The “shovel’s in the ground” and the race to complete the new Boathouse at Rowing Canada’s National Training Centre in North Cowichan, BC, has entered the final stretch. We’re so close to the finish line, and your support will make a big difference.

Thanks to the incredible support we’ve already received from our rowing community, we’ve now reached 85% of our $200,000 matching goal. That means just $30,000 remains to unlock the full potential of Wayne Pommen’s and my matching commitment and bring this boathouse to life.

Your gift today will go TWICE as far, as every dollar you donate will be matched with a dollar from us!

This campaign is about more than bricks and mortar; it’s about creating a reliable, year-round home for Canada’s rowing athletes. 

Building the boathouse is the next crucial step to giving our rowers the stability, community, and support they need to train, recover, and thrive. No one understands the exhilaration and challenges of rowing the way you do, and what rowers need to feel taken care of and to succeed. Your generosity is key to completing this long-awaited boathouse on Quamichan Lake exclusively for Canada’s rowing athletes, including U23 and para rowers.

No matter the monetary gift, supporting this campaign is about saying, “I see you.”

I remember how alone it could feel mid-winter, when it rained nonstop, when it seemed that the only people who cared were our coaches, our teammates and our families.  

By supporting this project, each of us sends the message that we are behind our team. That they and we are part of the Canadian rowing family. We are all proud of the legacy rowing enjoys in Canada, and we want to see Canadian athletes succeed both physically and mentally. 

That begins with them having a proper place to train, and this is an opportunity for you to be part of that solution.

Three pivotal grants and the generosity of some early investors have made it possible for athletes to enjoy Quamichan Lake’s racecourse and its expansive docks since March 2023. A triad of new grants and the generosity of more than 40 alumni donors have now pushed us closer to completing the boathouse.

Completion of the boathouse will ensure the National Training Centre meets the holistic needs of rowers for decades to come. That’s where your generosity is vital.

Our new National Training Centre offers:

• Idyllic year-round training conditions on Quamichan Lake with a permanent 6-lane, 2,000-metre buoyed rowing course, a huge first for Rowing Canada and very close to our existing distance-training centre at Shawnigan Lake.
• Unimpeded use of the course (no wake or recreational traffic to navigate) and ample space to welcome next-gen and para rowers to train side-by-side with the senior team during training camps and selection trials!
• A purpose-built boathouse with two boat bays to store and protect our team’s equipment.
• A dedicated dryland training gym, washrooms, nutrition nook, coaches’ office, and a mezzanine with an athlete’s lounge, sport science and treatment space.

Once complete, the National Training Centre will give Canada’s rowers a world-class facility to prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will be a hub for the country’s top rowing talent for decades to come.

Give now to make 2X the impact for Canada’s rowing athletes!

Today’s athletes need more predictability, stability and more financial support than ever before. This campaign is about inviting everyone who loves the sport to be part of the current story. The new National Training Centre reflects that story, and we’re inviting you to help lay the last bricks.

Please join us.
 
With gratitude,
Silken Laumann
Rowing Canada Aviron
 
P.S. Don’t miss this chance to have your donation matched by Wayne and me. Every dollar you give will be doubled, but only until we reach the final $30,000. Please GIVE TODAY to make twice the impact for Canada’s rowing athletes.