Dear KCS Families,

We’re writing to share an important update regarding our coaching staff and the upcoming season.

Recently, our Head Coach advised that he would not be continuing with us this season. This follows the departure of our remaining Assistant Coach. As a result, our club is currently without a Head Coach. Because of this unexpected development, we’ve made the decision to delay the start of our season by two weeks, with the new start date set for September 22, 2025. We know that our athletes are excited to get back in the water, and we are exploring how we might be able to accommodate that in some form the week of September 15th. 

We will also be canceling our Welcome Back BBQ, and instead plan to find another meaningful way to bring our community together once our full coaching team is in place. Please note, Swim Skills start date will not change. 

We understand this change may cause inconvenience, and we want to assure you that we will be prorating the fees for September. Details on how this will be processed will be shared shortly.

Despite these changes, we’re excited to announce the arrival of three new coaches who will be joining our team this season:

Coach Isabela Facci

My name is Isabela Facci, and I’m excited to be joining KAC as the Swim Skills Manager & Assistant Coach. I have over 10 years of experience in aquatics. Outside of work, I love staying active—especially through swimming, cycling, and spending time outdoors. I also have a dog who keeps me busy and makes sure I never skip my walks. Originally from Brazil, I moved to Canada to grow my career in sports coaching and have loved building a life here. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you, contributing to the success of our programs, and working together to support our athletes and community.

Coach Berke Ikican

Hello everyone, my name is Berke Ikican, and I’m excited to join your team as an Assistant Coach. I started my swimming career in Istanbul, Türkiye, where I trained with Galatasaray—the biggest club in the country—and worked my way up to competing at provincial and national levels. I secured first place at nationals and gained nationwide recognition. To continue growing in the sport, I moved to Canada and studied Sports Management. Over the years, I’ve coached in both Canada and Turkey, working with swimmers from ages 5 through Masters. Outside of swimming, I enjoy riding my motorcycle, reading, travelling, and spending time in nature and with family. My ultimate goal is to become a nationally recognized swimming coach in Canada.

Coach Abby Bushell

Hello everyone! My name is Abby Bushell, and I’m thrilled to be joining the coaching team! I swam competitively from ages 5 to 18 with the Salmon Arm Sockeyes Summer Swim Club and spent one season with the Columbia Shuswap Selkirks Swim Club. My coaching journey began five years ago with the Sockeyes, where I coached for three years before moving to Kamloops after high school. Since then, I’ve been coaching with the Kamloops Tsunami Summer Swim Club and recently completed my second season there as co-head coach. I’m excited to share my passion and experience with a new group of swimmers, and I look forward to meeting everyone—both new and familiar faces alike!

To support a smooth transition, we’re continuing to work closely with Chad Webb, our Club/Coach Development Advisor. Chad has been supporting our Board and coaching staff over the past several months and is actively assisting with coach orientation and season planning. We’re also working in partnership with Swim BC to ensure our athletes are able to train effectively and safely during this transition.

The Board is actively working to recruit a new Head Coach who will help carry forward our Club’s values and long-term goals. We will provide updates on this as details solidify and answer questions during our Team Aquatics Equipment Night on September 19. We encourage you to stop by and connect with us.

If you have questions before then, please email the Board at president@swimkamloops.com. We’ll do our best to respond within two working days. To help us manage communication efficiently, we kindly ask that you not text or call Board members or staff directly. Emails related to registration and general club information can continue to be sent to admin@swimkamloops.com or info@swimkamloops.com. 

We also want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to Coach Regan for his time with our club. He supported our club and athletes through an uncertain and transitional period, and his dedication made a meaningful impact. We know he will be missed by swimmers, families, and staff alike.

We’d also like to acknowledge Coach Jared, who was with us for the past season. While his time with the club was brief, we know many swimmers appreciated his energy and enthusiasm on deck. We thank him for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Each day, I’m inspired by the strength, resilience, and spirit of our athletes, families, and supporters. This community continues to amaze me, and I’m confident that together, we’ll navigate this latest challenge with perseverance and unity.

We’ll keep you updated regularly, with a formal update from the Board each Friday. We look forward to seeing everyone back on deck soon!

Best,

Amy

Amy Wakelin, President, Kamloops Aquatics Club

.