Ontario Rowers to Compete in Home Waters at FISU Champs
The Team Canada contingent at the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships will have plenty of Ontario representation when they take on university rowers from around the world from August 13-15 at London, ON’s Fanshawe Lake.
Rowing Canada Aviron, in conjunction with U SPORTS announced the 34-member team on Tuesday, which includes 22 athletes with Ontario rowing connections either through their home club or university squad. A total of nine boats will hit the start line for Canada, including the M1x, M2x, M4-, M8+, W1x, W2-, W2x, W4-, and W8+.
The FISU Championships will be organized by Western University in collaboration with Rowing Canada Aviron, the City of London, and Tourism London. The three-day regatta will bring together an estimated 300 student-athletes from over 20 countries and will be the first time the FISU World University Rowing Championships has ever been hosted in Canada. Fanshawe Lake has previously hosted the 2001 Canada Summer Games and most recently the 2022 Can Am Mex Rowing Championships as well as the 2025 Canada Cup.
Included in the support staff for the event are coaches Katie Bruggeling and Scott Anderson of Brock University, and Steve Di Ciacca (Medical) of Western University.
2026 FISU World University Games Rowing Team — Full Roster
M1x – Oliver Page-Kuhr – University of British Columbia / Pocock Rowing Centre
M2x – Charles-Etienne Tabet – Brock University / Club d’Aviron Boucherville
M2x – Keithan Woodhouse – Brock University / St Catharines Rowing Club
M4- – Gabe Dyer – University of Victoria / Cambridge Rowing Club
M4- – Aidan Hembruff – Western University / Ottawa Rowing Club
M4- – Oliver Baker – Western University / North Star Rowing Club
M4- – Simon Whittaker – University of Victoria / Hanlan Boat Club
M8+ – Owen Bartel – University of British Columbia / St Catharines Rowing Club
M8+ – Thomas Boruta – University of Victoria / Calgary Rowing Club
M8+ – Adrian Breen – University of British Columbia / Don Rowing Club
M8+ – Benjamin Buchheit – University of British Columbia / Cambridge Sports Union
M8+ – Ben Maijer – University of British Columbia
M8+ – Maijken Meindertsma – University of British Columbia / Fort Langley Rowing Club
M8+ – Kyland Mels-Williams – Western University / London Western Rowing Club
M8+ – Robert Walsh – University of British Columbia/ North Star Rowing Club
M8+ – Oscar Wostenholme – University of British Columbia
W1x – Gabby Yarema – Western University / UBC / Calgary Rowing Club
W2- – Jana Peachey – University of Michigan / North Star Rowing Club
W2- – Cait Whittard – University of Washington / St. Catharines Rowing Club
W2x – Maria Fletcher – McGill University / Montreal Rowing Club
W2x – Julia Teixeira – Queen’s University / Argonaut Rowing Club
W4- – Claire Hallett – University of British Columbia / Victoria City Rowing Club
W4- – Danielle Hart – Western University
W4- – Roksolana Nazar – University of Toronto / Argonaut Rowing Club / Montreal Rowing Club
W4- – Natasha Witts – University of British Columbia
W8+ – Ceilidh Aho – University of Guelph / Guelph Rowing Club
W8+ – Willow Cherewaty – University of British Columbia / Ottawa Rowing Club
W8+ – Kaija Erickson – Queen’s University / Thunder Bay Rowing Club
W8+ – Tess Friar – Trent University / Peterborough Rowing Club
W8+ – Kristina Harris – Brock University / Guelph Rowing Club
W8+ – Anna King – Ohio State University / Ottawa Rowing Club
W8+ – Kate Kulig – Southern Methodist University / North Star Rowing Club / Kelowna Rowing Club
W8+ – Kira Mels-Williams – Western University
W8+ – Jack Pankratz – Carleton University / Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames
Coaching & Support Staff
Scott Anderson – Brock University – Coach
Katie Bruggeling – Brock University – Coach
Stephanie Marchand – McGill University – Coach
Mike Pearce – University of British Columbia – Coach
Christine Wilson – Rowing Canada Aviron – Coach
Steve Di Ciacca – Western University – Medical
Ella Gemin – Western University – Spare
With files from RCA. Picture is property of RCA.
