President
Iris Gutowski
Iris has been hooked on VOWSA since her first practice swim on a choppy afternoon in 2019. Coming from a completely unathletic background, Iris has enjoyed the challenge of attempting to master swimming in various environments and becoming part of the amazing local community here. Iris served as Web Director and Kits Challenge Co-Race Director for the past two years. As president she’s committed to keeping VOWSA affordable and accessible so more are able to discover the magic of our local waters.
Vice President
Jason Abelson
Jason is an active member in the local swimming community, both indoors and in the open water. Growing up in South Africa, swimming played a big role in his childhood. While he loves swimming in the ocean, he’s also terrified of everything that he can and can’t see in the water, especially seals. He’s convinced they can smell his fear. Feel free to make fun of him if you see him on the shore!
Practice Swim Coordinator
Tanner Zekonic
Tanner is a born prairie-boy with BC roots, which is what led him back to the ocean where he now occasionally cold plunges (on special occasions). While he slowly but surely gets more comfortable in the water, he’s excited to spend plenty of time near it this summer as your beach-bound Practice Swim Coordinator! On off days, you might find him out for a run in Pacific Spirit, at the aquarium, practicing French, or taking in a Canadiens game.
Secretary
Jack Tagg
Jack completed his first ocean swim in 2021 before moving to Vancouver in 2022. He was immediately impressed with the VOWSA community and affordability of the practice swims. Jack is looking forward to continue promoting the benefits of ocean swimming and giving back to the VOWSA community this year.
Treasurer
Ron Johnston
Ron is a recreational swimmer and has been an active member of VOWSA since 2015. He joined VOWSA to become comfortable in open water swimming in order to do an Olympic distance Triathlon. Ron also likes cycling, doing the Grouse Grind and working out at the YWCA.
Communications and Community Relations
Christine Baker
Christine was VOWSA President for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. She’s happy to ‘retire’ into the role of Communications and Community Relations where she can keep encouraging new swimmers and help the organization to continue to build its lovely swimming community.
Media Director
Shareen
Shareen started swimming because it seemed like an important skill to know for someone that races on sailboats. Through encouraging lessons with swim coaches and joining VOWSA on-and-off since 2016, Shareen is now a year-round swimmer in the ocean! These days, if she’s not riding her bike or swimming the VOWSA route, she’s probably off enjoying the beauty of a sunrise from the ocean and maybe wishing for snow.
Safety Coordinator & Bay Challenge Co-Race Director
Jessi Harewicz
Jessi has been volunteering with VOWSA since 2017, after swimming all the VOWSA races in 2016. She is a marathon swimmer who, in 2022, was the 1st Canadian to swim the North Channel (Ireland to Scotland). She has also swum the English Channel, Catalina Channel (LA), NYC circumnavigation, and, in BC ocean waters, she swam Nanaimo to Kitsilano Beach (58km) in 2019. She has also completed 2 ‘Ice Miles’ (International Ice Swimming Association – 1605m in sub 5C) . She loves sharing her knowledge by swimming and exploring areas new and old in BC and the world.
Permits Coordinator & Bay Challenge Co-Race Director
Erin
Erin remembers her first open water swim very well – at 16 years old doing the swim leg of a triathlon. She was kicked, she choked on water, she wanted to quit, but could not let her team down so kept on going. This clearly was the catalyst for her love of open water swimming! One of the many things Erin loves about open water swimming is the sense of community it brings. She incorporates swimming into her travels, because this community stretches worldwide and the opportunities are endless. Erin is excited to serve as the Permits Coordinator again this year as VOWSA works together to share their love of swimming with all of you.
Past President & Around the Bay Co-Race Director
Stephanie Flynn
Stephanie is a past VOWSA President, this year she is back to lend her expertise to the board and Co-Direct the Around the Bay Challenge Race.
Website Coordinator and CDC Race Director
Daisie Huang
Daisie discovered open water swimming when she moved to Vancouver about ten years ago. She loves the water, but as a botanist, she often thinks it’s too far away from the plants. She’s happy to help people get more involved in open water swimming.
Sponsorship Coordinator
Brad Pashby
Brad loves helping organizations achieve their mandates and brings his entrepreneurial and business background to each board on which he serves. Brad first came to VOWSA when training for an Ironman and, from the first Kits beach session, felt instantly welcome, supported, and motivated to become a better swimmer. When not out enjoying the outdoors, Brad can usually be found adventuring around the world with his family.
Volunteer Coordinator
Courtney Kohnen
Courtney has loved open water swimming (and VOWSA!) since her very first practice in 2017. Her proudest OWS moment is the time she finished four laps during a VOWSA practice, with a full 27 seconds to spare. She is never more in love with life than on the back half of a VOWSA loop, while the sun sets over Vancouver Island. Courtney is a proud unlicensed practitioner of Consensual Peer Pressure (TM), so please track her down if you need a pep talk before trying for your next challenge, whatever that looks like for you – or if you’d like to volunteer at any of our races or events!
Member at Large
JR Guerrero
An avid fan of open water swimming, JR’s first encounter with VOWSA was through the Kits beach practice swims in 2019. Ever since, he has swum in most bodies of water including streams, lakes, rivers, open ocean, and at local Vancouver pools where he swims regularly. Having participated in VOWSA and Across the Lake races in the past years, including a Master’s race in 2022, JR loves to challenge himself and friends with long distance swims, breath holds, and cold plunges! JR believes in community and it’s where he anchors his passion for open-water swimming with like-minded, active, & fun individuals.
Past President
Andrea McCallum
Andrea has been involved with VOWSA since 2014. She’s volunteered through a variety of roles and experiences and is now swimming along in the Past President role. Andrea is still thrilled with how much she loves the water and swimming. It has been a positive constant in her life. Planning adventures and holidays around awesome places to swim is STILL her obsession.
Kits Challenge Race Director
Lisa Berg
Lisa plunged into the world of triathlon in 2022 which brought her to her first VOWSA practice swim that same year. A self-proclaimed “vacation swimmer” (e.g. in a warm pool with an umbrella drink), Lisa found community and comfort with VOWSA when she learned how to open water swim and conquer her fear of the half ironman swim distance. Lisa also enjoys riding her bike with a local women’s cycling club, running around the streets of West Vancouver where she lives, and working out at the crack of dawn at her local cross fit gym (with the goal of lifting things heavier than her purse). Lisa is looking forward to another great season of open water swimming and giving back to the VOWSA community.