The Orillia Rowing Club (ORC) may soon have a new home on Lake Simcoe.
In a deputation to council Monday afternoon, the club requested city permission to construct a new boathouse in Kitchener Park.
Club officials say water conditions are far more agreeable in that section of Lake Simcoe than in their current home at Tudhope Park. They requested a free 100- year land lease from the city, with the club to cover the costs of building its new facility.
“We are in one of the most beautiful parks in Orillia, and we have been very grateful to the city all these years for the use of the building that we are in, but to grow our programs and our club, both competitively and recreationally, we need calmer water,” said ORC’s Barb Pidgen.
Pidgen said northwesterly winds can cause great issues with the club’s rowing schedule, at statement she said is backed up by eight years of data.
Although over 900 have joined the club since 2000, many leave after their first season due to wind conditions impacting their ability to enjoy the sport, she told city councillors.
Due to more favourable conditions along Kitchener Park, ORC should be able to significantly expand its rowing options if granted its request to the city.
“Where we should be rowing 2,000 metres, 4,000 metres, 6,000 metres, we're barely getting 250 metres when the wind is coming from the northwest,” said ORC’s Anna Hodkin. “If we can move to this area, we potentially could … develop a 2,000-metre course on that water. It will be the only 2,000-metre course on this side of Ontario.”
ORC has requested to build its boathouse in an “underutilized” section of Kitchener Park, and hopes the move could help the club expand as it would be equipped to offer increased rowing times, boat racing regattas with other communities, and year-round training through its new boathouse.
Council directed city staff to prepare a report outlining the feasibility of ORC’s request.
ORC is hoping to secure an Ontario Trillium Foundation capital grant to help with the costs of the new facility.
