Development

The Rowing Canada Aviron Rowing and Club Development Pilot

By Jennifer Browett

The Rowing Canada Aviron rowing and club development pilot, originally known as the "Rec Centre project" initiative is under way on Telford Lake, Leduc Alberta. This project, if successful, will allow Rowing Canada Aviron to hopefully attain more money from Sport Canada and purchase more boats. Eventually RCA would like to see three fleets of boats which will be available eventually to all provinces...more details to come on that!

Telford Lake was chosen due to the tremendous push from the city to have rowing and its proximity to the founder of this idea, Carolyn Taylor Smith, VP Recreation for Rowing Canada Aviron.

The boats purchased by Rowing Canada Aviron with money from Sport Canada for this initiative are used to introduce both youth and adults to rowing on Telford Lake. The city of Leduc, after hosting the World Masters Games in 2005, has shown tremendous support through fundraising and donations to the newly developing Telford Lake boat club.

The Rowing Canada Aviron equipment is also available for use by neighboring provinces or other Alberta clubs to help further touring or recreational rowing at their club.
Contact Jennifer Browett, Domestic Development Officer-Sport Development for more info on this: browett@rowingcanada.org

Alberta Rowing Association, VP development, Tim Smith has gone the extra mile by coaching the first learn to row with this equipment on Telford Lake. He is so happy he is doing cartwheels in the boat! Now what VP development do you know that is that pumped about volunteering!

More info on this project can be downloaded here.