Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is proud to announce the generous leadership contributions of two noteworthy National Team alumni to the National Training Centre (NTC).
 
Silken Laumann and Wayne Pommen have each personally committed $100,000 to support the development of the NTC in North Cowichan, cementing a strong and lasting home for Canadian rowing.  

Their commitment includes matching contributions up to $200,000 in total.

Silken spoke about the importance of creating a daily training environment for athletes that simulates international race conditions. She noted, “Our rowers deserve an on-water facility that allows for fair selection, good training conditions, and a body of water that is primarily dedicated to rowing.”  

Silken Laumann is one of Canada’s most inspiring athletes of all time. A four-time Olympian, multiple medalist, her accomplishments include Olympic bronze and silver medals, a World Championship gold and silver, a Pan American Games gold, and a U.S. Championship gold, she overcame a devastating leg injury in 1992 to win bronze at the Barcelona Games, a moment that became a symbol of perseverance worldwide. Her career, marked by world titles and Olympic success, cemented her legacy as one of the greatest rowers in Canadian history.  

 

Alongside Silken, Wayne Pommen spoke about his excitement about the opportunity to support the team, saying, “Given how formative and important rowing was in my life, the sport is one of my top philanthropic priorities. I want to see rowing thrive at all levels, and infrastructure is a critical piece of the puzzle.”  

Wayne Pommen is a national team alumni rower, businessman, and entrepreneur who is now based in Toronto. After getting his start in rowing in Victoria, he attended Harvard, where he became captain of the heavyweight squad, and later Cambridge, where he was President of the winning crew in the 2004 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. Along the way, he competed for Canada at junior, U23, and senior levels, including in the men’s pair at the 2003 World Rowing Championships.  

“When the idea came around to build a boathouse at Quamichan, I was excited to help – especially as a native of Vancouver Island,” says Wayne. “This is an opportunity for the Canadian rowing community to come together in support of a long-overdue project that will create an important rowing resource on Vancouver Island and ultimately pay dividends in the form of international results. The more people who contribute, regardless of the amount, the stronger that outcome will be.”  

Elaborating on this, Silken spoke about what initially drew her to the project:  

“What gripped me was this idea of us as alumni reaching out to younger rowers – rowers who are on the path that we were once on.   This new training facility gives our team something that they have never had: a world-class facility on a dedicated body of water. I hope my gift will inspire my teammates and alumni to support the project.  It’s special when our current national team rowers experience the support of alumni.  When I was eighteen, a master rower from the Don Rowing Club bought me a new pair of oars before I went overseas to race.  What I remember most is how wonderful it was that somebody else believed in me and my dream to be a world champion.  The intention of the gift was so affirming and gave me a boost of confidence. When we give to our current team, we are saying,  “ I see you, I know your journey is hard, I am with you”.   Everyone has different capacities to give, but all alumni can signal through a gift that they want to be part of the success of our current and future athletes.”

With the project well underway, docks installed, coach launches in place, and world-class equipment on site, both Silken and Wayne emphasized the importance of completing this next step for the National Team’s long-term success.

RCA CEO Jeff Powell expressed his appreciation for the alumni’s leadership and the growing momentum behind the project. “Wayne and Silken’s leadership gifts are inspirational, and we have more National Team alumni donors lining up to lend their support.”  

“It’s been rewarding to connect to the current National Team, and know that we have contributed something concrete to their journeys while signalling our support and belief in them.”

“It’s relatively rare that we have an infrastructure project for the benefit of the National Team,” shares Wayne. “It’s a great opportunity for national team alumni in particular to reconnect with Rowing Canada and have a stake in the future development of the team.”

Those interested in joining the team of supporters for the NTC campaign are invited to contact RCA’s NTC Campaign Lead, Jennifer Blunt.  

REGISTER NOW for more information on the NTC plans. Please join us for a Community Updates Webinar on February 18, 2026, at 4:00 pm PST/ 7:00 pm EST. 

Contribute your matching gift to the future of rowing in Canada! JOIN US TODAY.