saturday and Sunday access to run their non-competitive programming. There’s no after-school constraint on those days. And frankly, given that out of their 400+ claimed members, only 38 can swim a legal 100m butterfly, it’s clear the vast majority are not in high-performance pathways.
Most of those 38 swimmers have already tried out for OAK and GHAC—and are ready to move on.
BAD can and should use weekends to focus on learn-to-swim and fundamentals. That’s their strength. They don’t even employ enough certified coaches to support a large competitive squad (and by the way non of BAD competitive coaches are Burlington residents). So let’s stop pretending this is about elite athlete development. It’s about preserving outdated monopolies—and that’s not in Burlington’s best interest.
Competitive swimmers, especially children, should not be training after 9:00 PM because lap swimmers—many of them retirees—are occupying early evening slots. With flexible daytime schedules, adult lap swimmers can train during school hours. Seven-year-olds training for sport cannot.
There is no shortage of access if the programming is planned appropriately. The real issue is about priority. High-performance and development-track swimmers in Burlington—many of whom were forced to train after 9 PM or commute 200+ km/day during the BAD monopoly—should not be sidelined so entry-level programming can monopolize weekday prime-time hours.
Let BAD focus on weekends and/or warmer pools like Tansley or Aldershot, perfectly suited for early-stage swimmers. Meanwhile, weekdays at Centennial and Angela Coughlan should support athletes training 15–20 hours a week with certified coaches, structured dryland, and competitive-level ambitions.
Let’s stop pretending this is about fairness for BAD. It’s about equity for all Burlington swimmers, and ensuring public infrastructure actually serves local development needs.
The goal should be clear: optimize public resources to support youth development, grow local talent, and meet the community’s long-term needs—not to preserve outdated time blocks that were skewed under the BAD kingdom.
Caleb,
I disagreed with you on your previous points and challenged you. I will repeat that challenge. Let readers know exactly what your “skin in the game” is because it oozes from your short novel.
The commercial RFP process undertaken by the City was inappropriate, unprofessional and unethical. The fact that neither city staff and Council have done nothing to accept responsibility and take action is disturbing to say the least. Preferring to stand behind the skirt of the City Solicitor who one might conclude at this time has no commercial background or he would have advised staff of their errors.
My alderman communicated to me last night that was up to BAD & GHAC to resolve this matter. I told him that was unbelievable and unacceptable.
This is beyond ridiculous that even after so much of efforts, city has not prioritize the outcome. Imagine kids in competitive swimming having so much of uncertainty while so close to the end of the e season. Parents must look around and considering the volume they might not get the right spot they are looking for.
Let’s get this sorted out now for the benefit of BAD, it’s via he’s and volunteers and mostly importantly for the kids. GHAC should stick to its communities and kids and stop disturbing Burlington. It makes no sense. Tom
Who on earth can have respect for the city administration and council after following this unresolved debacle.
They have demonstrated that they are neither competent or concerned enough about the community to accept and take responsibility. Rather they prefer to stand behind the City Solicitor and enjoy their summer.
One can only imagine how they handle other issues. What is the City’s total legal bill as a percentage of all expenditures? I recall millions have been spent in regard to fighting the approved expansion of the quarry.
BAD is the only reasonable choice if the city acts in good faith and if GHAC acts in good faith and stays in the communities wherein they operate.
