Swimming Canada’s New High Performance Centre Coach, Haley Bennett-Osborne’s Dream Comes True

Today, Swimming Canada named Haley Bennett-Osborne the new coach of Swimming Canada’s high- performance centre in Quebec.

Friday, May 23, 2025 media availability via Zoom

Her long-term goal of coaching at the national level has now become reality.

 

“It's been a dream of mine to work at a high-performance centre like this for years, and I'm honoured to be taking on this new role with Swimming Canada,” she said, during this morning’s media availability.

 

She began coaching in 2016, eventually becoming the head coach of the Qualicum Beach, British Columbia Ravensong Aquatic Club.

 

In 2022, she became her younger brother, Nicholas Bennett’s full-time swimming coach. His performances improved.

 

He became the world champion in the men’s S14 200m individual medley. The younger Bennett set a new world record (2:05.97) at the 2024 Canadian Paralympic Games trials.

 

He won three medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics -- two gold and a silver.

Canadian swimmer Nicholas Bennett wins 2nd gold of 2024 Paris Paralympics

It’s no wonder that Ryan Allen, National Coach Lead of Swimming Canada’s Paralympic Program, stated, “We are excited to welcome Haley to Swimming Canada, and very confident in what she's going to bring to the program.”

 

Bennett-Osborne joins the Quebec high-performance team, at the Olympic Park Sports Centre, which is scheduled to be fully operational in early to mid-October. It was closed after a fire in March 2024.

 

She said confidently, “I'm ready to help navigate any of the challenges that might come with reopening of the centre.”

 

“Right now, my job, or my vision, is to get as many athletes as I can that are wanting to train at the centre at the reopening.”

 

With her track record, the Paralympic Program 2024 Canadian Coach of the Year, Bennett-Osborne will have no issues attracting athletes to Quebec’s high-performance centre, especially since the province has a long-standing commitment to supporting elite athletes in all sports.

 

She is currently in her second year as head coach, at Red Deer, Alberta’s Catalina Swim Club. She, and brother Nick, will be missed when she moves to her new role in Quebec.

 

“I'm excited to bring my experience, my knowledge and passion for para swimming to Quebec and help contribute to the legacy of the high-performance centre and our para program,” said Bennett-Osborne. 

Sunshine and Rain at Bluffers Park

Looking at the weather forecast, in the Weather Network app, this morning, I was tempted to forego my drive down Brimley Road, to Bluffers Park, since it called for a small amount of rain between 6 and 8 a.m.

I went anyway, after I finished eating breakfast.

When I left home, the ground was wet, indicating that it had rained earlier.

I had a glorious, rejuvenating experience, walking in the park, situated on the edge of Lake Ontario.

While photographing a robin, I noticed a drop of water on my iPhone’s case. Suddenly, with no advance warning, the heavens opened and a light shower of rain fell.

I pulled up my hood and began walking back to my car briskly. After a few minutes, I relaxed and slackened my pace.

‘Twas indeed a beautiful day at the lake, surrounded by God’s creation.

Swans at Bluffers Park https://youtu.be/soOiPcZP8Eg?si=N_o3bRx6YFEGk4Ic

Naomi Osaka Elevates the Vision of Moms, Black and Asian Children Globally

TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka takes a group selfie with fans, using a lady’s iPhone, after defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)

Every time Naomi Osaka steps onto a tennis court, she carries the hopes and dreams of thousands of Black, Asian and biracial girls and boys, on her shoulders.

Being born in Japan, to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, then living in the United States, since the age of three, influenced her understanding and appreciation of the importance of every child, seeing someone who looks like them, doing what they aspire to do, in the future.

 

“I think for me, representation is really important,” said Osaka, during a post-match press conference at Toronto’s National Bank Open tennis tournament, in August 2024.

“I know I wouldn’t be here without my role models, Serena and Venus. Just to, I guess, blaze that path for other kids is really cool,” she continued.

TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka posed for a selfie with a fan, after defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)

Since giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023, Osaka also carries the aspirations of a massive number of mothers.

 

New and working moms are inspired each time that they’ve watched her return to her workplace, the tennis court, battling for every point, regardless of who she faces on the other side of the net.

TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka hits a return, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, on route to defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)

“Since becoming a mom, I think the word ‘role model’ has always been heavy to me,” stated Osaka, during the same post-match press conference, in Toronto.

 

“But now I’m looking at kids looking at me and saying that I’m their favourite player, and knowing that they have a parent behind them, that’s kind of trusting me with that, is really huge.”

 

Osaka carries her new responsibilities well, continuing to model excellence for her admiring fans, many of whom are mothers and children.

TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka takes a selfie with a fan, using the lady’s iPhone, after defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)

They have watched her work through challenging situations, on and off the court.

 

“Today, while I was signing autographs, a mom talked to me, and she said that she was having a tough time, and something that I said on court really helped her out,” Osaka stated.

 

“I still feel like I’m figuring myself out, so I’m always a little shocked when someone says that something that I’ve said or done has helped them out, but I really treasure that a lot. I think we’re all just trying to get through it, and we’re all just trying to find the best way that we know how and, yeah, it’s a really big honour for me.”

 

Osaka’s 2024 New Year’s Day tweet resonated with over 300,000 people.

“Dear moms,

Everybody and every body is different. Don’t compare yourself to

anyone, you’re beautiful and you’re loved ❤️”

https://x.com/naomiosaka/status/1741929890189107633

 

Her reach truly is universal. She understands and empathizes with the challenges and expectations that many of today’s mothers face, regardless of their ethnicity, their socioeconomic background or nationality.

 

Currently ranked No. 42, Osaka’s battle to regain the poise, form and consistency that once made her one of the WTA’s top ten single’s players, makes her journey relatable to highly motivated career women, who have often struggled to reestablish themselves vocationally, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, after returning from maternity leave.

 

“I think there’s so much stress on moms to bounce back or get back to something,” replied Osaka, when asked about this post on X.

 

“I feel like it’s a beautiful, magical thing that you’ve created a life inside of you, and you almost don’t even really get to treasure that moment.”

 

“I feel like giving birth is normalized, and almost every mom that I know has had a really difficult pregnancy and labour, so I wish that women could see how strong they are, but also not feel too many expectations at the same time to, I guess, look a certain way or be a certain way.”