Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) held its Annual Meeting last night where the RCA Member Club delegates voted to elect two new members to the organization’s Board of Directors. Michael Bryden and Charles Minett were elected to the RCA Board and will serve terms until 2026.

Following a call for applications in May 2023, and based on the recommendations of the Nominating Committee, three candidates were put forward for voting by delegates representing the Member Clubs of RCA. After the period of voting, the delegates elected the two incoming Board Members to replace current Treasurer Tom Hawker and Director at Large Dana Thorne–Sunaxwumaat.

In accordance with Sections 10 and 11 of the RCA By-laws, there was also a reconsideration of the Provincial Director position, held by Derek Ventnor, whose term came to an end on September 21, 2023. Pursuant to the RCA By-laws, the position of Provincial Director is solicited and endorsed through a nomination put forward by the Provincial Advisory Council (PAC), provided that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements. Derek Ventnor was re-elected by the PAC to serve another term of eligibility, until 2026. Derek Ventnor will also serve as treasurer for the RCA Board of Directors. 

RCA President Carol Purcer congratulated the outgoing treasurer, Tom Hawker for his contributions to the Board of Directors and for his dedicated service to the organization and the sport.

“On behalf of Rowing Canada Aviron, I want to thank Tom Hawker for his contributions and service to Rowing Canada Aviron and to the whole rowing community over the last seven years,” Purcer said. “Serving as Treasurer, Tom helped guide us through the challenging financial times throughout the pandemic. We know Tom will still remain involved in rowing and wish him all the best in the future.”

Purcer also thanked outgoing Director Dana Thorne – Sunaxwumaat for her commitment to the organization and her time serving on the Board.

“I also wish to thank Dana for serving on the Rowing Canada Aviron board during a difficult period over the last two years. Dana’s expertise, passion and commitment to the organization is something that the Canadian rowing community is better for having her involvement,” Purcer said. “I know Dana will always be an advocate for our organization and for our sport, as we are of her.”

The incoming Board Members have been elected to a three-year term that commenced immediately following the end of the Annual Meeting. 

“I want to welcome Michael and Charles to the RCA Board of Directors. The rowing community will benefit from their expertise and experiences as our organization has an exciting year ahead of us, with Paris 2024 and Canada hosting the World Rowing Senior, Under 23 and Under 19 Championships,” Purcer said.

The 2023 Annual Meeting also provided the rowing community the opportunity to review the financial position of the organization and hear from RCA President Carol Purcer and RCA Chief Executive Officer Terry Dillon.

Dillon highlighted the organization’s progress this year in a number of key participation initiatives including the Community Sport for All programs and National Come Try Day events held by the RCA Member Clubs and organizations.

“We have made tremendous strides this year, due to the passion and dedication of our RCA Member Clubs and organizations that have embraced key participation initiatives. Our participation numbers have bounced back close to pre-pandemic levels, we have also had over 5,000 Canadians pick up an oar for the first time this year,” Dillon shared. “With over 4,000 participants as a result of community partnerships fostered through the Community Sport for All Initiative programs and over 1,500 participants attending rowing clubs across the nation at our National Come Try Rowing Day events. For this, we thank everyone involved in our Member Clubs for these outstanding results and welcoming more people to the sport that we all love.”

Dillon continued to highlight a number of key High Performance program milestones, including the hire of National Para Lead Taylyr Dickinson to lead RCA’s Para rowing program, fielding a team at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals beginning next week and the upcoming National Rowing Championships.

“We have also focused on key areas of our high performance program, one key step has been welcoming Taylyr to our staff to lead our Para rowing program. Taylyr has experience in all areas of Para sport, from coaching, talent identification, through to team management, so we are excited about the future of this important pillar of our sport,” Dillon said. “We have also continued our commitment to Coastal Rowing, fielding a team at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals beginning in Italy next week. And finally, we are preparing for the 2023 National Rowing Championships, one of the showcase regattas of our rowing community, and we’re looking forward to some outstanding racing next week from over 200 athletes representing their home provinces and clubs at Quamichan Lake, the home of our National Training Centre.”

The 2023 Annual Meeting was hosted online on Thursday, September 21, 2023 via Zoom and can be viewed at the link below:

2023 Rowing Canada Aviron Annual Meeting

The Rowing Canada Aviron Annual Financial Statements and report of the Auditor can be viewed here.

More information about the Rowing Canada Aviron Board of Directors can be found here.