The Brockville Rowing Club is getting a huge boost to help rebuild and recover from the pandemic.
Earlier this month, funding was announced by the province through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund, with grants of up to $150,000 going to support non-profit organizations.
As part of the announcement, the Brockville Rowing Club is receiving $132,000.
Club Vice President and Head Coach Chris Marshall says this funding will allow them to invest in twelve new coastal rowing boats.
“These boats can handle swells 3-5 feet high, they’re much flatter, they’re self-bailing, they’re extremely difficult to tip over, in fact, I don’t think you can,” Marshall said. “It essentially takes our rowing day, and turns it into a full day. If you’re going to go out in a coastal boat, you don’t want the water to be calm, you want it to be rough and bumpy, and that’s part of the experience.”
Marshall says they’re very excited to be headed in this direction.
He feels with the funding, they’ll be able to become of the best equipped clubs in the country.
“The funding was based on what steps you’ll take and what your plan is to recover from the COVID setback. So, our board worked diligently to come up with a plan, and we’re really excited that we received this and we can move forward with it.
The Resilient Communities Fund will continue to be offered this year to help more non-profit organizations in the community who are feeling the impact of COVID-19.