RCA e-news June 2018

2018 Speed Orders at Fanshawe Lake
Photo Credit: Bill Boswell

Rowing Canada Aviron and the London Rowing Society welcomed over 200 athletes from over 50 clubs to Fanshawe Lake from June 22-24th, 2018. The 2018 Speed Order – National Team Selection Trials kicked off on Friday with finals taking place on Sunday June 24th.  

Canada’s best rowers targeted for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Next Generation (NextGen) of Olympic and Paralympic team members raced for the opportunity to be invited into a 4-day selection camp from June 25- 28, 2018.

Selection camp results will affirm athletes/crews for the following 2018 National Team events: World Rowing Cup 3, World Rowing Under 23 Championships, World University Rowing Championships, and U21 Trans Tasman Regatta.

Junior rowers complete their selection from June 26^th to 30^th in London, Ontario for the following 2018 Events: World Rowing Junior Championships and CanAmMex Championships. RCA will announce team selections in early July.

Thank you to all the volunteers who contributed to the success of the 2018 Speed Orders!

Speed Order Results

Para Rowing Try-It event at Gorge Narrows Rowing
Photo Credit: @RowGorgeNarrows

Two Para Rowing Centres of Excellence recently opened in partnership with Rowing BC and Rowing Canada Aviron. The Gorge Narrows Rowing Club in Victoria, B.C was first to hold its open house and try-it event on May 26.  Delta Deas Rowing Club launched its site on June 16th. These centres will support Rowing Canada Aviron’s Next Gen Rowing hubs – University of Victoria and University of British Columbia.

The centres are a “one-stop Para centre,” according to Martin George, the BC Para Rowing Head Coach. Anyone interested in para rowing either recreationally or competitively, even those on the high-performance track, will have access to the centre. These centres will offer individualized coaching and Paralympic-level equipment. 
 
As part of each launch, community members were invited to get out on the water. It was a great opportunity for people to see what para rowing is like first hand and to learn a little bit more about the sport.  

For more information on the Para Rowing centres of Excellence, click here.

Dave Derry- ON
Bill Donegan- ON
Derek Ventnor-ON
Brian Fiori-ON
Debbie Sage-BC
Mike Bagshawe-BC
Ge-an Rijniersce-BC (NTO Lead)
Michael Bates-BC

Margaret Shorter-BC

Malcolm Fletcher-BC

Carla Pace-BC
Andrew Smith-ON
Meredith Smith-ON
Guylaine Bernier-QC
Debbie Wood – ON (FISA)

For a list of Canadian Umpires at all 2018 International Rowing events, click here. 

RCA is pleased to announce Lillooet Rowing Club as the recipient of the RCA Western Recreational Fleet Program. The club will have access to a fleet of six boats and a trailer over the next two years.

The Recreational Fleet Program was first made available to provincial and local rowing organizations in 2008 with the program now having made its way to almost every province in Canada. The two Recreational Fleet Programs dedicated to central and eastern Provincial Rowing Associations will be available in the spring of 2019.

Lillooet Rowing Club will receive the two Hudson singles, one Hudson Touring double, one Hudson Touring quad, one Edon single, and use of the Recreation Fleet Trailer. 

RCA’s Recreational Fleet Program continues to develop recreational rowing programs and increase rowing participation throughout Canada. Clubs have experienced increased membership numbers and a heightened awareness of recreational rowing in their region.

“Lillooet Rowing Club is grateful to have been chosen to use the Rec Fleet over the next two years and are very excited about the opportunities it will give our club to grow by attracting many new athletes to our amazing sport” said Head Coach Debra Neufeld.

“We are thrilled that Lillooet Rowing Club will benefit from this program,” said Jennifer Fitzpatrick, RCA Director of Partnerships and Sport Development. “This new club has made significant efforts over the last year to build up their program and membership. The dedication to growing the sport of rowing that already exists at this club makes us confident that the fleet will be put to great use and will result in more Canadians getting on the water and falling in love with rowing.”

RCA thanks all member clubs and associations who applied for the Western Recreational Fleet Program. For support of your clubs and programs or for more information on the Recreational Fleet Program, please contact Jennifer Fitzpatrick.

RCA is looking for nominations for three positions on the RCA Board of Directors. RCA Nominating Committee is looking for people of diverse backgrounds who want to be actively involved and engaged in a dynamic organization. There are two Director at Large positions, and one Provincial Director. Interested candidates should send a resume and statement of interest to Andrew Lamont, the Chair of the RCA Nominating Committee by July 22, 2018. 

For more information, click here. 

RCA is proud to be a champion of the Responsible Coaching Movement!

The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a multi-phase system-wide movement, coordinated by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. As a part of RCA’s commitment to the RCM, access to Respect in Sport (RIS) training is available for PRAs and clubs. 

More information on the RCM is available here. For information regarding RCA’s commitment to the Responsible Coaching Movement, please click here. 

RCA statement on Sport Canada announcement on stronger measures against harassment, abuse and discrimination in sport. 

Matthew Buie

Carling Zeeman