Every Member. Every Dollar.
We need your support.
Beyond donating, you can increase your impact by sharing our campaign with friends, family, or colleagues.
HELP US REBUILD OUR FLEET
Last fall, on the way to the Head of the Trent regatta, our truck and trailer were involved in a no-fault highway accident. While we’re grateful no one was seriously injured, the accident resulted in the total loss of our truck, trailer, and 12 boats—roughly $390,000 in damages. That’s 27% of our total fleet, and 44% of our competitive boats.
Insurance helped—but not enough
While we had insurance, it only covered depreciated values. We’ve received a fair settlement, but it still leaves a significant gap to replace what was lost.
Our goal: $200,000
To bridge that gap, we’re combining donations, partnerships, and grants. We’ve already made strong progress:
• $130,000 total raised so far
We’re just over halfway there, but we need your help to reach the finish line.
What we’ve replaced so far
With your support, we’ve already started rebuilding. We’ve purchased:
• A custom boat trailer
• A lightweight 1x
• Two midweight 1x
• Two lightweight 2x-
• Two midweight 2x-
• A gently-used midweight 8+
• A used stern-loader 4+, for use in non-competitive programs
• A heavyweight 4+
• A heavyweight 2x-
These boats are already in use and making a difference for rowers across the club.
What we still need
We’re still working to replace the following boats so that all members, across all programs, have the equipment they need:
• Two 8+
These are key boats for our competitive, recreational and development crews.
We still need to raise another $90,000 to finish the fleet rebuild.
Why it matters
Despite the loss, we’ve kept moving forward. Guelph Rowing Club was recently named 2024 Row Ontario Club of the Year, recognizing our growth, success on the water, and dedication to making rowing accessible for all.
But to keep that momentum going—and to ensure every athlete has the equipment they need—we need to replace the remaining boats.
Every donation counts
Whether you’re a current member, alumni, family, or friend—your support matters. Donations over $10 are eligible for a charitable tax receipt through the National Sport Trust fund.
Thank you for helping us get back on the water—stronger than ever.
We would like to express our thanks to the rowing community. The kindness at Trent, along with continued offers of support, has left a lasting impression on our coaches and athletes. We are truly grateful for this wonderful community of rowing clubs and schools to which we belong. It’s humbling to witness the response that enabled us to race at Head of the Trent, Brock Invite, and NRCs. And allowed us to finish racing our 2024 season.
Helping us Rebuild our Fleet
A sincere thanks to all of our generous donors who are helping us to rebuild our fleet and making sure that everyone who wants to row will have the equipment to row.
We’re thriving because the generosity of our members. Let’s keep the momentum going.
For customized donations, please contact the Fundraising Committee via email at info@guelphrowing.ca.
Guelph Rowing Club 