Summer Recap
The 2026 summer season is now a memory, but upon reflection it was an incredibly successful two months here in Alberta. Here are a few highlights:
- Caroline (Shaye) de Paiva represented Canada in two separate events at the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam Netherlands. Bowing the Canadian Women’s 4x Shaye and her crew raced to an 11th place finish in Amsterdam. A few days later Shaye found herself in the middle of a Canadian Women’s 8+ that finished 5th overall representing Canada’s best placing at the 2026 World Championships
- In the Men’s 4- Axel Ewashko and his crew struggled in their opening race at the 2026 World Rowing Championship failing to qualify for the A/B semi. The crew managed to find their form a few days later winning the C final to finish 13th overall.
- Gaby Yarema and Thomas Boruta represented Canada at the 2026 FISU University World Championships in London, Ontario. Gaby finished fourth in the Women’s 1x in a tighly contested race. Meanwhile Thomas and the Canadian men’s 8+ team also finished in 4th place missing out on a bronze medal by 0.24 seconds.
- At the 2026 Henley Royal Regatta, Bob Bryden competed for Leander Club in the Thames Challenge Cup(Club Men’s Eights), where his crew advanced as far as the semifinals before bowing out to the eventual champions Thames Rowing Club “A”
- The Women’s Coxed four consisting of three athletes from Alberta –Orla Bailey, Tryne Mamen and Anna Washbrook took home a silver medal for Canada at the International Rowing Challenge on Ford Lake in Michigan USA.
- The Calgary Rowing Club took home 9 Henley Gold medals (what I am sure a all time record for an Alberta club) at the 2026 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Not to be lost the Edmonton Rowing Club had numerous athletes compete in semi-final events at this year event. In summary a truly impressive performance for all Alberta athltetes.
- Four coaches from across Alberta completed RCA Weekend Coach #2, a significant milestone in their coaching development. A special thanks goes out to Chris Davidson for facilitating both RCA Coach Weekend #1 and RCA Coach Weekend #2.
- Audra Vair and Colleen Critchley officiated at the 2026 FISU University World Rowing Championships in London, Ontario. Great to see our Alberta umpires being recognized for their expertise in officiating international events.
- Jeff Simpson and Audra Vair were successfully recognized as RCA Clinicians this past summerimplying that the ARA can now deliver umpire certification clinics here in Alberta
- The Calgary Rowing Club celebrated its 60th anniversary in August, 2026. Here’s to the next 60 years.
- Central Alberta Boat Club and the Calgary Rowing Club each hosted rowing camps at the end of August.
Provincial Carding:
Yes, the ARA’s Provincial Carding intiative will return in 2026? Details regarding the 2026 provincial carding program won’t be released until mid-October, but athletes can help support their case to be carded via the following.
- Erg Score. A 2K score will be an important consideration with the 2026 Provincial Carding Program. Make sure you continue to emphasize the erg in your training as a 2K score in late October / early November will be a requisite with this years program.
- Represent your club at local, national and international regattas – The 2026 summer season may have concluded but there are still a number of regattas on the rowing calendar including Dino Sprints, Western Canada University Rowing Championships, Canadian University Rowing Championships, Head of the Gorge, Tail of the Gorge, Head of the Charles and so forth.
- For those in the ARA Next Gen program continue to participate to the best of your abilities.
Rowing Stories – Courtesy of Rowing Canada.
Archibald “Archie” MacKinnon, an Olympic champion, two-time Olympic medalist, and enduring figure in Canadian rowing history past away last month. Archie was also the last surviving member of the legendary “Cinderella Four,” the UBC crew that captured Canada’s first Olympic gold medal in rowing.
Archie’s remarkable rowing story began at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1955, when a young engineering student from Cranbrook arrived with little rowing experience but a determination to prove himself. Inspired by newspaper stories about UBC rowing and legendary coach Frank Read, Archie chose UBC specifically for the opportunity to row.
Initially a spare with UBC’s coxed eight, Archie became part of a young and relatively inexperienced coxless four alongside Donald Arnold, Walter D’Hondt, and Lorne Loomer. The crew steadily built strength and confidence, culminating in a stunning victory at the Canadian Olympic Trials and qualification for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.
There, the UBC crew, soon known as the “Cinderella Four”, captured Canada’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in rowing. With Archie in the bow seat, the Canadians surged ahead in the final to defeat the United States by 10 seconds, forever securing their place in Canadian sporting history. The success continued at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, where Archie and his Canadian teammates won gold in the men’s eight. At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Archie returned to the podium, winning silver in the eight alongside teammates including Arnold and D’Hondt. It was Canada’s only medal of those Games.
While, Archie’s roots within the sport of rowing were based in British.Columbia Archie’s home for the last forty years was here in Alberta leading an investment banking firm. The writer got the opportunity to meet Archie at an RCA alumni function in Calgary just a few short months ago where he spoke alongside fellow Alberta Olympians from the past 60 years.
Upcoming Events
Dino Sprints September 26, 2026