Bringing unique opportunities to both new and experienced paddlers. As founder of the Rusty Dragons in 2005, my goal has always been to include many people in the organization to share experiences and expand opportunities.Teams...- Barracudas / Guns n Roses / Library of Conquest / Beach Dragons- Sight Unseen (blind & partially sighted)- Pink Crusaders (breast cancer survivors)- Teams for youth / young adults with a developmental disability (Spirit Dragons)- Para Dragons (new team for people with any disability).- LGBTQ Pride teams (Liberty Waves, Drag'n Angels, Let Her Ride)I support charities, including the Spirit Challenge for paddlers with developmental disabilities.In 2013, I started to grow the organization for the first time since I started the first coached team (2006 Christie Lake) and first collective team (World CorCom 2007 in Welland). We are now sponsoring events, providing more support services to other teams/events, and having a larger network of business partners. This has opened up new doors and will further demonstrate that the Rusty Dragons are in a class of their own with the introduction of war canoes, kayaks, outrigger canoes to their programs.I am proud to have developed and coach a new team for blind and partially sighted paddlers, along with Estelle McCalmont, at the request of Dragon Boat Canada. We are the 2014 and 2015 National Champions in the blind division.For new paddlers we organize short low-cost programs. Learning proper technique and having fun has always made these teams competitive on race day.For experienced paddlers, we organize collective teams for special events such as World CorCom, DDRA Canada Day regatta, Pan Am Club Crew Championships, Pines Training Camp, Colorado, Orlando, etc. This allows experienced paddlers to meet other paddlers and travel!Anyone looking for help forming a new team are welcome to ask. I have helped form or support many OPS and other teams in the Toronto area.

I represent the sport of Dragon Boating on this committee that organizes the DDRA Canada Day Regatta on Toronto Island on July 1st every year. Representatives from clubs belonging to Canoe-Kayak Canada and Rowing Ontario are also part of the committee. As a committee member however, I do more than just dragon boat work. We all work together to make the entire event a success.This is one of the oldest mixed event regattas in the world, and they celebrate their 129th anniversary in 2013. We work together to make it a great event for all participants.New in 2013: I have introduced a new Spirit Challenge Division for paddlers with developmental disabilities. This division was formerly a part of the Toronto International Festival, but funding was lost a few years ago and I jumped at the chance to help get them back on the island. Thanks to Anny Chow, Edward Lau, Benoit Tardif, and Donalessa Birkett for working with me to make this division a reality for the participating 3 teams. Next year, this division will grow to more teams that could not make it out this year.New in 2013: Docks are being installed for us by Great White North. The two 32' docks will be installed just east of the grandstands and will greatly improve access to the dragon boats for all paddlers.New in 2013: A new OPS Challenge Cup has been introduced and will be awarded to the top Ontario Public Service dragon boat team at the event. This is in recognition of Ontario Public Service employees who have volunteered to coordinate the dragon boat portion of the event since its inception in 2002.I am also the webmaster for the organization and setup FaceBook and Twitter accounts for the DDRA.One project I am working on is digitizing the event programs from past years into PDF files that can be posted for reference on the website. We are also looking for old stories and trophies from the event.

Coach for a brand new breast cancer survivor team in Toronto called "Pink Crusaders". Our key founding partner is Great White North (GWN) Communications Inc (Carolyn Lee), as well as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF - Kelly Ziger). Some team members raced as the collective "GWN Earth Dragons" last year, but this year we want to plan for a full time team. We raced at the Sept.6-7, 2014 GWN Challenge with 5 other BCS teams. 2015 will be our break-out year!

Involved with projects and operations in support of both mainframe system level Security (RACF on Z/OS) and various Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) applications centred around the Entrust suite of products and related custom code (TruePass, GetAccess, Certificate Authority). Support includes working with Oracle databases, Siemens X.500 LDAP directory, Solaris/Unix, Z/OS mainframe sub-system support, disaster recovery planning and support, and security design.

