Ottawa Chapter Chair message

March, 2009

Hello all Ottawa chapter members and friends,

In January 2009 a new executive has been elected and we would like to introduce ourselves and keep you informed on our current and future plans.

I would like to take the opportunity to remind you to renew your membership if your membership has expired.

Welcome from your new SOS Ottawa chapter executive

Executive & special functions:

Luc Lafontaine: Newly elected chair for the Ottawa chapter and also serving as the buoy director, I am excited to fulfill my new role and I am looking forward to work with our members on our upcoming projects. My new passion if life since 2004 is scuba diving. I am an active diver and I am working on becoming a master diver. Another of my passions is protecting our environment, both land and underwater, including preserving our shipwrecks. I have been participating/organizing underwater clean-ups for the past 5 years and also volunteered on a science exploration regarding the Lionfish in the Bahamas.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous executive (Gordon, Bruce and Lorne) for their excellent work.

Christopher Holloway: I’ve been diving on & off since the early 70s, but have renewed my interest about 5 years ago, and am currently working on my dive masters. We don’t have much coral here, colorful fish or kelp forests, but our local diving has some of the best wrecks in the world preserved in our fresh water. So as divers I believe it is in our best interest to preserve, educate, and showcasing our wrecks. This is why I joined SOS.

Current planned activities

• We’ll be offering an NAS level 1 course once Christopher has finished the NAS instructor certification
• Luc will be spearheading the SOS buoy’s program:

  • New marker for Lock 22 (approved for 2009) – these require the funding, procurement and assembly of mooring lines and anchors.
  • New underwater plaque for the Fred Mercur
  • New land plaque for the Wee Hawk (2009-2010)

• Supplying SOS slates & pamphlets to area stores, clubs & dive charters
• Survey for the Twisted Sisters

Future plans, projects and suggestions

• Land Plaque for Guindon park (Cornwall) – Ottawa Chapter
• New buoy for the Weir near Milles Roches Power House
• Low impact diver / Hands off safety stop slates for all dive site
• Welcome package for new member (letter from the chair + stickers + pamphlets) – SOS membership

Possible activities

This is where you come in. What sort of activities would you like to see? Where are your interests?

We’re looking for ideas, input and suggestions. In the past your Ottawa chapter has hosted talks, BBQs, surveys...

Thanks for your interest, we look forward to seeing you out diving this spring.

Luc Lafontaine

Ottawa Chair