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SFO during April provincial COVID shut-down

5/4/2021

 
Well, it is disappointing that we find ourselves in yet another emergency brake/lockdown.  We had hoped that the regional system would stay intact, and that we could run our April break camp and continue training as we were.   

In the meanwhile, we will do Zoom again for the entire club weekly THREE times:  Tuesday/Thursday at 7 pm and Sunday at 10 am (to allow us to be done so you can enjoy the nice weather). 

Finally, I know how very disappointing this is for many of us, if not all of us.  Taking control of the controllable things in a bout is a skill every successful fencer can do, and letting go the uncontrollable things is equally important.  We cannot control how the situation outside of the our world is unfolding but we can control some things in how we respond.  Getting regular exercise, keeping skills sharp, sleeping and eating well as well as just showing up for life (or Zoom class) are all things that we can control.  And they matter!  These things will make a huge difference in how we navigate this next storm. 
If any of you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or Robyn.  You are all our chosen family.

April Break Camps

3/3/2021

 
Running April 12-16. Click here to register
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Classes resume on Zoom wk of Jan 4th

29/12/2020

 
Starting the week of January 4th, we will hold ZOOM classes for all fencers with elite, pre-elite and competitive in one large cohort and beginner in another,  we will post times for these but they will take place in the evenings or on the weekend two or three times per week. 

As of right now: Beginner Zoom 1pm Sundays; Minifence movement Zoom 3pm Sundays

Nov 2 update

3/11/2020

 
Thanks for all for making our Fright Fight event a lot of fun (and safe).  It was nice to see so many of you again, and congratulations to the fencers who competed (and thank you to Robyn for making the rather excellent skull trophies, filling the loot bags etc).
And, I was the Dread Pirate Roberts - not Zorro!


All training is as usual this week and we restart Joga for the month of November.
It is Saturday at 4 pm this week.  Usual instructions.


Parent-Athlete Tournament
We are trying to figure out how to replace our annual near Father's Day parent (sibling) versus athlete event in early December.  Clearly Covid has altered our ability to do this in any large format but we are working on some plans.  Start considering who would like to be stabbed by their child!

At long last, awards awarded!

10/9/2020

 
SFO was finally able to award our annual awards to our deserving athletes, in an open-air, social-distance responsible way! It was nice to be able to visit with out fencing families to kick off the 2020-21 season, especially with the nom-noms of Tikka Tomato, and many thanks to Dave Davies Heating and Cooling for sponsoring Tikka Tomato's visit!  See pics of the festivities on our photos page.

New Classes at SFO beginning Sept 2020

16/8/2020

 
Coming this Sept to SFO, new classes for a new, COVID-19 reality.
  • Munchkin and Me: for ages 6 and under, plus their parent or guardian
  • Fencing Day-Class, for children being homeschooled this fall
  • Saturday beginner classes
  • Adult only fencing Monday evenings
COVID-19 safety protocols remain in place until further notice.

For further information on any of these classes, please see the programs or store portions of the website, or email info@stratfordfencingclub.ca

SFO Athlete Awards

12/7/2020

 
as announced Jun 24, 2020

As usual, trying to select the outstanding athletes from an intrinsically outstanding group of athletes is difficult.  Many of the awards could be shared by multiple athletes.  SFO is fortunate to have so many athletes with tremendous passion, attitude and ethic (both in terms of general and work).  Robyn and I have always believed that fencing is merely a conduit for making better human beings, full of compassion, passion and a desire to work to a common and personal goal.  Each of our athletes share this vision.


Our first set of awards are full the Fencer of Year (male and female).  The criteria is our most empirical - cumulative results in international, national and provincial or local tournaments.
Male Fencer of the Year:
Senior: Blake Degroot
Junior: Spencer Orr.
Female Fencer of the Year:
Senior: Ellie Davis
Junior: Ashley Davis

The remaining awards are decided by the coaching staff, and we really wish we could recognize more.

Tradition Mutual Upcoming Talent:
Quintin Vollmer

Coaches Choice (Excellence in Training)
Dylan Shi
Nathan McMillan

Spirit of the Sport (Attitude and Sportpersonship)

Cohen Bernard

Richard Wong Award (Volunteer of the Year)

Scott Bell

Notes for the week of Jul 12

12/7/2020

 
All training times are running as per usual for the next week. Safety protocols are still in effect for all groups, and again, a big thank-you to the parents/guardians and athletes for working so very carefully within the new protocols.

We are hoping with stage 3 coming for the province, that we will see some combination of the groups and will let you know as soon as this information is released and confirmed with the OFA.

Some of our athletes in the Ontario Fencing Association's Youth Development Program have had the very special experience of Zoom classes with some of the world's top fencers.  Thus far they have trained with athletes who have attended 12 Olympics between them, won three medals there (all gold), multiple, multiple world championships and world cups and who are in the top 3 ranking in the world at present. What a great experience for them.  
Our sport is truly lucky to have access to such a high calibre of athlete and even better people as human beings, or as our tradition notes ' mensch'.



Darren and Robyn

Camps cancelled, normal training schedule in July for ALL classes

25/6/2020

 
Earlier we sent a note indicating that we are NOT able to hold day camps under the present Ontario regulations.  We hope to do so in August as usual but wait until at least July 15th to see what is allowed for daycamps.

Instead, we are planning to operate our evening and Sunday training in July as usual in lieu of this, with the costs remaining the same as usual operations. 

We understand that some have holidays planned, and we ask that you let us know whether to expect you.  Given that we missed 2.5 months of training, and more importantly its importance in terms of health and socialization for the athletes, the coaches think this is the best path forward rather than another shut down.

This also allows us to move along in the return to play phases as outlined by the OFA.  If all is well, then in September we will have moved through the phases and brought into the new normal of a post Covid-19 world.  Again, July will see training as our usual evening and Sunday times with few exceptions.

The following are the planned suspensions of training in July:
  • Pre-elite July 1: NO training as Canada Day.
  • Elite: NO Saturday morning training in July. 

The store has been updated to include July regular payment options, including for beginner and minifence classes.

March 17 Update

17/3/2020

 
Dear Fencing Family

Well, this is new ground.  Please take seriously the social distancing warnings of our medical experts and for the next week, please stay home.

SFO will remain closed until the end of the March Break and monitor the advice of the medical experts and various governmental advise and notes.  On Saturday March 21, I will send a note for the next week but at present, we will likely not be operating on the Sunday 22nd, including new classes.  The situation changes frequently and rapidly.

In the meanwhile, I am also asking ALL people who have keys to remain out of the club as we have noticed some people using it. 


We are not actively sanitizing the club, and the virus can live on surfaces for some period.  At present, only the Headcoach should be entering the club unless you tell me otherwise.  This may allow us to open in small groups as we can control the environment in the immediate future but if the club becomes a non controlled space, it will remain closed.  Please do not spoil it.  If you have a key, stay out!
The entry code is now changed, and you will set off the alarm.

Be well, be kind and be unselfish to those whom you come into contact with.  This is not an easy time but the values and virtues we inculcate in our sport - respect, value and integrity - will take us a long way.


Darren

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