This new chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind will provide many value-added services to blind paddlers and teams in the Toronto area (and beyond). President Myra Rodrigues and Treasurer Ingrid Schurr are part of the executive team that will lead this initiative. Other members and business partners will also be involved, so stay tuned for more information of this exciting new initiative. This chapter will work closely with the Rusty Dragons' blind team Sight Unseen, and other Rusty teams which have blind, partially sighted, or deaf-blind paddlers. But it is not restricted to Rusty teams. We will also network with other blind teams across the country and around the world. We are also looking for sponsors and volunteers to help us provide these services.

I am very happy to expand on my relationship with Balmy Beach as their dragon boat coordinator. This is transition year at BBCC regarding their dragon boat program and I am looking forward to working with the executive as we develop some in-house programs in addition to developing the rentals to external teams. Thanks especially to Anne Buckley, Gaynor and Norm Reader, David Moore, Peter Martinek, Heather Smith, and Sara Jones for their support of the dragon boat program.I would also like to focus on the cross-training and exposure of athletes to different boat types, including dragon boat, war canoe, kayak, outrigger canoe, sprint canoe, surf skis, etc.Anyone looking to find affordable dragon boat practice rentals are encouraged to contact me anytime at Tim@DDRA.ca.

Joined this company in support of their health products that support athletes (looking to get stronger and recover from workouts faster), the average person (looking to improve health and energy levels), and those looking to lose weight or with health issues (boost immunity and general health).Personally, I take Immunocal Platinum daily and it has made a real noticeable difference in my strength and endurance. Not magically, but in support of the work-outs I have been doing to make it happen. This is accomplished as it helps the body do this on its own, by giving the body the more of the Glutathione building blocks it already uses to build, repair, and strengthen the body's immune and muscle systems.More on this later!

Treasurer at non-profit school-age daycare where my daughters have attended in the past (but are no longer there). Yes, they do sucha great job there that I still want to give back to them in repayment of many great years there for my three daughters. A great organization located on school property (Huron Street P.S.). The centre is run by supervisor Gertie Dorval who takes great care of the kids and the staff.

Long-time school council member, with stints as chair and treasurer. My current role is as general member, with focus mainly on coordinating vendors and logistics for the school's annual fun fair and fundraiser at end of May (Picnic for the Arts). While my daughters no long go to this school, I continue to support the school for this event as it is a great event run by great teachers and parents that I have known for many years.

I have been a member of the OPS Dragon Boat Club since its inception in 2002 and continue as a big supporter of it today. I was a paddler starting in 2002 at it's inception, and was Chair from 2004-2007 as the club transformed into several teams and began using technology and social media. Besides technology, my specialties have always been transparency, planning balanced programs and realistic budgets, managing coaches, and event planning. I have always enjoyed the challenge of working out solutions to problems. I am one of the few individuals who have been with the Club since the start and know its full history. I will write an article on that history one day when I manage to find spare time! I am very thankful to Steve Kwok, Peter Hoy, Lele Chiu, and others for the hard work they did in those early years to give us all the opportunities we have today. We must continue to work hard to ensure that the club continues to Live Long and Prosper... ;)This was the first organization that I really got involved with in a passionate way to bring the sport to so many other people. I have spent more hours supporting this club than any other in my life, and I am very thankful for that opportunity. The Club almost folded back in late 2003, and they almost gave up their role as dragon boat hosts for Canada Day many times and I would not let that happen. I am proud of my reputation in the OPS as being fair and dropping anything to help others. Integrity is very important to me and those I work with.All OPS teams are welcome to race at the DDRA Canada Day regatta and compete for both DDRA medals as well as the new OPS Challenge Cup. Contact Tim@DDRA.ca for details.

Working with customers at the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services on their IT needs, Including Office of the Chief Coroner, Communications Branch, Procurement & Business Improvement Branch, Resource Management, etc.