Rowing Canada Aviron Newsletter
Rowers Make a Unique Contribution to the Olympic Relay
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay began on October 30th in Victoria, British Columbia, and on that first day rowing was a big part of the celebrations, including the men's eight from 2008 rowing the torch on Elk Lake. Also included on that first day were junior rowers from Victoria; Olympic silver medalist Dave Calder; Silken Laumann and many other rowers and supporters. Since then the torch has travelled many miles and many rowers have made their mark. Shown above is 1976 Rowing Olympian Guylaine Bernier: "What made it so special for me is the fact that I was chosen by Ville de Montréal, through a selection committee, to represent the City of Montreal for the Olympic Torch relay - the very last segment (300 meters) for Montreal - so I had to carry the Torch and then light up the cauldron on the stage at Place Jacques-Cartier where the crowd was standing for the Montreal celebration."
Bernier : << C’est avec beaucoup de surprise et d’enthousiasme que j’ai appris ma participation au relais de la flamme olympique. C’est un grand honneur d’avoir été choisie pour porter la flamme olympique et particulièrement le dernier segment pour Montréal ou j’allumerai aussi la vasque avant les célébrations.. Cela ravive mes merveilleux souvenirs des Jeux olympiques de 1976 et particulièrement mon entrée dans le stade lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture – pleins de merveilleux moments – et davantage parce que c’était dans ma ville, dans mon pays. C’est aussi une expérience unique de partage car le relais de la flamme olympique à travers le pays contribue à nous unir tous - cela favorise l’unité du pays par le sport – Ce sera merveilleux d’y participer. >>
<< C’est un grand honneur - C’est tres excitant et emballant. J’ai vu la flamme olympique arriver dans le stade en 1976 comme athlète, je l’ai aussi vu arriver dans le stade en l996, 2008, 2004 et 2008 comme membre du jury d’appel de la FISA et maintenant je vais la transporter pour le dernier segment de Montréal et allumer la vasque avant les célébrations communautaires.
C’est vraiment fantastique de pouvoir partager cette expérience unique avec des milliers de personnes à travers le pays.
J’ai l’impression de compléter mon rêve olympique, d’autant plus que je aussi serai à Vancouver comme bénévole pour les mes premiers jeux d’hiver!. >>
New Rowing Canada Aviron President Announced at AGM
Rowing Canada Aviron's President is Dr. Michael Murphy of London, Ontario.
Murphy, a former national team rower, was an RCA board member from 1985 to 2002, serving as president or past president for the last 13 years. During the latter period, he was a key figure in the centralization, the systematization and the professionalization of the organization.
"I am very much looking forward to working with athletes, clubs, provinces, national executive and staff and FISA (the international rowing federation) to maintain and improve rowing in Canada and abroad," said Murphy, who is also a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario. Read more.
Rowing Canada Aviron présente son nouveau président
Dr Michael Murphy de London en Ontario est le nouveau président de Rowing Canada Aviron.
Murphy, un ancien rameur de l'équipe nationale, était un membre du conseil de RCA de 1985 à 2002, remplissant les fonctions de président ou de président sortant au cours des 13 dernières années. Il a été pendant cette période un important acteur dans la centralisation, la systématisation et la professionnalisation de l’organisation.
<<J’ai très hâte de travailler avec les athlètes, les clubs, les provinces, l’exécutif et le personnel national et avec F.I.S.A. (la Fédération internationale des sociétés d’aviron) pour conserver et améliorer l’aviron au Canada et à l’étranger, >> nous disait Murphy qui est aussi un professeur à la faculté de pédagogie de l’Université Western en Ontario.
Murphy qui offrira une direction et un leadership à RCA qui se dirige vers les prochains Jeux olympiques en 2012 est l’ancien président de l’Alliance sportive de l’Ontario et était coprésident des Jeux d’été et d’hiver de l’Ontario en 2004. Il replace Brenda Liski qui a terminé son mandat comme président lors de l’Assemblée générale annuelle ce dernier weekend à Vancouver.
