The Downtown Aquatics Corporation

The Downtown Aquatics Corporation (DAC) came into being when the Downtown Swim Club hosted the 2001 International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) competitions. 

The Downtown Swim Club management found that they were having to sign contracts for tens of thousands of dollars and that prompted them to incorporate so as to minimize the possibility of being personally responsible for these contracts if things went disastrously wrong.  A friendly lawyer did the legal work pro bono (i.e., free) and the Downtown Swim Meet Corporation (as it was called then) was duly founded in February 2000.

Fortunately our IGLA meet was a great success and over the years we have found other advantages to being incorporated.  For instance, it has served as an umbrella organization to facilitate the founding of new clubs - waterpolo's Triggerfish and synchro's Breathless.  That's why in 2004 the name was officially changed to Downtown Aquatics Corporation.

Also, when the Downtown Swim Club decided to apply for a Trillium grant in 2010, we found that incorporation was a requirement. All of the clubs that are part of the Downtown Aquatics Corporation have benefitted from Trillium grants.

At the Downtown Aquatics Corporation's annual meeting, directors and officers are elected.  Directors come from the executives of the constituent clubs and from those a Chairman of the Board, President and Vice-President are elected.  As well, a Secretary and Treasurer are named from among the general memberships of the constituent clubs.  The AGM also receives the financial statements of the combined clubs and these together with changes in the officers must be reported annually to the government.  The AGM also provides an opportunity for the clubs to update each other on their separate activities and sometimes to cooperate in events such as competitions or fund-raisers.