Inductees

• 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing), Bronze, 1500 Freestyle
• 2009 World Championships (Rome), Silver, 1500 Freestyle, Bronze, 800 Freestyle
• 2010 Commonwealth Games (Delhi), Gold 400, 1500 Freestyle
• 2011 World Championships (Shanghai), Silver, 1500 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle
• 2012 Olympic Games (London), Silver, 1500 Freestyle
• 2013 World Championships (Barcelona) Silver, 1500 Freestyle, Bronze, 800 Freestyle
• 2014 Commonwealth Games (Glasgow) Gold 400, 1500 Freestyle
• 2016 Olympic Games (Rio de Janeiro)
• Swimming Canada Circle of Excellence
• Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame

For more than three decades, Saanich Commonwealth Place has stood at the heart of Canadian swimming – a world-class aquatic centre that bridges community recreation and international excellence.

Built for the 1994 Commonwealth Games and opened in 1993, the facility was designed with a dual vision: to host elite competition and to serve as a lasting community legacy. That vision has been fully realized. Since its inception, Saanich Commonwealth Place has hosted some of the most significant events in Canadian swimming history, including the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, and the Canadian Swimming Trials in 2014, 2017, 2022, and 2025.

Across these decades, its pool has witnessed extraordinary performances – six world records, among them Kieran Perkins’ double world record in the 800m and 1500m freestyle at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, and Summer McIntosh’s three world records at the 2025 Canadian Trials. The facility also saw historic swims from Michael Phelps in 2006, as well as Jessica Schipper, Brendan Hansen, Aaron Peirsol, and the USA 4x100m freestyle relay, all setting world records during the Pan Pacific Championships.

Beyond these iconic moments, Saanich Commonwealth Place has been home to multiple Para Swimming Canadian and World Records, set by athletes including Stephanie Dixon, Nicholas Bennett, Walter Wu, Sebastian Massabie, Nathan Stein, and Donovan Tildesley.

Yet its most powerful legacy lies beyond the record books. The facility has served as a daily home for Olympians, national team members, university athletes, club swimmers, and community participants alike. Its model – built through collaboration between the District of Saanich, Swim BC, and the broader sport community – has become a national benchmark for how elite sport and community recreation can successfully coexist.

Today, Saanich Commonwealth Place continues to embody the spirit of Canadian aquatics: inclusive, high-performing, and community-driven. From a child taking their first swimming lesson to an Olympian preparing for the world stage, every lane tells part of its story.

The induction of Saanich Commonwealth Place into the BC Swimming Hall of Fame recognizes not only its record-setting history, but also its enduring role in shaping generations of swimmers, coaches, and aquatic leaders – a true legacy facility whose impact reaches far beyond its pool deck.

• Coach of Olympians Ron Jacks and Bill Mahony
• 1966 British Empire Games Coach, both swimmers (Jacks and Mahoney) medalled at these Games

For more than four decades, Tom Bryce has been a defining figure in Canadian aquatics, a visionary leader whose work has shaped both community recreation and high-performance sport in British Columbia.

Born and raised in Montreal’s West Island, Bryce began his aquatic career at the Pointe-Claire Aquatic Centre, one of Canada’s most respected swimming programs. In the late 1970s, he brought his passion west to Vernon, BC, where he transformed a small community swim club into a thriving program that emphasized both excellence and participation.

After nearly a decade on the pool deck, Bryce transitioned from coaching to aquatic management, first in Saint John, New Brunswick, and later returning to British Columbia in 1993 to become the inaugural Manager of Saanich Commonwealth Place.

Over the next 25 years, Bryce guided the facility into one of Canada’s premier aquatic centres. Under his leadership, Saanich Commonwealth Place hosted the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships, multiple Canadian Swimming Trials, and countless provincial and national competitions, all while welcoming hundreds of thousands of community swimmers each year. His ability to balance elite sport with accessible community programming made the facility a model of inclusion and excellence.

Bryce’s vision went beyond operations. He launched initiatives that upheld world-class standards and strengthened community impact. For over two decades, he united BC’s swimming leaders and mentored many who now shape the sport today.

Under his stewardship, Saanich Commonwealth Place received national recognition, including the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association’s Award of Merit and the BC Parks and Recreation Association’s Facility Excellence Award. Yet Bryce’s proudest achievement was not the awards, but the spirit of cooperation and community that fueled the facility’s enduring success.

In his own words, Tom Bryce has “always liked to build things.” What he built, a facility, a culture, and a legacy of collaboration, continues to define BC swimming and stands as a testament to what visionary leadership can achieve.

His induction into the BC Swimming Hall of Fame honours a true builder whose influence will continue to ripple through Canadian aquatics for generations to come.

• Coach, 11 Olympic Games
• 11 CIS women’s and 8 men’s Championships
• BC Sport Hall of Fame (2018)