Island Lake Rowing Club Information

Island Lake Rowing Club, based on Island Lake in Orangeville, was founded in 1998 by a group of volunteers who were interested in the athletic and community aspects of rowing. We became incorporated as a non-profit organization, formed a management agreement with Credit Valley Conservation for the use of Island Lake, and began a number of initiatives to attract members. At present, we have over 100 members, most of whom are high school students participating five times a week in early morning and late afternoon training sessions. These culminate in a series of fun races and competitive regattas. Graduates of the high school rowing program have gone on to row on university crews at Queens, Guelph, Brock, Ottawa, Carleton, McGill and the University of Toronto. Members range in age from 12 to 67. About two-thirds of members are female, remarkable because the sport traditionally was male. Most members, young and old, row to get fit, as rowing is an extraordinarily sound way to build endurance, strength and cardiovascular fitness. All club programs and fund-raising activities are run by volunteers from the club's membership roster. Members of all ages and abilities have pitched in to build our facility, to improve access to the rowing compound and dock so that all members of the Orangeville community, even those with significant disabilities and mobility issues, can participate. Our compound and dock now are fully accessible and we have a brand-new boat house big enough to provide shelter for all boats, from singles to eights. A three-week Learn-to-Row program for adults begins in June; it is open to all comers. Everyone has the option of joining as a full member and participating as a recreational or competitive rower. Recreational rowing membership provides coaching sessions on a regular basis and the option of rowing in regattas. Competitive rowing involves intensive coaching and training, rowing on a daily basis, and participating in Ontario Rowing Association regattas in St. Catherines, London, Guelph, ...