About The Barrie Rowing Club

The Barrie Rowing Club is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stimulate, advocate and develop the sport of rowing in the Barrie area and Simcoe County.

Club History

The Barrie Rowing Club was founded in the winter of 1987-88 by a small group of dedicated people who shared two things: a love of the sport of rowing, and a dream of establishing a permanent rowing club in Barrie. Amongst the Club’s first acquisitions were two old rowing shells borrowed from the Cornwall Rowing Club.

The Club’s first boathouse was an old storage shed that the Club rented on Victoria Street. To put their boats on the water, rowers had to carry them along Victoria Street, across a set of railroad tracks, across Lakeshore Drive, through Centennial Park and across the beach. Without a dock, the rowers waded into the water to launch their boats.

About The Club

The Barrie Rowing Club is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stimulate, advocate and develop the sport of rowing in the Barrie area and Simcoe County. To achieve a vibrant, strong and dynamic rowing community, we provide training programs targeted at individuals of all ages and abilities.

The Barrie Rowing Club is located in Simcoe County, at the gateway to Ontario’s tourism country, in one of the region’s most dynamic growth communities. Our club is nestled on beautiful Kempenfelt Bay, in the heart of downtown Barrie. We have 20 kilometres of rowable water and a large complement of club and privately owned touring and racing shells.

  • Southshore Community Centre 205 Lakeshore Drive Barrie, ON L4N 7Y9

  • [email protected]
    Preferred method of communication

  • (705) 739-0874
    Only when the boat house is open.

Contributions to The Barrie Rowing Club

The Barrie Rowing Club would like to thank the following for their contributions towards the acquisition of new equipment that enhances the Club’s rowing programs.

Peter & Elaine Bursztyn

Kathy Graham

Rick Hanson Foundation

Despite these humble beginnings, the Club’s membership, equipment inventory and reputation grew.

In 1990, the Club hosted a National Masters Sculling Camp. The Club’s reputation was further enhanced when in 1992, the Canadian Rowing Association held its annual National Coaching Conference in Barrie.

By 1992, the Club’s expanding membership had outgrown the old boathouse. In 1993, the Rowing Club entered an ambitious partnership with the City of Barrie and several other local organizations (including the Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club and local Rotary Clubs). With funding from the City, the Province and each of the Community partners, an old CN maintenance building on the south shore was restored, expanded and transformed into the 1.5 million dollar Southshore Community Center.

Barrie Rowing Club members have entered and won many races throughout Ontario. Several members have competed on provincial and national rowing teams.

  • Aug 12, 2021

    The Club’s first boathouse was an old storage shed that the Club rented on Victoria Street.

Board of Directors/Officers

The Barrie Rowing Club is proudly represented by these volunteers.

Matt Gleben

President

Andrea Lovering

Secretary

David Crann

Treasurer

Jacquie Raycraft

Director

Christine Ignas

Director

Eileen Carl

Director

Heather Gleben

Bingo Volunteer Coordinator

Tim Rose

Director

Mark Potter

Bingo Chairperson/Coordinator

Elaine Bursztyn

Controller

Frequently Aasked Questions

Safety First

MacGyver Tip For Rowers – Pool noodles on the rigors of a racing shell in early May plus your life jacket on board makes for a confident rower that will stay dry. A trusty friend in a kayak can act as your photographer, coach and safety boat.

History of the Barrie Rowing Club

Thank you to those coaches, rowers and community members for their work, time, organizations and conversations to bring our rowing club to where it is today on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay.

When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.

– Vietnamese Proverb

New To Rowing? Start Here!

Rowers tend to be passionate about their sport. The sensation of being able to propel a boat at speed through the water under one’s own power is exhilarating. It requires teamwork and concentration so that one is almost oblivious to the physical exertion employed. Rowing is a sport that can be enjoyed by all. You can start at any age, learn the technique quickly and improve on it for the rest of your life. To many it is more than a sport, teaching lessons for life:

Rowing also brings significant health benefits. It exercises all the major muscle groups through the full range of motion, involves no body contact or jarring of the joints, and improves both strength and cardiovascular performance. It attracts those looking for an enjoyable recreational activity as well as those looking for exciting competitive opportunities.