2024 RCA National Conference and Semi-Annual Meeting Recap

Individuals from across Canada came together January 26-28 for the Rowing Canada Aviron National Conference, held in picturesque Québec City, Québec on the traditional lands of the Huron-Wendat (Wendake-Nionwentsïo) Nations.
 
The conference was opened with a keynote by Marc-André Duchesneau, Coaching Performance Advisor, who spoke on Balancing the Delicate Art of Modern High-Performance Coaching. 

Following the Diversify Rowing Breakfast, Nouman Ashraf, Associate Professor at the Rotman School of Management, opened Saturday’s sessions with a keynote on Exploring the Connection between Invitation & Innovation. With other highlights including a presentation from Katie Misener, PhD, University of Waterloo sharing Evidence and Insights from a National Survey of Rowing Club Capacity and Growth, and Stuart McReynolds, Associate Vice-President Programs & Advocacy, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities speaking to the State of Sport in Canada.  

Delegates enjoyed activities such as Ice-Canoeing, Tobogganing and a visit from Bonhomme amongst their conference sessions in addition to an always vibrant Wine and Cheese, sponsored by RegattaCentral.

RCA’s 2023 Excellence Awards recipients were celebrated on Saturday night, with Simon Litherland being named as the recipient of the 2023 President’s Award in recognition of his outstanding dedication to growing rowing as a volunteer and community leader.

 
Semi-Annual Meeting

The weekend concluded with the Semi-Annual Meeting, at which the 2023 Annual Report was approved by the membership, and a strong majority of the membership approved the report and recommendations of the RCA Committee on Dues and Fees. With the approval of this report, effective April 1, 2024, the Dues and Fees are as follows:

• RCA Seat Fee – $4.00
• RCA Base Participant Fee – $27.50
• Club Dues – $460
• Special Association/Associate Organization – $545
• Provincial Rowing Associations – $800

The proposed Amendment to the RCA By-Laws – Section 24: Amendment of the Articles and By-Laws (download here) was defeated with a vote of 140(65%) For, 75(35%) Against, and 3 Abstention,  as it did not meet the required two-thirds majority to be approved by Membership. 

Consequently, the Special Meeting planned for February 29, 2024 and the Town Hall on February 7, 2024 will not take place.  However, we will continue to work towards the required changes and engage with our membership to ensure compliance with the Canadian Sport Governance Code. Your participation and input are crucial in shaping the future of our organization, and we are committed to continuing the dialogue to make the required adjustments to our bylaws and policies. Together, we can strengthen our governance framework and uphold the standards set by Sport Canada. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

The 2024 Annual Meeting will take place on September 19, 2024 and be hosted online. The 2025 RCA Semi-Annual Meeting will be held on January 26, 2025, location to be announced.