March 2025 Newsletter

Hi all  – Happy March!  Here is all the latest news from Rowing PEI…including a reminder that our AGM is coming up on Saturday March 15th! 

  1. Annual General Meeting – You are invited!  Everyone in the Rowing PEI community is welcome to join us as we look back over the 2024 season at our AGM.  It will be held Saturday March 15, 2025 10 am to noon at the House of Sport, Royalty Centre, 40 Enman Crescent, next to Charlottetown Rural. 

*Google maps may send you to the wrong place so be sure you have the correct location!

  1. PEI Crushes Indoor Rowing Day 2025: A huge thank you to everyone who took part in Indoor Rowing Day in Canada 2025!! PEI crushed our goal of 255 kilometres, taking us tip to tip across the Island. We collectively rowed 321 kilometres!! WOW! Congrats to everyone who did their first half marathon or 10k or whatever the number. A great team effort.  Let’s do it again in 2026! #indoorrowingdayincanada #peiproud

 

3. Alan Hilburg – A message from Nancy 

It is with great sadness that I share the news that our vice president Alan Hilburg passed away on February 19, 2025. When Alan and his wife Patricia Caporaso moved to Prince Edward Island, they looked up Rowing PEI and came down to the Charlottetown Yacht Club to introduce themselves. Patricia had grown up rowing in her home country of Argentina so they were interested in seeing what it looked like here on the Island. And so their friendship with Rowing PEI began. Alan offered to join the board in 2020 and has been with us ever since. He was one of the most creative thinkers I have ever met. You never knew what new idea or strategy he was going to come up with next!  He was also incredibly generous with his time –  and his trucks – showing up time after time to haul our big boat trailer, always with a smile and eager to know how things were going, even when he didn’t have much time. 

​Alan is second from the right, with the thumbs up!

Alan was incredibly humble but when you read his Wikipedia page, you will see the range of his accomplishments, from an Academy Award nomination to Where’s the Beef.  He was a world expert in corporate crisis management and we were lucky to have his sage advice to guide us.  Alan and Patricia generously donated their time to create a strategic plan for Rowing PEI and it’s something I will go back and read from time to time, feeling Alan’s enthusiasm  for our sport flowing out from the words.  I will miss his encouraging emails and big ideas.  Our deepest condolences to Patricia and his family. We will miss him.

 

4. Summer Rowing Registration begins April 1st: Registration for the 2025 season will officially open on April 1st. Just a reminder that we will be sending out a volunteer form for you to fill in when you register.  

Returning rowers are welcome to join our Spring Training program at Kinetic Fitness, 70 Nicholas Lane.

This is included in your 2025-2026 season membership but you must be registered and paid to participate.

Sunday May 4, 2025 Spring training for returning adult members  1:30-3 pm 

Sunday May 11, 2025 Spring training for returning adult members 1:30-3 pm 

Sunday May 18, 2025 Spring training for returning adult members  1:30-3 pm

Sunday May 25, 2025 Spring training for returning adult members 1:30-3 pm at Kinetic Fitness 

  1. Safety training: 

For boat drivers/coaches/dock captains:

Tuesday April 29, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm House of Sport – 40 Enman Crescent – ​​Safety training for boat drivers/coaches/dock captains – review 2025 safety plans for Charlottetown/Brackley and Brudenell

For returning members: *this is mandatory – you must attend one or make other arrangements! 

Saturday May 3, 2025 ​​Safety refresher for returning members 10 am to noon – House of Sport – 40 Enman Crescent – *next to Charlottetown Rural. *Google maps may send you to the wrong place so be sure you have the correct location! 

OR 

Monday May 5, 2025 ​​Safety refresher for returning members 6:30-8:30 pm House of Sport – 40 Enman Crescent *next to Charlottetown Rural. *Google maps may send you to the wrong place so be sure you have the correct location!

