Across Canada, rowing clubs have welcomed individuals from all walks of life, striving to create a stronger and more inclusive rowing community. At the Regina Rowing Club, the boathouse buzzed with the excitement of new rowers discovering the sport for the first time. Through a program developed in partnership with Queen City Pride, participants from the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community arrived eager to try something new. The program provided more than just an introduction to rowing—it offered a safe and empowering space for self-expression, growth, and connection. 

Hundreds of kilometers away at Maple Bay Rowing Club in BC, other first-time rowers embarked on a similar journey. Many were newcomers to Canada, joining this rowing opportunity through a collaboration between Maple Bay Rowing Club and the Cowichan Intercultural Society. Starting indoors with basic rowing exercises, they soon ventured onto the water, gaining both confidence and community with each stroke.  

Supported by the Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI), the Regina and Maple Bay Rowing Clubs exemplify the commitment of over 39 clubs across Canada to create inclusive and welcoming spaces within the sport of rowing. By delivering affordable, organized programs, specifically tailored for equity-deserving groups, these clubs are providing many Canadians with their first opportunity to experience rowing while fostering lasting connections within their communities. This CSAI funding is dedicated to programming designed to remove barriers and enhance active sport participation for underrepresented populations, ensuring that everyone has the chance to discover the joys of rowing. 

Regina Rowing Club: New Connections and Inclusivity 

The Regina Rowing Club’s Learn to Row program, in partnership with Queen City Pride, introduced the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to rowing, transforming the boathouse into a place of belonging. With CSAI funding, the club organized accessible, hands-on sessions where participants not only learned the basics of rowing but also experienced community support.  

Among those experiencing rowing for the first time was a participant who just a few weeks earlier, hadn’t pictured themself rowing, but as they took those first strokes, they felt welcomed and empowered by the rowing community. “Much love to the club for making space for queer folk like me,” they shared. “The allyship here means so much because I know I can show up as my authentic self without fear.” 

Building on the program’s success, Regina Rowing Club is committed to making this partnership an ongoing one, ensuring future opportunities for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to enjoy rowing together. 

Maple Bay Rowing Club: Doors Open to All 

At Maple Bay Rowing Club, CSAI programming brought new connections for those recently arriving to Canada, who were introduced to rowing through a partnership with the Cowichan Intercultural Society. With CSAI funding, Maple Bay organized sessions that offered newcomers a safe, supportive environment to learn rowing and connect with the community.  

With a focus on fun and fitness, participants learned how to use the rowing machine correctly, then moved outside to hop into a boat and try out their new skills on the water. This initiative aimed to provide newcomers to Canada with an opportunity to engage with the community close to their new home, focus on their own wellness by actively participating in a new sport, and meet new people who can be of support to them in their new community. 

“Maple Bay Rowing Cub strives to promote inclusivity by welcoming all communities through our doors and onto our shared waterways,” shared Maple Bay Rowing Club Board Member, Carol Boliek. “CSAI funding helped us do that again this year. The success of this year’s events saw an increase in membership diversity, and we hope that this is just the beginning.” 

Thanks to this year’s success, the club continues to build bridges by hosting social and cultural events at the boathouse and plans to welcome even more newcomers in the seasons to come. 

Building the Rowing Community 

The Regina and Maple Bay Rowing Clubs are just two examples of how CSAI rowing programs across Canada are working to bring people together, foster inclusivity, and provide new experiences to people from all walks of life. Thanks to CSAI funding, over 39 rowing clubs across Canada ran similar programs this year, each offering pathways for individuals to connect with their communities and embrace the sport.