RCA est un organisme sans but lucratif reconnu par le gouvernement du Canada et par le Comité olympique canadien comme étant l'organisme national pour le sport de l’aviron au Canada. RCA représente 15,000 membres inscrits à tous les niveaux : novices, juniors, étudiants universitaires, seniors et maîtres, qu’ils rament pour des raisons récréatives, de santé et de conditionnement physique ou compétitifs. L'aviron est un des premiers sports des Jeux olympiques d’été au Canada – recueillant quatre médailles lors des Jeux olympiques de 2008 à Beijing.
Rowing Art
A recently installed sculpture of a rowing shell at the London (Ontario) Public Library was created by Ron Milton who is a London artist and teacher. The work is part of the River Project, which was originated by a group of London artists who decided that they would all create artwork based on the Thames River. Milton chose a rowing scull.
"The Library thought this art project was wonderful and became involved by promoting the artists though communication, programing at the Library (we have these wonderful children's painting from it), producing note cards and a beautiful book about the art that was sold at the branches and sold out very quickly. It is from the sale of the books that generated the revenue that allowed us to purchase this piece of art," said marketing manager Christina Nurse.
We never share, sell, or rent your email address, and you may unsubscribe to our letter at any time. Simply click the link, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your email address to request its removal from our mailing list.
If you can't see this email or wish to view in a browser click here, or copy and paste this link into your web browser: http://www.rowingcanada.ca/sites/rowingcanada/files/rowingCanada_jan10.html
Upcoming Events
2010 Rowing Canada Aviron Coaches Conference, Jan. 28 to 30 - London, ON. More info can be found here.
Indoor Events:
Feb. 6 Western Canada Indoor Rowing Championships, Vancouver, B
Feb. 7 Atlantic Indoor Rowing Championships, Dartmouth, NS
Feb. 7 Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships, Mississauga, ON
Feb. 7 Monster Erg, Victoria, BC
Feb. 14 C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints World Indoor Rowing Champs. Boston, MA
Feb. 28 Ontario Ergometer Championships, Ridley College, St. Catharines, ON
More events on the web
2009 RCA Awards
Rowing Canada Aviron’s annual awards were presented in December at the AGM in Vancouver. For a list of winners see our web site. Shown above, past RCA president, Brenda Liski with one of the coaching award winners, Nancy Storrs.
Why ROW? YROW is a new RCA program set to answer that question
Rowing Canada Aviron, with funding from Sport Canada, has developed YROW (Youth in Rowing) high school program focused on communicating the values of our sport, involving all youth, and engaging students in a fun and rewarding rowing experience. RCA has recognized the need for a "grassroots" nationwide approach to attract educators and engage youth in their school environment.
The YROW DVD and promotional materials will inform all educators, parents and youth on the values and benefits that rowing provides.
More info will be available soon on the RCA web site....stay tuned!
Check It Out...
The FISA World Rowing Masters Championships (Sept. 2 to 5, 2010) will be one of the highlights of the Canadian Rowing season. The event web site has the latest details on the regatta, which will be held in St. Catharines, Ont.
Mylène Paquette is a Montreal Rowing Club member who is rowing across the Atlantic as a challenge and in an effort to raise funds for one of Montreal's children's hospitals (Hopital Ste-Justine). Check out her "Enfin l'Atlantique a la rame" blog (in French).
On Feb.19 at 4:00 pm at the SaveOnFoods Memorial Arena, the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame will be unveiling of the history of rowing in Victoria. All rowers and supporters - current and past - are invited to the presentation. The Sports Hall of Fame website is www.gvshof.ca
People in the news....
John Armitage of Kingston, Ont., was named "Ontario Coach of the Month" for January 2010.
Join the Rowing Canada Aviron group and fan page on Facebook.