CONTACT US

The Ottawa Rowing Club is located at 10 Lady Grey Drive, off of Sussex Drive opposite the Saudi Embassy just east of downtown Ottawa.

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1457, Station B
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5P6

Telephone: 613-241-1120

ORC Admin, Boathouse Rentals & Events
Kim Krahn
Email: rowing@ottawarowingclub.com

The 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 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.

Kim has been in love with Rowing since first trying the sport in Victoria BC.  She has been a member of the UBC lightweight 8+ racing at Henley and has participated in two World Masters Games once representing the Gorge Rowing Club and once representing Calgary Rowing Club.  Since moving back to Ottawa in 2014, Kim has spent time in her single on the Madawaska with Burstown Rowing Club.  When the opportunity to become involved with the ORC as administrator came up in 2022 she couldn’t resist the challenge.

Head Coach
Zak Lewis
Email: Zak@ottawarowingclub.com

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!

Head Coach
zak@ottawarowingclub.com

Adult Rowing League
arl@ottawarowingclub.com

Recreational Programs
vp.recreation@ottawarowingclub.com

Discover Rowing Camp
rowing@ottawarowingclub.com

Singles Rack Committee
stewart_rower@hotmail.com

Head of the Rideau 
rowing@ottawarowingclub.com

Carleton University Rowing
rowcoachfournier@gmail.com

uOttawa Rowing
chair.uorowing@gmail.com

Para Rowing
zak@ottawarowingclub.com

President
Peter Thompson
Email: 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.

Ottawa Rowing Club President, Peter Thompson first became involved with the ORC in 2005 when his daughter joined the Junior Competitive program. Years later in 2009, his son joined the Juniors as well and both have gone on to serve the Club as coaches. As a supportive rowing parent, he began volunteering his time at regattas and around the Club. Among a large list of other projects, he has designed and built our coach boat trailers, worked on our docks each year, restored shells otherwise destined for the landfill, increased our usable land, and vastly improved our dock space by organising our purchases from Fendock. He took on the role of President in 2017, and continues to keep the ORC healthy and growing. Being a modest man, he may not take credit if asked but the ORC would be a very different place without his involvement.

Vice President Administration 
Andrew Harfield (Temporary)
Email: 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 Competitive 
Grayson Gray
Email: 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 organise 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. Catherines 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.

Registrar
Julia Fournier
Email: 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 8 years ago. You will see Julia rowing on the Ottawa River in single most mornings.

Secretary
Andrew Thompson
Email: 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.

Andrew began rowing as a teenager in 2009, under the banner of Glebe Collegiate. During his time as a Junior, he represented Glebe and the ORC at many regattas around North America, including but not limited to Henley, CSSRAs and Head of the Charles. As soon as he arrived at the ORC he began volunteering around the Club doing handywork, driving safety boats and more. Since graduating from Glebe in 2013, Andrew has acted as a coach for the Junior program, while continuing to lend his help to the Club in a variety of other capacities. For two years, he joined the ORC Stass as the Boat Repair Technician, keeping the fleet afloat. Though he no longer competes, he can still be found on the water rowing his private single.

Treasurer
Craig Law
Email: 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.

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.