Profile
WHO ARE WE?
À Contre-Courant (ACC) is an aquatics club created mainly for the gay and lesbian community in the Montréal area. Its statutes state that it is committed to accepting anyone ‘regardless of sexual orientation, gender, ethnic origin, political or religious beliefs, physical disabilities, or HIV status.’ Refusal of any form of discrimination is in fact one of the club’s founding principles.
ACC’s activities include swimming, water polo and synchronized swimming. Each discipline is supervised by qualified coaches and the club is affiliated with the athletic federation that regulates its practice (Féderation de natation du Québec, Féderation de water-polo du Québec and Féderation de nage synchronisée du Québec).
ACC is also a member of Équipe Montréal, Montreal’s gay and lesbian sports teams association, and IGLA (International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics).
Since its creation in 1990, À Contre-Courant has rapidly carved a place for itself in Quebec’s aquatic sports community. Over the years it has gained an enviable reputation for its organization of sporting events. Although many of its members work out mainly to keep in shape, taking part in competitions – as a competitor or an organizer – is an important area of the club’s activities. Moreover, its involvement in the gay and lesbian community and the friendship and solidarity that it helps to foster among its members make À Contre-Courant much more than simply a sports club.
OUR MISSION
Although À Contre-Courant resembles other masters aquatic clubs, its name provides a clue about its desire to respond to a special calling. In fact, it is the only club of its kind in Quebec that focuses primarily on gay and lesbian athletes.
ACC’s chosen mission is ‘to promote the well-being of its members through the practice of aquatic activities, to encourage the self-esteem and affirmation of gays and lesbians, to further mutual comprehension and exchanges among individuals and to contribute to raising the visibility of the gay and lesbian community.’ (excerpt from the General By-laws adopted on March 4, 1995).
A general meeting is held once a year to elect the board of directors. The board may be comprised of up to nine members and is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the club’s activities and the promotion of its objectives.
