By Sandra Milton
In July of this year the Ottawa Rowing Club (ORC) turned 153 years old, but throughout its lengthy history the club has seldom been as hard hit as it was during the COVID pandemic.
After devastating floods on the Ottawa River washed away two spring rowing seasons in the last three years, the ORC and its head coach Zak Lewis were optimistic coming into spring 2020 that they’d finally be able to get on the water at a normal time of year and start generating some revenue.
Instead, by mid-August their numbers were down nearly 85%. “The financial impact is obviously significant,” said Lewis, “when the country went into lockdown our entire program came to a grinding halt.” Coach Lewis, who is still in his first year as the club’s head coach highlights the mountain of challenges that the club faced this season and how they’ve been working to overcome them.
The ORC has worked with its members and its community supporters to pivot its programming model and found other ways to keep rowers of all capacities on the river this summer. “Our club has demonstrated tremendous resiliency this year. For a sport so deeply rooted in tradition, this season has taught the rowing community how to adapt and overcome in order to remain active and continue to pursue those perfect strokes.”
The most important thing Lewis states, is that “we are doing everything we can to support our membership and the community during these challenging times. The club and its leadership team have worked tirelessly to provide a safe and supporting club atmosphere despite all obstacles that have been thrown our way.”
Lewis, a documented advocate and supporter of mental health awareness went on to describe how many people have been negatively affected by the implications of the “socially distant” environment. He went on to say, “our top priority is the well-being of our members, mental and physical. For many of these rowers, the current preventative climate that surrounds their everyday life can be a struggle. We can help by providing an outlet for these individuals that allows them to be physically active outdoors, and socialize in a safe environment.”
The ORC has been running recreational programming since receiving clearance from Ottawa Public Health to open its doors. The club was one of the first recreational facilities to open in Ottawa and its COVID mitigation policies and safety procedures have been used by multiple organizations to safely open their doors for business.
Aidan Hembruff (Junior Men’s Program):
COVID definitely put a damper on our rowing season for this year, but the fact that we can still train is amazing. We were all looking forward to racing, and although we were ultimately unable to, I am extremely grateful for the organization of the ORC and the safety measures that allowed us to get back on the water so quickly. This strange season will not be remembered by medals, but by the resilience of every individual, and the unwavering commitment to training.
Laura Guy (Senior Women):
It has definitely impacted our training intensity. Going from at least six on-water sessions a week to only three is a big change. It forces us to find alternative ways to train independently outside of rowing. It has been a big shift to go from such a crew mentality to training solo, but I also believe this time in singles has been really beneficial for developing our technical skills on the water.
Mel Coulson (Masters Women): The most beautiful rows I’ve had, morning or evening, are when a crew is working in synchronization to make a boat move. I row in a crew: pairs, fours, eights. Rowing Canada has cancelled all races. There is no rowing ‘the big boats’ this season. My sculling is mediocre, and I’m far better at flipping the singles that we’re allowed to go out in, than actually rowing them.
Many of us at ORC are preparing for 2021. And when we are able to finally jump back into a big boat and race again… our competitors won’t be able to catch us.With files from Zak Lewis, C, Kerin Hudson. Aidan Hembruff, Laura Guy and Mel Co