TORONTO (August 27, 2010) – ROWONTARIO (RO), Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) and Canadian Sport Centre Ontario (CSCO) announced that Queen's University and the Kingston Rowing Club have been selected as the Eastern Talent Development Centre as part of its new joint 'Pond to Podium' program.
“This is an exciting announcement and we are pleased to partner with the Kingston Rowing Club, ROWONTARIO, Rowing Canada Aviron and the Canadian Sport Centre – Ontario on the 'Pond to Podium' program,” said
Leslie Dal Cin, Director of Athletics & Recreations at Queen's University.
“This positions us as a key stakeholder in a program that is linked to rowing's long-term athlete development model,” continued Dal Cin. “Combined with the integration of elite level coaching into our program as well as having the opportunity for our student-athletes to train alongside provincial level rowers is a tremendous opportunity.”
John Armitage, Head Coach of Queen's Rowing and the Kingston Rowing Club echoed Dal Cin's comments.
“The Kingston Rowing Club is pleased to be a part of this venture and it has immediate benefits for both the club and our university program,” said Armitage. “We believe that this is integral component in continuing our tradition of excellence within both programs.”
Queen's is perennial provincial and national contenders at the university level having secured 14 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships and 1 national titles.
It was also announced that Robert Watering will be the Eastern Canadian Talent Development Centre Coach. Watering, who previously coached with Queen's from 2001 to 2007, will join the Queen's rowing coaching team and will have administrative offices in the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) on campus at Queen's University. The ARC will also be utilized for elite off-water training in addition to using the Kingston Rowing Club's facilities.
“Partnerships such as this that have direct and tangible benefits for our programs are an important part of our new model for competitive sports at Queen's,” said Dal Cin. “Our vision is to become the leading athletics and recreation program in Canada. This type of program is another step towards fulfilling that vision.”
The Eastern Talent Development Centre is expected to be operational this September.
The 'Pond to Podium' program was launched on June 25 and immediately following that announcement, the Pond to Podium Management Team issued calls for applications from Ontario rowing clubs and Universities to be considered as a host centre of a Talent Development Centre. In addition it asked for applications from eligible coaches who were interested in being named as Talent Development Centre coaches and the Assistant Coach at the National Development Centre – Ontario.
Previously announced, the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation was named as the host organization of the National Development Centre – Ontario (NDC-O) with Phill Marshall being named as the NDC-O Lead Coach.
Other Training Centres and Coaching staff announced included:
Training Centres
Eastern Region: Queen's University/Kingston Rowing Club
Central Region Trent University/Peterborough Rowing Club
Niagara Region Brock University
South-West Region University of Western Ontario
Coaching Staff
NDC-O Assistant Coach Siobhan McLaughlin
TDC Coach – Central Carol Love
TDC Coach – Niagara Paul Beedling
TDC Coach – South-West Daniel Bechard
All 5 centres are scheduled to open in September, 2010.
Continue to watch the ROWONTARIO website for updates on Pond to Podium and also plan to join us at the 2010 ROWONTARIO Training Conference and AGM, November 12-14, 2010, where a discussion forum on the Pond to Podium program will be held detailing the program and its objectives that will benefit the sport of rowing across the Province of Ontario in the years ahead.
