Rowing Canada Aviron, in conjunction with U SPORTS, is pleased to announce the athletes selected to represent Canada at the 2026 FISU World University Championships from August 13-15 in London, Ontario (Fanshawe Lake).

The 2026 Championships will be organized by Western University in collaboration with Rowing Canada Aviron, the City of London, and Tourism London. This event will bring together an estimated 300 student-athletes from over 20 countries. This will be the first time that this event has ever been hosted in Canada.

The Canadian women’s side brings proven international pedigree: Jana Peachey (University of Michigan) and Cait Whittard (University of Washington) were both members of Canada’s U23 Women’s Eight (W8+) last summer, which claimed bronze at the U23 World Championships. The pair will race together again at FISU in the Women’s Pair (W2-). Jack Pankratz (Carleton University), who coxed that bronze-medal-winning U23 W8+ crew in 2023, returns to steer the Women’s Eight at FISU. Julia Teixeira (Queen’s University) also brings U23 World Championship experience, having raced in the Lightweight Women’s Quad (LW4x).

The men’s side also features a strong contingent of returning international experience, with athletes back after competing at the U23 level in past seasons: Aidan Hembruff (Western University, M4-), Oliver Page-Kuhr (University of British Columbia, M1x), Robert Walsh (University of British Columbia, M8+), Maijken Meindertsma (University of British Columbia, M8+), Oscar Wostenholme (University of British Columbia, M8+), Adrian Breen (University of British Columbia, M8+), and Charles-Etienne Tabet and Keithan Woodhouse (Brock University, M2x). Ben Maijer (University of British Columbia, M8+) rounds out the roster’s international experience, having represented Canada at the 2025 Junior World Championships.

The full roster includes athletes and coaches from universities and clubs across the country, competing across singles, pairs, doubles, four, and eight boat classes.

2026 FISU World University Games Rowing Team — Full Roster

First Name	Last Name	University	Club	Boat
Oliver	Page-Kuhr	University of British Columbia	Pocock Rowing Centre, Seattle WA	M1x
Charles-Etienne	Tabet	Brock University	Club d’Aviron Boucherville	M2x
Keithan	Woodhouse	Brock University	St Catharines Rowing Club	M2x
Gabe	Dyer	University of Victoria	Cambridge Rowing Club, Ontario	M4-
Aidan	Hembruff	Western University	Ottawa Rowing Club	M4-
Oliver	Baker	Western University	North Star Rowing Club	M4-
Simon	Whittaker	University of Victoria	Hanlan Boat Club	M4-
Owen	Bartel	University of British Columbia	St Catharines Rowing Club	M8+
Thomas	Boruta	University of Victoria	Calgary Rowing Club	M8+
Adrian	Breen	University of British Columbia	Don Rowing Club	M8+
Benjamin	Buchheit	University of British Columbia	Cambridge Sports Union	M8+
Ben	Maijer	University of British Columbia	—	M8+
Maijken	Meindertsma	University of British Columbia	Fort Langley Rowing Club	M8+
Kyland	Mels-Williams	Western University	London Western Rowing Club	M8+
Robert	Walsh	University of British Columbia	North Star Rowing Club	M8+
Oscar	Wostenholme	University of British Columbia	—	M8+
Gabby	Yarema	Western University, University of British Columbia	Calgary Rowing Club	W1x
Jana	Peachey	University of Michigan	North Star Rowing Club	W2-
Cait	Whittard	University of Washington	St Catharines Rowing Club	W2-
Maria (Marese)	Fletcher	McGill University	Montreal Rowing Club	W2x
Julia	Teixeira	Queen’s University	Argonaut Rowing Club	W2x
Claire	Hallett	University of British Columbia	Victoria City Rowing Club	W4-
Danielle	Hart	Western University	University of Western Ontario Rowing Club	W4-
Roksolana	Nazar	University of Toronto	Argonaut Rowing Club, Montreal Rowing Club	W4-
Natasha	Witts	University of British Columbia	—	W4-
Ceilidh	Aho	University of Guelph	Guelph Rowing Club	W8+
Willow	Cherewaty	University of British Columbia	Ottawa Rowing Club	W8+
Kaija	Erickson	Queen’s University	Thunder Bay Rowing Club	W8+
Tess	Friar	Trent University	Peterborough Rowing Club	W8+
Kristina	Harris	Brock University	Guelph Rowing Club	W8+
Anna	King	Ohio State University	Ottawa Rowing Club	W8+
Kate	Kulig	Southern Methodist University	North Star Rowing Club, Kelowna Rowing Club	W8+
Kira	Mels-Williams	Western University	University of Western Ontario Rowing Club	W8+
Jack	Pankratz	Carleton University	Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames	W8+

 

Coaching & Support Staff

First Name	Last Name	University / Program	Role
Scott	Anderson	Brock University	Coach
Katie	Bruggeling	Brock University	Coach
Stephanie	Marchand	McGill University	Coach
Mike	Pearce	University of British Columbia	Coach
Christine	Wilson	Rowing Canada Aviron – Seasonal Program Coach	Coach
Steve	Di Ciacca	Western University	Medical
Ella	Gemin	Western University	Spare

Fanshawe Lake is the venue that previously hosted the 2001 Canada Summer Games and most recently the 2022 Can Am Mex Rowing Championships as well as the 2025 Canada Cup.

-30-

About Rowing Canada Aviron

Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is a non-profit organization recognized by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport of rowing in Canada. RCA represents registered members of all levels and ages across Canada, whether they row for recreation, health and fitness or competition.

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the national brand for University Sports in Canada. Every year, more than 12,000 student-athletes and 500 coaches from 59 universities vie for 23 national championships in 1132 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at the biennial Winter and Summer University Games as well as world university championships and university world cups.