There was much to be celebrated at Rowing Canada Aviron含羞草研究社檚 National Training Centre on Quamichan Lake Thursday morning, Sept. 28. As rowers bustled to and fro preparing for this weekend含羞草研究社檚 2023 National Rowing Championships on Quamichan Lake, dignitaries gathered to officially open the growing facility含羞草研究社檚 new docks and to celebrate the resulting the positive impacts, economic and otherwise, that the region is projected to benefit from.
Rowing Canada CEO Terry Dillon welcomed all to the special event and thanked the many partners that have allowed the infrastructure project to proceed over the years, including the governments of Canada and B.C., Pacific Economic Development Canada, the Municipality of North Cowichan, Islands Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), Mosiac Forest Management, the Cowichan Valley Regional District, Duncan Community Lodge, Western Forest Products, Harriet and John Lehnen, Maple Bay Rowing Club, and other individuals and private and/or anonymous donors.
Dillon said that at any given time there are 50-60 athletes, coaches and support staff training out of the Centre and living and spending their money in the region.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 really exciting for us,含羞草研究社� he said, acknowledging that this weekend there含羞草研究社檒l be roughly 250 rowers and support staff at the site and boosting the local economy.
含羞草研究社淭oday marks a special day for us as we host for the second time the National Rowing Championships,含羞草研究社� Dillon said. 含羞草研究社淲e feel really excited about the opportunity to host them here, to take advantage of the work we含羞草研究社檝e done on the facility we含羞草研究社檝e created, and with the course on the lake.含羞草研究社�
Dillon thanked Maple Bay Rowing Club president Susan Macdonald for her efforts with the project. She later noted that her group, and rowing interest within the region in general, has thrived with the arrival of and partnership with Rowing Canada.
With the club含羞草研究社檚 younger members able to engage with and be inspired by the world-class athletes, it含羞草研究社檚 been a strong relationship between MBRC and Rowing Canada, she said.
含羞草研究社淲e are thrilled to have the national team as our neighbours,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 definitely been beneficial on so many levels.含羞草研究社�
Dillon noted that it was never the intention for the National Training Centre to host major rowing events such as the nationals.
含羞草研究社淚t was obviously always the intention that there would be a huge impact on the community in terms of the location of our programs and staff and those around our programs here but it含羞草研究社檚 been a wonderful add-on to the vision to be able to host an event like this and to feel confident that we have the capacity to do that. And none of that would be possible without the docks and the shoreline infrastructure which we含羞草研究社檙e here to celebrate.含羞草研究社�
National team member Kristen Kit, who in her role as the coxswain recently helped the Canadian Women含羞草研究社檚 eight qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, talked about the impact the new infrastructure at the National Training Centre has had on the athletes, and the pride she has, as a paralympic rower, in saying the facility is accessible.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 so amazing to be at the National Training Centre to be able to say 含羞草研究社榶eah, we have accessible docks含羞草研究社�. It makes me really proud to be here. It makes me really proud to be on the Canadian National Team knowing that these docks can welcome everyone.含羞草研究社�
