Rowing Canada Aviron – Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Future Athlete Bursary. In support of the next generation (NextGen) of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic rowers, this bursary provides financial support to up-and-coming Canadian rowers who train in Canada while completing their post-secondary education.
 
Through a generous private donation to RCA, six recipients will receive a total of $2,500 each to support their continued participation in rowing while pursuing their post-secondary education. 
 
“Having a donor provide support to student-athletes, at such a critical stage in their development, is so powerful,” said RCA Director of Coach and Athlete Pathways, Adam Parfitt. “This group of athletes have made significant strides towards representing Canada at higher and higher levels. We are proud of the drive and commitment we see in these athletes.”
 
Applications were evaluated across a broad set of criteria including current performance data, coach recommendations and personal statements from the applicants.

The 2019 FAB Recipients are:

Karl Hare
University of Victoria
Studies: Geography

Thomas Markewich
Brock University 
Studies: Medical Science
 
Katie Clark  
University of British Columbia  
Studies: Kinesiology, Health sciences
 
Alexandra Birkenshaw
University of British Columbia
Studies: Biology
 
Spencer Kielar 
Trent University  
Studies: Conservation Biology
 
Anna Burnotte 
Cégep de Sherbrooke 
Studies: Sciences, lettres et arts
 
Athlete Quotes:

“I am so grateful for the opportunity and to even be considered for the Future Athlete Bursary. There are so many amazing, and talented rowers attending Canadian universities. The bursary will allow me to train over the summer while coaching youth camps.”

-Karl Hare, 2018 Junior World Championships
 
“I am extremely grateful for the support given to student athletes by Rowing Canada Aviron. It has a huge impact and enables us to put more focus into our training efforts. Between the development opportunity of the U21 team and the bursary, I am incredibly thankful for all the opportunities RCA has been able to give me to grow and develop as a coxswain. This bursary will allow me to continue to focus on my training with the hopes of making the U23 team in the future.”

-Alexandra Birkenshaw, 2018 U21 Trans-Tasman Series
 
“I am incredibly humbled to have been selected as a recipient of the Future Athlete bursary. My involvement on the U21 team this past summer was a much needed stepping-stone between collegiate rowing and the international scene. It has fueled a fire in me to become the best in the world. With the assistance of the Future Athlete bursary, my goal and dream to represent Canada at the Olympics is one step closer to becoming a reality.”

-Katie Clark, 2018 U21 Trans-Tasman Series
 
 
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For more information:

Adam Parfitt
Director, Coach and Athlete Pathways
Rowing Canada Aviron
parfitt@rowingcanada.org
 
 

About Rowing Canada Aviron

Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is a non-profit organization recognized by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national governing body for rowing in Canada, representing more than 15,000 registered members.
RCA is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Fédération internationale des sociétés d’aviron (FISA), the international federation for rowing. For more information about Rowing Canada Aviron, please visit rowingcanada.org or follow @rowingcanada.