CELEBRATIONS

• There was only one – Maria Greco. Happy Birthday on November 17th.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Graham Gardiner announced a new fundraiser for the club – the Festive Season Wheelbarrow Wine Draw. He went over the details and promised to do the same via ClubRunner. This fundraiser has great promise for fun and revelry. Please look for the detail in your Inbox.

• President Brandon reminded members that next week’s meeting is off-site, at the Waterloo Region Police Service headquarters located on Maple Grove Road. The tour will be followed by lunch at the close-by, Moose Winooski’s. 

• The club has donated to Hospice Waterloo for purchase of equipment.

• Reminder to email Michelle Burke about your attendance at the season’s highlight – the Christmas Dinner at Hacienda Sereda on December 13th.

50/50 

Three members had the pleasure (and disappointment) of drawing marbles. The pot grows to $177.00, and we live for the next meeting.

Guest Speaker

• Our famous Syd (the other Kid) introduced our Guest Speaker, Scarlett Delgado. 

• Scarlett talked to us about her early childhood of being Canadian born and growing up in Canada to parents of Ecuadorian (father) and Polish (mother) decent.  

• Her parents split up at an early age and so, she was raised by her grandparents.

• At the age of 13, her grandfather died, and Scarlett become a troubled teenager. She dropped out of school, and experienced run-ins with the law.

• She then reconnected with her estranged father who was a boxing coach. She attended his gym and began to like it. She saw purpose and an outlet to channel her frustration and anger.

• At the age of 17, she stepped into the ring and began to compete as an amateur.

• This led her to Syd Vanderpool and to sparing with Kitchener’s famous, Mandy Bujold who competed for Canada at the 2014 Rio Olympics.

• By the time the 2022 Tokyo Olympics rolled in, Mandy convinced Scarlett that she could pick up the torch for Canada. 

• Scarlett made her debut in 2022 at the Continental Championship where she won Gold. Since then, she has won the Silver Glove Championship and repeated as Continental Champion. 

• Female boxing in Canada has very limited training and financial support. At one time, Scarlett was working two jobs and training countless hours to achieve her dream. This was not sustainable.

• Now, she has joined Destiny Boxing which is a non-profit fundraising organization that aims to fully support Olympic calibre boxers. 

• Scarlett is a two-time Canadian Boxing Champion in the 56Kg class (aka Bantam weight). She is currently ranked in the Top 5 in the World. She was voted the “Best Female Boxer” of 2022, and she is Canada’s best hope for a podium finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

• Our Gold name badge holder, Ian Robertson graciously thanked our Guest Speaker. 

• Scarlet, her trainer, Syd Vanderpool and Destiny Boxing are appealing for our support. Please visit partners@teamdestinyboxing.ca and look for the appeal coming from President, Brandon.