Well said. There is something very wrong going on here. Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) represents communities outside Burlington and that is where they should stay. Any kids from Burlington who began swimming for GHAC in the last five years were recruited knowing they would have to drive to pools outside Burlington. Ask why this was done? Now, GHAC wants to muscle in to our community/pools and it makes no sense. If GHAC wanted to treat the kids/parents properly they should have simply referred them to BAD in the first place as BAD is the long established successful club in Burlington. GHAC knows this. GHAC didn’t even meet the criteria for the required percentage of Burlington swimmers which is much less than BAD, particularly in total numbers. How did they get the special treatment to have time to build those numbers? It seems a double standard. Pool time in Burlington is finite and the number of kids in competitive programs is limited by the hours allocated taking into consideration public swim programs. BAD has long understood respected that reality which does, in turn, restrict the total numbers of competitive swimmers that BAD can recruit. GHAC knows this too. Typically all significant cities proudly support one major program for competitive swimming – e.g. Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Hamilton, Windsor, London, etc. All clubs/sports around the province are watching this scenario as GHACs action are far from the etiquette of most swim/sports clubs who do not encroach on other communities and their facilities and who try to keep the competitive rivalry from one city to the next intact. Regional clubs like GHAC can exist for smaller communities who can’t support individual clubs as their amenities are scarce. Good size cities/ communities across the province are proud of the accomplishments of their clubs like BAD who has been a Burlington only swim club with Burlington swimmers, Burlington only community support, and Burlington only community promotion as they travel for competitions. GHAC has multiple communities in the Golden horseshoe to give attention to already Reasonable, rational people know BAD should remain the primary swim club in Burlington and GHAC should stick to the communities in the Golden Horseshoe they represent ( Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, etc). GHAC swimmers are swimming outside Burlington now they shouldn’t have accepted any swimmers from Burlington in the first place. It’s that simple. BAD, its coaches and volunteers are loved by the BAD swimmers and their families. BAD has the support of the Swim community in other cities as they are concerned this could happen to them after years of developing the bonds and programs that the kids enjoy, typically over a 12 to 13 year membership (ages 6 or 7 until 18). Burlington tax payers who pay for the Burlington pools and other amenities expect them to be for Burlington residents. GHAC brings no benefit to the swimmers, coaches, community. Send any GHAC swimmers from Burlington to BAD and accommodate them through pool allocations to BAD, the much larger club for Burlington swimmers and the established Burlington club ( the other way around makes no sense). Further, two clubs aren’t cost effective for the kids/parents and no club can be successful if every five years they can lose pool time and all the investment of time and money into equipment, coaches, infrastructure and most of all, the kids. The kids deserve trust and stability. Lets stop this unfortunate situation. BAD did all it could to do things right and in good faith. Good faith for a club operating in Burlington for 40 years. As for GHAC???? It’s difficult to understand their motivation and their expansion goals need not be to the detriment of Burlington kid/families.
This is beyond ridiculous that even after so much of efforts, city has not prioritize the outcome. Imagine kids in competitive swimming having so much of uncertainty while so close to the end of the e season. Parents must look around and considering the volume they might not get the right spot they are looking for.
It’s very disappointing that this hasn’t yet been resolved by Burlington council. On the face of it, it is wrong to deny BAD access to pool time. On the face of it, it is shameful that another club would exploit the situation.
Very well stated, Kimberly.
Having the City/council refer in press releases to your advocacy as “misinformation” is a really tiresome habit that we see often from the city. I recall the same thing being stated publicly in response to residents speaking in opposition to the undemocratic strong mayor powers. It wasn’t true then and it isn’t true now.
Several posters here who are experienced with RFPs have noted that it is proper and known practice that when any applicant asks a question, the answer is provided to ALL applicants. The situation here where only BAD wasn’t privy to this information is a major error on the city’s part, at best, and the longer they continue to do nothing and leave you in limbo, one could logically begin to wonder what else may be going on. Is that unfair? Well then, let’s hear a proper public explanation, along with immediate remedial action. Remember the old adage: “the appearance of impropriety is as bad as impropriety itself.”
Another example of the pathetic, lack of professionalism approach and genuine representation of the people. Worst municipal government in our history. Shameful!! Embarrassing!!
Mike Cloutier
And yet, council cannot understand why they are losing respect by the issue.
Loosing faith in our municipal government.
Who is ultimately responsible for this mess and why aren’t they being held responsible and fixing it .
I agree 100% with the writer’s comments.
The City must abide by its requirements and regulations.
If not, what else will it overlook?
Pam
GHAC winning the pool time does not exclude Burlington swimmers in anyway. Same pools, same pool times, likely many former BAD coaches.
The corporate domicile has no bearing upon anything. A total red herring.
“Muscle in on our community/pools”? Really? You make it sound like BAD has a god given right to the pool time. What if in the future another Burlington based swim club was formed and wanted pool time? Would you deny it pool time because it does not have history?
What if GHAC was to set up a Burlington domiciled not-for-profit subsidiary (GHAC Burlington Inc.?) to operate the Burlington pool time? Your “Burlington” flag waving chest beating argument totally disappears! Not that it has any value.
Your comments solely focus upon BAD’s self preservation not on what may be best for the swimmers and coaches.
Kimberly Calderbank
“Where is the ‘good faith’ – Summer is slipping away. Swimmers, parents, and coaches remain in limbo.”
Is there a limbo?
Are you saying GHAC having been awarded the pool time is not moving forward? Is not signing up swimmers? Is not signing up coaches?
I find it hard to believe they are sitting on their hands.
If some wrongful harm has been done to BAD, repeat “if”, then the likely outcome will be they will be awarded some damages. It is hard to envision GHAC having the pool time taken away from it.
It surprises me that BAD seeing the snail’s pace of investigation and resolution has not moved forward with its threatened judicial review. Perhaps its legal counsel has advised it has little chance of success?