The Safety and Events Committee Welcomes New Membership
Rowing Canada Aviron – Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is pleased to announce the newly appointed members of the Safety and Events Committee.
The mandate of the Safety and Events Committee (“SEC”) is to ensure that the RCA Board of Directors and the Members receive ongoing advice and direction in all areas of rowing safety and in the staging of rowing events. The Committee has specific responsibilities with Canadian National regattas and with the RCA Sanction policy and procedures. The SEC responds to requests regarding safety and events from the Board of Directors or the Members (where the committee possesses appropriate expertise).
The current SEC membership includes Mike Bagshawe [Chair since 2003] and Matteo Cendamo [since 1998].
The new members joining the committee in 2018 are: Lynda Dundas (Mississauga ON), Tim Henderson (Edmonton AB), Jean-Christophe Marly (Toronto ON) and Andrew Smith (London, ON).
Lynda Dundas has been involved with rowing for 28 years. Having sailed for many years the lure of the water enticed her to learn to row and she was bitten by the sport.
Lynda has served several years on the Board of the Directors at the Don Rowing Club as Director, President and Safety Officer. She was also a member of the Board of ROWONTARIO for 16 years serving as Director, V.P. Events and Umpires and then as President. During her time as President she was also a member of the RCA Provincial Relations Committee and continues as the chair of the RCA Awards committee.
Lynda has had extensive experience with both Indoor and Outdoor Rowing as an umpire, regatta organizer and masters rower. She is an RCA Certified Coach and LTR Instructor. Lynda has been a member of the organizing committee and Chief Umpire of the Canadian Indoor Rowing Association for the past 10 years. She has also recently taken on the role of V.P. Rowing for the Dominion Day Rowing Association.
Lynda was a member of the organizing and planning group for rowing at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto. She was privileged to have been Chief Umpire for the very successful Invictus Rowing event on Sept 26, 2017.
Lynda believes that safety is of paramount importance not only on the water but also in the clubhouse or the gym. Athletes must be provided a safe and fun environment, physically and emotionally, in order to achieve their goals. She is honored to serve on the Safety and Events Committee to help ensure that all those exposed to our sport have safe and positive experiences.
Tim Henderson has spent his entire life on the water both recreationally and professionally. His experience with competition began in Nova Scotia with the Canadian Canoeing Association, and continued with the Canadian Forces Sailing Association in British Columbia. More recently Tim came to our sport, as many have, through his children; as a parent, volunteer, and new rower. Tim served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Victoria Youth Rowing Society and began his journey to become a licensed umpire. He has gone on to serve as the VP for Competition and Risk Management on the Rowing BC Board, and as a member of the RCA Umpires Committee. Awarded his FISA Umpire license in 2015, he has been to an international regatta as a National Technical Official and awaits an opportunity to represent Canada as an ITO. He has been involved as a rower, volunteer or official at regattas from local high schools, to National Regattas, to FISA World Rowing Championships.
“Safety is much more than ensuring that crews don’t interfere or collide. It is about making sure that athletes train and develop in safe environments, both on and off the water. It is about ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and dignity. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to serve with my colleagues in Safety and Events to create an environment in which everyone in rowing across Canada has the opportunity for support and positive experiences.”
Tim is currently managing a government initiative to reduce social isolation in Edmonton, Alberta, although he makes his permanent home in Sooke, B.C.
Jean-Christophe Marly has been an active member of the rowing community both in Belgium, where he is from, and for the last 20 years in Canada. Jean-Christophe is now very much focused on Coastal and Long Distance rowing and brings with him a lot of experience in organizing Coastal and Touring rowing events. He has held, and currently holds board positions at the provincial and club level. He is currently serving as the President of Hanlan Boat Club in Toronto.
Andrew Smith began rowing in 1977 in Woodstock Ontario, participating in high school and college. He was away from rowing during his early career with the Canadian Armed Forces but recaptured his love for the sport when posted to CFB Trenton and becoming a part of the Quinte Rowing Club as a coach and competitive Masters rower. During his time with Quinte he assisted with building the boat house and volunteering. He coached high school and learn to row programs as well as serving on the board of directors.
After relocating to London Ontario, Andrew became part of the London Rowing Club as his children began rowing, he was fully immersed in the sport as coach, volunteer and rower. He served as Club Captain on the board of directors.
Over the past 18 years Andrew has worked within the handicapable community. He works at a children’s centre in London designing and assembling adaptive seating and devices for individuals under the age of 21 years. This naturally led to an interest and subsequent involvement with Para Rowing. What started as assisting para rowers with some seating needs evolved into a position as the team boat man supporting their performance at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing China.
Andrew has been an RCA umpire for 8 years and became a FISA umpire in 2015.
We would like to thank the outgoing members of the Safety and Events Committee: Sam Fisher, Carol Purcer and Derek Ventnor.
For more information on the Safety and Events Committee, please contact Mike Bagshawe.
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