ORC Year end Banquet: January 14th 2023

The ORC Banquet is officially taking place on Saturday January 14th! The event takes place at the Nepean Sportsplex, (1701 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa ON K2G 1W2) from 5:30pm to 10:00pm. Free parking is available at the venue.

Come and enjoy an evening of celebrating 2022 and looking forward to 2023 at the ORC! We are proud to announce that we will be welcoming guest speaker, Jason Dorland, an Olympian, author, and High Performance coach! We will also be having an awards celebration!

The banquet is catered by Tulips & Maple, which will be offering gluten free, nut free, dairy free, and vegan options. Note that there is a cash bar. You don’t want to miss it! Tickets are $89. Purchase yours today using the button below! You can also find the official Facebook event here.

Winter Training News and Updates!

Winter Training Reduced Price!

Haven’t got your Winter Training Membership yet? We are offering our “Pre-water” Winter Training at a reduced price of $120 ($60 off!) This includes Yoga on Thursday nights! The season lasts until March 31st, and is the perfect way to prepare for the next on-water season!

Learn to ERG 2023

Furthermore, Learn to ERG is returning in the new year! Learn to ERG starts on Sunday January 15th and runs weekly from 10:30am to 11:30am until February 5th. Learn to ERG costs $80, and is great for people with little or no rowing experience! 

Register for either Pre-water Winter Training or Learn to ERG using the button below!

FREE Rowing Nutrition Sessions at the ORC on January 14th

The ORC is thrilled to announce the addition of Nutrition for Rowing seminars in the new year as part of our All About Rowing Series. On January 14th, long time ORC rower and registered dietician Katherine Bélisle will be hosting 2 seminars for ORC community members. Seminars will take place upstairs at the ORC.

Session #1 @ 10AM will be geared towards Seniors/Club/Masters Rowers

Sessions #2 @ 11:30 will be designed specifically for Junior Rowers and Parents 

Ottawa Sports Awards - Lifetime Award recipient: Ed Fournier

Ed Fournier, longtime Coach at the Ottawa Rowing Club and Raven’s Rowing is the recipient of one of the Lifetime Awards from the Ottawa Sports Awards!

The award recognizes individuals who have performed their role at a competitive level for a minimum of 20 years and have contributed greatly to their respective club(s) and sport. Ed won alongside Todd Nicholson, Paralympic gold medalist and captain for Canada, as well as previous winners, Coach Eric Loucks, who has successfully coached Olympic level figure skating, and Dominic Soong, a top badminton player turned coach. We are extremely proud of his contributions to the Ottawa Rowing Club, and subsequently the rowing community. It wouldn’t be the same without you! Read the full press release below:

Jr. Men's Coach Wanted!

With the departure of coach John Watkins, the Jr. Men’s program will be looking for a new fearless leader over the winter and as they approach the spring 2023 season. 



If you might be interested in helping out with the Jr. Program, or know of someone who might be interested, please contact Head Coach Zak at zak@ottawrowingclub.com

Book Launch Event at the ORC! Ike by Jason Dorland

We are excited to announce that Jason Dorland will be hosting his launch event for his latest book, "Ike: The Dog Who Saved a Human," at the Ottawa Rowing Club. Stay tuned on social media for more details!

Purchase the book today on the Amazon Storefront!

Synopsis: Told in the voice of Ike and based on true-life events, IKE: the dog who saved a human, follows the transformative journey of author Jason Dorland, a Canadian national team rower left bitter, ashamed, and lost after his crew finished last in their final at the 1988 Olympics Games in Seoul, Korea. Dorland retires from rowing and, as a way to cope, adopts a golden retriever puppy named Ike, who is destined to be a guide dog for the blind. While Dorland struggles to redefine himself and find a new purpose in his life, Ike takes on a new role. Removed from the guide dog program at nine months for health reasons, Ike becomes Jason’s own guide dog—his teacher. Through their many adventures together, Dorland eventually discovers that love is not something you chase but, instead, something you give away.

About the author: Jason Dorland is an Olympian, father, partner, coach, entrepreneur, and storyteller who dedicates his life to pursuing excellence in himself and those he supports. He is the author of Chariots and Horses: Life Lessons from an Olympic Rower and Pulling Together: A Coaches Journey to Uncover the Mindset of True Potential. When Jason is not running with his dogs Oakley and Bella on the trails or swimming at Thetis Lake near his home on Vancouver Island, he’s sharing experiences and life lessons through keynotes and workshops with his wife, business partner, and fellow Olympian, Robyn Meagher. 

Call for Nominations - Row Ontario Annual Awards

Row Ontario’s annual Awards are live for 2022! Nominate someone from the ORC (or other Club!) for their contributions and achievements in a variety of awards such as Athlete of the Year, Competitive Coach of the Year, Performance of the Year and more! They can be an athlete, coach, umpire or even volunteer! 

The deadline for submissions is January 6th 2023. Click the button below to learn more and nominate someone today!

2023 World Rowing Indoor Championships comes to Canada: Row the North

The 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championships (WRICH), presented by Concept2, scheduled for 25-26 February 2023, will be staged as a hybrid competition.

This approach will give participants the option of taking part in-person, or participating virtually from anywhere in the world. Virtual and in-person competitors will race against one another in real time during the WRICH. The WRICH will take place at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Toronto, Canada.

• No qualifications for in person competitors
• Opportunity for athletes to compete virtually but capped so check out qualifications
• Click for opportunities to volunteer here!
• You can view the schedule here!

Interested? You can find out more info using the button below!

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