September 2008

Many thanks to Orillia Rowing Club partners for help in promoting physical activity and recreation opportunities for children and youth in our community.
 
One of the club's Diamond  sponsors, John Mayo, helped subsidize  the  Row-for-Gold Summer Day Camp, along with municipal partners Orillia Parks and Recreation and Ramara Recreation, as well as community partner Good for Life (part of the Ontario Heart Health Network).
 
Mayo has provided private funding to support Orillia Rowing Club campers for the last four years. His  donation of $5,000 over this period has contributed to the sponsorship of over 33 children/youth to experince the sport of rowing.

Mayo's continued support has enabled our club to grow our youth programs and form partnerships within the community.  The sponsored children/youth would not have been able to attend camp without this sponsorship, due to financial constraints.  
 
Municipal partners: Orillia Parks and Recreation and Ramara Recreation, offer administrative support as well as being the liaison with schools for camper recruitment. Good for Life made available 'Giant Games' used during camp programming, especially for team building, developing social skills and for fun.  

All of our campers and trained staff and volunteers enjoyed a quality camp program where they improved or learned rowing, developed team building and leadership skills while experiencing the spectacular natural venue of Lake Couchiching at Tudhope Park.

Breaking down barriers while developing recreational options and healthy living choices strengthens our community as it supports our youth. Thank you to all of our partners, sponsors, campers, club staff members and volunteers.

— Laurie Herd, ORC President

Orillia Rowing Club Row-for-Gold Day Camp sponsor John Mayo (centre white shirt) with community partners (l to r): Caroline Schiavone, Ramara Recreation; Lori Hunter, Lake Country Good for Life Committee; and Roz Llewellyn, Orillia Parks and Recreation practise their strokes under the direction of ORC registrar Ron Pidgen.

June 14

The Orillia Rowing Club hosted a water station during the Trails Open event held Saturday, June14.

Club members Laurie Herd and Barb Davidson (pictured left), along with helper Francis (seated left), greeted the hikers and offered refreshment and information about the club and boathouse facilities which are located beside the Millenium Trail on the shores and the beautiful rowing venue of Lake Couchiching.

Folk Artist Rodney Frost brought along his hand carved whirligig of Jake Gaudaur world champion sculler and former Orillia resident. All Trails Open participants were very interested in this informal history lesson about our waterway beyond the trails and Orillia's rowing heritage.

June 10, 2008

The Orillia Rowing Club student members hosted a car wash on Saturday, May 31 at Second Century Source for Sports. Although the weather was not very sunny, the students were busy washing and shining many cars, trucks and vans. They raised enough money to pay for the expenses, including the cost of transporting the ORC fleet, for the student regatta held in Midland on June 8.
 
Thank you so much to our customers and parents for supporting student rowing in Orillia. We are grateful to Peter Bromley at Second Century Source for Sports for providing the water and the venue for this important student fundraiser. Thanks as well to the adult supervisors: Heather Driver-Kerslake and Ursula Irwin from Twin Lakes Secondary School (TLSS), Nancy Anthoulakis, and the families who provided supplies for the event.
 
Thank you to all of the TLSS Rowing, Spring Program Rowing Students and Orillia Rowing Club staff who worked hard and made this event a success. Lastly, thank you to the Orillia Lions Club who provided our students with their crew T-shirts this year.