April Newsletter

Content:

• Annual Meeting of Members April 23, 7pm
• Membership 2026/2027
• The 2026 season is open!
• Boathouse Opening
• McMaster 2×4 Challenge
• Skills needed
• Spread the word! LTR, Junior Gryphon program registrations now open
• Learn-to-row instructors needed
• OAR Ontario Adventure Rowing 2026 Schedule

Annual Meeting: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:00PM

Annual Meeting of Members — April 23rd

The Guelph Rowing Club Annual Meeting of Members will be held virtually on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00 pm. The AM is open to all full-time members, who received notice on April 2nd. A meeting link will be sent to eligible members closer to the date — keep an eye on your inbox!

2026/2027 Membership Renewal

Registration for the 2026/27 season is open. If you haven’t renewed yet, don’t wait! Memberships expired March 31, and when that perfect spring day hits and you’re ready to row, you’ll want to be all set. The docks just went in, and the season is underway.

For registration details, visit our registration page. Payment by e-transfer to payments@guelphrowing.ca completes your registration.

See you on the water!

The 2026 Season is Open!

The 2026 season is officially underway!
The docks are in, and our club, varsity and high school athletes have all marked the occasion with their first rows of the season. A huge thanks to our Site and Boat Director, Pat Weir, who coordinated the equipment, sorted out the anchors, and rallied the volunteers to make it all happen like clockwork. And a big thank you to all the volunteers who came out to be the many hands to make light work.

Canada Summer Jobs

We’re thrilled to share that we received funding for our Canada Summer Jobs application, bringing us 6 new coaches this summer! They’ll be supporting the Jr. Gryphons program, Learn To Row, and coaching sessions for all club members. For many of our newest coaches, this will be their  first summer job — we had strong interviews and are excited about the calibre of our candidates. We’ll be announcing the new hires shortly. As always, keep an eye out for the coaching sign-up schedule so you can book your sessions.

Cold Water Rules Are In Effect

Safety is our top priority while water temperatures remain below 10°C, and right now the lake is in cold water territory — so Cold Water Rules are in effect for all rowers.

What that means:

• All rowers must be accompanied by a motorized safety boat
• One safety boat covers a maximum of 9 athletes (8+) or up to 4 smaller boats, with total athletes not exceeding 9
• Shells must remain within 200 metres of the safety boat

Please also dress for the conditions — layers are your friend, and a dry change of clothes is always a good idea!

We’ll send out a notice as soon as Cold Water Rules are lifted — we want to make sure everyone knows the moment it’s safe to head out on your own.

Here’s to a fantastic 2026 season on the water.

Boathouse Opening Thank You, Volunteers!

March 28 Boathouse Opening

A huge thank you to Joanne Ryks, Rowing Committee director, who coordinated this effort and also to the members who came out on March 28 to help open the boathouse! Thanks to your efforts, safety equipment is prepped, coach boats are fitted with motors, boats are outside on the racks where they belong and those gross little housefly bodies have been swept out. The ergs are back home and the Disco Stu is ready to bust a groove on the lake.

It’s a great feeling to have the boathouse ready for the season — none of it happens without our incredible volunteers. We’re so grateful for this community!

The McMaster 2×4 Challenge Success

Four Guelph teams competed at the McMaster 2×4 Erg Challenge on March 21st. The GRC/UoG Composite team of Madison Tindall, Madison Thomas, Ceilidh Aho and Robin Gurnsey won the Open Women’s Club event and the UoG team of Skyla Day, Claire Avery, Bronwyn Barber and Lauren Selvaggi won the Novice Women’s event. Congratulations to all who raced!

Valuable Skills Needed

We Need Your Help — And Maybe a Friend’s!

We’re gearing up for a new season, and as a volunteer-run organization, we rely on our members’ skills to keep fees down and strengthen our community.

Know someone who’d be perfect? Nominate a friend, family member, or colleague — sometimes the best volunteers just need a nudge!
We’re looking for:

• professional photographer
• drone videographer
• social media skills (know how to post?)
• mechanic
• carpentry
• join the site and boat committee

Reach out to us if you — or someone you know — can help. Your expertise makes a real difference!

Program Lead Needed

We’re  looking for a key program coordinator to help keep things running smoothly this season:

Volunteer Coordinator
Help us stay organized by tracking volunteer roles and hours, and keeping a pulse on where support is needed. This role is essential to making sure our volunteer-run club continues to thrive.

This meaningful behind-the-scenes role makes a big difference in the success of our programs and the strength of our club community.

Interested in stepping up? Let’s chat.

Experience Summer

Virtual summer or real summer?

Jr. Gryphons Learn-to-Row returns to Guelph Lake this summer — fresh air, real skills, and a reason to put the phone down.

Afternoons 3 days a week for 2 weeks: for ages 14–17

Mornings 5 days for one week: for ages 11–14

Qualified coaches. Water safety focus.

Both programs emphasize physical activity, fun, and water safety, taught by qualified counsellors trained in first aid and Learn-to-Row coaching. And it doesn’t have to end there — graduates can enrol in the Skills Development program for the remainder of the summer, hitting the water 3 days a week to keep building on what they’ve learned.

Introduce a young rower to the sport!

Know someone who’d love it? Spread the word — spots fill up fast!

Details and registration: Details here

Come Try Rowing at GRC — May 23rd!

We know many of you have been asking — mark your calendars! Our Come Try Rowing event is set for Saturday, May 23rd.

There are two ways you can help make it a success:

Spread the word — Think of friends, family, or anyone who’s ever shown a flicker of curiosity about rowing. Come Try Rowing is a fun, low-pressure on-water introduction to the sport, no experience required. It’s a perfect first step.

Volunteer — These events don’t happen without our members. If you’d like to help out on the day, [reach out to X / sign up here].

Registration details for participants will be shared soon — in the meantime, start planting the seed!

Adult Learn-to-Row — 2026 Registration Now Open!
Some sessions are already full.

Know someone who’s been curious about rowing? This is their moment.

Our Adult Learn-to-Row program is a fantastic way to get moving, enjoy the outdoors, and be part of a team — no experience needed. They’ll learn the basics in a friendly, supportive environment with experienced coaches and a group of people all discovering the sport together, out on beautiful Guelph Lake.

Spots are limited — share this with someone who needs a nudge!

Details and registration: Details here

Yes! We Still Need Learn-to-Row Instructors

We’re Recruiting Learn-to-Row Instructors!

Our club entry programs are the most important way we introduce the community to rowing—and help new people become active members of our rowing family. Jessica, our Learn-to-Row Coordinator, is looking for club members who’d like to join the team as Learn-to-Row instructors. We’re known for our warm, welcoming attitude, and this is a great way to share it.

No coaching experience? No problem. The club will train you.
Our LTR courses run in June, with either morning or evening options. Each course includes 8 lessons (10 hours total).

If you’re interested, please contact Jessica Wilson-Sterling at LTR@guelphrowing.ca

Ontario Adventure Rowing