VANCOUVER – Swimming Canada is announcing further restructuring to its High Performance Centre network, strengthening its successful HPC-Vancouver program with the addition of Brad Dingey as head coach.

Dingey, the head coach of the HPC-Victoria program, which is closing this month, will move across the Strait of Georgia to lead the HPC-Vancouver.

“As we are focusing our investment on two High Performance Centres – one in the eastern part of the country, and one in the west – we wanted to take this opportunity to strengthen the staff with another experienced Canadian coach in Brad Dingey,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi.

Veteran coach Tom Johnson will remain on the HPC-Van staff as a Performance Coach and continue to work with athletes through the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which have been postponed to 2021.

“I really appreciate the confidence Swimming Canada is showing in me and I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” Dingey said. “The HPC-Vancouver has accomplished some really good things over the years and it’s going to be a great opportunity to be part of that and lead it into the next stage.”

“Tom is a vastly knowledgeable coach with decades of experience who has built a strong program at the HPC-Van,” said High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson. “Brad will have the tremendous opportunity to work closely with Tom through the Tokyo Games while building plans towards Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.”

Swimmers at the centre include Olympic medallists Brent Hayden and Emily Overholt, as well as Commonwealth Games medallist Markus Thormeyer.

“Succession planning is always important. This plan will allow me to continue working with our athletes to prepare for the Olympic Games, and focus on the role of Performance Coach,” Johnson said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to work with Brad and build towards the next stage of success at the centre together.”

Swimming Canada Senior Coach, Olympic Program, Martyn Wilby will work with Dingey and Johnson to determine coaching responsibilities and athlete groupings over the coming weeks and organize a series of centre meetings with staff and athletes.

Ben Keast will also remain on staff as assistant coach at the centre, which is located at the University of British Columbia Aquatic Centre.

“This move gives us a strong succession plan to continue the success of the Vancouver program as part of our long-term strategic goal of remaining a top swimming nation,” said Swimming Canada President Cheryl Gibson.