*additional sessions will be added if needed

SEASON BEGINS: Saturday May 31, 2025 OR Sunday June 1, 2025   *depends on seawall restoration project 

CYC Unload the trailer and get our boats and oars ready for the season 

Regular rowing begins when weather temperature warms over 8-10 degrees *cold water conditions still apply

  1. INTRO TO ROWING 2025 – We are taking names now for our Adult intro program that starts in May 2025 indoors at Kinetic. Send an email to rowingpei@gmail.com to get on the list!  Please share with family or friends who may want to learn to row in 2025. 

  1. Volunteer Coordinator – we are looking for someone to work with the board to organize our volunteers in 2025.  We will create a list of activities. (sample below). When we need help, the coordinator will connect with our members.  We are going to ask all of our members to contribute a certain number of volunteer hours per season, as part of their membership in 2025. We will also be offering the chance to win some great prizes. The more you help out, the more ballots you will have!! 

Volunteer Hours – 

Trailer loading and unloading

Equipment manager – Responsible for updating equipment inventory list, overseeing equipment checks, creating a log for damage  

Equipment care – major cleaning biweekly

Help with the Intro program 

Club social events 

Drive the safety boat 

Dock Captain 

Help with the Red Island Regatta 

Etc. 

 Please email Nancy and Cynthia if you are interested in the Volunteer Coordinator or Equipment Manager role.

We are happy to answer questions about how you can get involved in 2025! 

  1. Support Rowing PEI and have a chance to WIN! 

Did you know that there is a weekly draw where you can support Rowing PEI AND have a chance to win a jackpot?!?!? 

Sign up and play today https://syspei.goldrush.causable.io for your chance to win half the pot while supporting the growth and enhancement of our programs. 

You can set up a weekly purchase so you are automatically entered to win every Thursday.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089190198460

Thanks for your support!  Good luck!

JOIN US for a special Rowing PEI showing of The Boys of the Boat in April at City Cinema in Charlottetown!!  We will show a video highlighting rowing here on PEI before the movie.

Admission is by donation. All proceeds will go toward Rowing PEI.

 Seats can be reserved at: https://citycinema.ca/ starting April 1st!

From the Great Depression to Nazi Germany, The Boys in the Boat is the astonishing true story of the 1936 American men’s eight rowing team on their quest for Olympic gold.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfEA-udzjjQ

Just a reminder – we are looking for a coach for the summer! 

Coach Wanted – Summer 2025

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Rowing PEI

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Rowing PEI Coach – Summer 2025

*Please note: the job description, dates and hours are subject to change depending on funding

 Position: Rowing PEI Coach
Number of Positions: 1
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Term Length:
June 1-August 31, 2025
Remuneration to be negotiated

PROGRAM DETAILS
The Coach would be responsible for the junior flat water and adult intro programs at Brackley as
well as overseeing the junior-U23 program, Crew 25, in Charlottetown and potentially the WOW
(Women on Water) program if funding is approved.


Duties would include:
-preparing training plans and running practices
-setting team standards and team selection for the competitive junior athletes
-planning and preparation for regattas
-equipment maintenance
-recruitment and retention of new athletes to the competitive and adult flat water intro
program
-promoting the sport of rowing in the community
The goal would be to grow the quality and number of rowers in both the junior and adult
programs, in both Brackley and Charlottetown.

Key Dates +   Duties & Responsibilities
Approx. June 1 – August 30,
2025 (start date negotiable)

Qualifications:
● Trained as an RCA Learn to Row Coach and RCA Coach and completed the Every Coach Certified requirements for Safe Sport
● Proven experience in program coordination, preferably in a sports or recreational setting.
● A connection to the newcomer community on Prince Edward Island would be a strong
advantage
● Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple
tasks simultaneously.
● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate
effectively with diverse stakeholders.
● Knowledge of rowing techniques, equipment, and competition rules
● Flexibility to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, during peak rowing
seasons.
● Valid driver’s licence and access to transportation for travel to events and meetings.
● Must have a Social Insurance Number and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
● May be subject to a criminal record check and/or other background checks.

Benefits:
● Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.*this is a contractor position
● Opportunities for professional development and training.
● Membership privileges within the rowing association.

Please send a letter of interest and your resume to rowingpei@gmail.com with the subject line
Rowing PEI Coach – Summer 2025
Deadline to apply: March 31, 2025 at midnight