About ORC
Our Club, Staff, Board, and HistoryOur Staff
Head Coach
Zak Lewis
Zak started his rowing career as a novice at St. Francis Xavier University in 2011 where he studied Human Kinetics and quickly fell in love with the sport. By 2014 he moved to St. Catharines to pursue his Masters in Sport Performance at Brock University. He was able to win Gold at the Canadian University National Championships as well as represent Canada at the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, Korea and the 2016 FISU World Championships in Poznan, Poland!
Zak started his coaching journey at the Antigonish rowing club coaching summer camps and youth learn to row groups. He has since coached at various clubs around Niagara, and moved to Australia in 2018, coaching the Kinross Wolaroi Collegiate U19 women’s 8+ to a gold medal, and the u17 women’s 8+ to silver at the Australian National Championships.
Since returning to Canada, Zak joined the Ottawa Rowing Club as a volunteer coach and Head Coach in 2021, leading the u23 & Senior women’s programs, and has become well decorated with a number of awards including the 2021 HydroOne Ontario Coaching Excellence Award, Rowing Canada’s President’s Award (2022), and RowOntario’s Competitive Coach of the Year (2022).
Zak has lots of plans for the ORC, and believes it is on track to be one of the premier rowing destinations in the country. He hopes to create a competitive, inclusive, and prosperous environment across the rowing community for years to come!
Lead Junior Coach
Meghan Jolley
The Lead Junior Coach oversees the Junior programs (Development, Crew and Performance) and works alongside a team of coaches in each level.
Meghan started rowing as a novice in 2017 at Carleton University where she studied Geography. She rowed for 6 years prior to her role as Assistant Coach at ORC, most recently earning two gold medals at the 2022 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Her first time coaching was with ARL in 2019 and has coached for ORC, Carleton University and Elmwood School in Ottawa. In 2024, Meghan travelled to Auckland, New Zealand to coach for the Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club. She enjoys coaching all levels of the sport from Learn to Row to Competitive and everything in between.
Club Administrator
Adrian Clementino
The Club Administrator performs many diverse tasks. Primarily coordinating and communicating all of the activities at the ORC. This role functions to support the coaches, the Board of Directors, Employees and Volunteers. In addition to helping with rowing programming as needed and team travel arrangements, the Club Administrator oversees all special events held by members and guests of the Andy Binda Boathouse. Maintenance of the buildings, equipment and service providers also fall under the responsibility of the administrator.
Adrian has been paddling canoes and kayaks since 2015. Although having never been a rower, he has built his recreational and professional paddling experience through rafting and creek-boating in some of Canada’s most iconic whitewater rivers.
He graduated from Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure Diploma in 2021 and continued onto a degree in Tourism Management at Thompson River’s University in Kamloops, BC. He’s worked in recreational roles on-and-off the water as a raft guide, whitewater kayak instructor, and a canoe club program leader during and after his studies.
With well rounded work and play experience, and a love for paddling under his belt, Adrian has situated in Ottawa and is devoted to contributing to our ORC community as the Club Administrator.
Board of Directors
President
Craig Law
president@ottawarowingclub.com
The President provides leadership and direction to the Club Organization, establishing long and short term goals with the Board. The President represents the ORC, its members, and alumni with RCA, Row Ontario and other Clubs, in addition to maintaining regular communication with a multitude of representatives relating to Club activities.
Craig began rowing in 1998 at the Thunder Bay Rowing Club. After a year rowing for the Queen’s University Rowing Club, he joined the Ottawa Rowing Club, where he won medals at the Ontario Championships, Royal Canadian Henley and Head of the Charles regattas. In 2006 he began coaching the newly developing Para-Rowing (at the time called Adaptive) and had the honour of coaching for Canada, a mixed TA double, at the first Integrated World Championships at Eton, UK. These days, he occasionally jumps into an 8+ to row.
Vice President Administration
David Jenkins
vp.administration@ottawarowingclub.com
The Vice President Administration understands and adheres to the ORC Operating Guidelines, coordinating programs with the Board as well as applications to acquire grants, bursaries and more to support the Club’s goals. The VP Administration ensures a strong leadership succession by identifying and recruiting new Club volunteers and mentorship.
Vice President Administration, David started his rowing career in high school and rowed competitively for ten years at Hanlan, Kingston and St Catherines in the 1980’s. He raced at major regattas across North America and joined the Canadian National Lightweight Team in 1986 to race in the World Championships in Nottingham, UK. David was a recreational member and coach at the club in the early 1990’s and returned to help out and get on the water again.
Vice President Competitive
Grayson Gray
vp.competitive@ottawarowingclub.com
The Vice President Competitive Programs supports the Head Coach, and competitive coaches, from recruiting volunteers, spending time with other coaches to see where support can be brought, and to help organize ORC hosted regattas. The VP Competitive is part of the safe sport committee and supports the transition of recreational rowers to the competitive programs.
Vice President Competitive, Grayson Gray started rowing in 2008 with the St. Catharines Learn to Scull Program. He went to Brock for Physics and Stats, where he continued to row for the Varsity team, and was able to represent Canada at the U23 World Championships from 2014 to 2016. While doing his Masters at Western, Gray got involved in coaching, and later on had an opportunity to work at HUDSON. Since 2021, Grayson has moved to Orleans to pursue a career in public service, and has subsequently been able to coach and row with ORC members and the community.
Vice President Recreation and Instructional
Isabelle Teolis
vp.recreation@ottawarowingclub.com
The VP Recreation and Instructional Programs is responsible for the oversight of the Adult Rowing League, Club Program, Adult Learn to Row, and Discover Rowing Day Camp. They communicate with members and prospective members on program info, as well as coordinate volunteers, coaches, and more.
Registrar
Julia Fournier
registrar@ottawarowingclub.com
The Registrar is responsible for updating registration information and fees for athletes. They liaison with Rowing Canada Aviron, Row Ontario, Club managers, coaches and more to make sure registration details and fees are up to date and correct. Further, they collaborate with members of the executive committee and board to create exciting events for the Club.
Julia started rowing at McGill University in ‘86 and moved to Ottawa after marrying Ed Fournier in ‘89 and joined the ORC. In her mid-20s, she attempted to make the National Team but it was not meant to be. While raising a family (Matthew, Ryan and Chris) she put the competitive oars away but continued to make contributions to rowing in a number of capacities; ORC club manager, volunteer coach, RowOntario Board member, RCA Umpire, and ORC Board member in ‘98 and present. Her love for the sport got her back in a boat competing as a Master. You will find her on the water in her single in the early mornings. When Julia is not on the water, she is a Math and Science teacher with the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
Secretary
Siobhan Morris
secretary@ottawarowingclub.com
The Secretary is responsible for maintaining official records, and scheduling agendas for monthly Board Meetings, as well as recording minutes and confirming quorum at the Annual General Meeting. They maintain complete and up to date copies of Club bylaws and documents.
Treasurer
Melanie Ecklund
treasurer@ottawarowingclub.com
The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing club finances, collects and receives money. The Treasurer supervises and maintains bank accounts, prepares budget, financial statements, and pays all club bills.
Melanie joined the ORC in 2007 after signing up for Adult Rowing League on a whim. She was instantly hooked. After rowing recreationally for years, she joined the Masters program in 2018. Melanie is proud to have medaled as a Masters athlete at Rideau, Trent, Lachine, Canadian Henley, and Charles. Melanie has been an ORC volunteer since 2008, even continuing to support ARL and HOTR during the years when she took a short break from rowing. After all these years, she is excited to get a glimpse into the inner workings of the club from a board position.
Director of Fundraising
currently vacant