Services

Our Society members volunteer a variety of free, vital services to our community.

Civic Award

Our Society was awarded a 2000 Municipality of Wood Buffalo Civic Award, Environmental Achievement for the services we have offered the Wood Buffalo Region. We are very proud to have been recognized by our community.

Greg, Kitty and City Councilor (now Mayor) Melissa Blake (one of the Society's founding members)

The Wet and Wild Society was again nominated in 2002 for a Civic Award for their environmental work!

Darina Valentik Memorial Scholarships

The Wet and Wild Scuba Diving Society offers 5 scholarships every year, worth $1500,
to students age 21 and under who are attending post secondary education.
Preference is given to students with scuba diving interest or skill, or who are enrolled in a science related program.

Two of our 2007 scholarship recipients.

Gregoire Lake Annual Clean-up
Our Society annually cleans up the underwater swim area at Gregoire Lake Provincial Park at the beginning of swim season. We remove all sharp items that may hurt children, and remove garbage damaging the environment.

Brian, Leslie, Denis, Mike, Emile, Greg et al, June 2000

Gregoire Lake Beach Clean-up, July 2002 (click on the small photos to enlarge)

Gregoire Lake Beach Clean-up, July 2003

Jon, Bob, Leslie, Brian, and Danielle at the Gregoire Lake Beach Clean-Up.

Jon and Carmen also cleaned up the Anzac beach and Camp Yogi beach.

Gregoire Lake Beach Clean-up, July 2004

Ian, Selby, Georgina, Phil, Floyd, Greg, Ernie, Ken, Larry and friend.

Gregoire Lake Beach Clean-up, June 2005

Gregoire Lake Beach Clean-up, June 2007
(click the small photos to enlarge)

Darina, Brett, Lyse & Daniele, Ron, Carmen, Kathryn & Doug, Patrick & Michelle, Greg & Kitty & Gwenna

Borealis Park Clean-up
In July, 1999 we cleaned up Borealis Park of underwater garbage with Trout Unlimited.

Robin and Roland, gear and big garbage

Camp Yogi Clean-up
In July 2002 and 2003 we cleaned up Camp Yogi of underwater garbage. It's a camp for disabled youth and adults. We also made a donation for the week long camping program.

Golden Eagles Campground
From 2005 on we've cleaned up Golden Eagles Campground Lake of underwater and shoreline garbage. The owners were very grateful that we prevented unnecessary harm to young swimmers and paddle boaters. Our events are family friendly - there are all ages from 2 through 70 cleaning up at this event.

Golden Eagle Clean-up, June 2006
(click the small photos to enlarge)

Golden Eagle Clean-up, June 2007
(click the small photos to enlarge)

Triathlon Support
We provide annual support to the triathlon club through cleaning up lake entry areas. The ramp into the water is always riddled with fish hooks, broken bottles, etc,and can cut feet. We also provide in-water diver and boat support for athletes. Athletes are very lean; they get tired and hypothermic, so we can pull them out if they need it.

Triathlon Support, July 2002

Aaron, Mike, Brian, Leslie, Phil and others got wet cleaning up the water entry area of Gregoire Lake (boat launch) and supporting triathlon athletes in the water, July 2002.

Triathlon Support, July 2003

Greg, Phil and Ernie were the heroes of the day, ensuring the water entry area was cleaned up and athletes had in-water support.

Triathlon Support, July 2006

Don, Dean, Carmen and Phil got the entry clean and everyone afloat. Kitty, Greg and Gwenna took photos. We team up with other community service clubs. While in the water the Kayaking club keeps the swimmers on course. We are in the water and out with our boat to help haul out swimmers who get too cold to continue, which does happen as the athletes are very lean. Ski Patrol deals with hypothermia. The Tarsands Radio Club provides communication along the biking and running route. Search and Rescue have their first aid trailer. It's an excellent community event.

Search and Recovery
Members are available for retrieving lost underwater items. Some members are involved with the local Search and Recovery Club. Some advanced divers are working towards supporting NAARS (Northern Alberta Aquatic Rescue) who are members of Dive Rescue International, with rescue and retrieval of people and items.

Local Service Agencies
The Wet & Wild Diving Society is proud of its support of other local service agencies. We have made several donations to The University of Alberta Burn Unit, on behalf of the Fort McMurray Fire Department, in gratitude for their assistance with filling our compressed air tanks.

We have made donations to:
Westwood High School Scuba Diving Club
Ft. McMurray Food Bank
Salvation Army Homeless Shelter
Children's Center - Rainbow House
Willow Lake Baptist Church Youth Group
Salvation Army Camp Yogi for disabled adults
Atom A Barons Junior Hockey Team
Tarsands Canoeing and Kayaking Club Youth Programs

We also donated:
Water polo nets and balls to Centennial Pool
A defibrillator to Vista Ridge Ski Hill
To Red Cross

We received thanks from the Firehall and University of Alberta Hospital Burn Unit for our annual donation of $1,000 in gratitude for the Firehall's filling of our tanks.

We received thanks as well from the Ski Patrol at Vista Ridge for our donation of a $5,000 defibrillator.

We received thanks as well from the Firehall for our annual donation of $1,000 to the University of Alberta Burn Unit on their behalf in appreciation for their filling our tanks.

Thanks to Greg Halinda for the great photos! www.ghphoto.ca