Row Ontario to Host Ontario Rowing Summit in November
With the goal of bringing community members and key partners from across the province together, Row Ontario announced on Tuesday the Ontario Rowing Summit, which will take place on Saturday, November 28.
This pivotal event will see the Ontario rowing community engage in meaningful discussions about the current state of rowing in Ontario and to collaborate on strategies to strengthen and advance the sport for years to come.
“The Ontario Rowing Summit is a unique opportunity for the Ontario rowing community to come together and set a course for a stronger, more vibrant future in rowing,” said Andrew Backer, CEO of Row Ontario. “Rowing in Ontario is at a crucial moment with stagnating participation numbers and limited system growth over the last few decades. We have reason to be optimistic about the future though, with new disciplines and evolving athlete demographics that present promising opportunities for growth and modernization. This is an important event for everyone with an interest in the health of rowing in Ontario to attend and we look forward to engaging with everyone at the Summit.”
All Ontario rowing community members, including athletes, parents, coaches, club administrators, club leaders, umpires, regatta organizers, and others involved with the sport are invited to attend the Summit. The Summit will be led by Row Ontario, who will present data-supported findings on the current state of rowing and share its long-term strategic vision for rowing in Ontario. Participants will engage in facilitated discussions, workshops, and problem-solving sessions designed to strengthen Ontario’s rowing system.
Among the goals of the Summit are to publish a State of Rowing in Ontario Report following the event, create a partner validated vision framework for the future of the sport, and achieve enhanced alignment on key issues affecting athletes, coaches, umpires, clubs and competitions.
“The decision to bring the Summit to the Ontario rowing community was made jointly by Row Ontario’s Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Directors,” said Backer. “We see tremendous value in running it and the opportunity to create a shared space where all voices can contribute to rowing’s next chapter. Collectively, we view the Summit as an investment in the future of rowing in Ontario.”
Registration for the Summit will be required but will be free of charge for all attendees. More specifics about the Summit will be announced in the coming months, but please mark your calendars now. The Ontario Rowing Summit will be held in place of the RowOn Coaching Conference, which will return in 2027.
Stay tuned for more details about the Ontario Rowing Summit.
