Brockville Rowing Club celebrates traditions, history and local talent at annual christening ceremony

A boat donated by a rowing champion, a surprise act of generosity from the mayor’s family, and a personal recognition for one of the club’s most accomplished young athletes highlighted a memorable afternoon in Brockville this past weekend. Approximately 80 people gathered on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Brockville Rowing Club (BRC) to celebrate the sport’s rich history and bright future on the St. Lawrence River.

The club’s annual christening ceremony and awards presentation brought together members, athletes, coaches, alumni, community supporters and local dignitaries to celebrate one of Canada’s oldest rowing traditions, according to Michael J. O’Shaughnessy, President of the Board of Directors for the BRC.

Founded in 1894, the BRC has spent more than 130 years developing local athletes and introducing generations of youth to the sport. Today, the club continues to serve as a primary hub for competitive rowing, recreation and youth development within Eastern Ontario.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony were Mayor Matt Wren, Councillor Jeff Earle, and philanthropists Graeme and Jay Sifton, whose family foundation has been a longtime supporter of the club.

According to O’Shaughnessy, one of the event’s most meaningful moments came when former rowing standout Steve “Goose” Warwick christened the club’s newest shell, the Goose 71, a boat he personally donated to the organization.

A christening ceremony is one of the rowing world’s oldest traditions, where new shells are formally named and welcomed into service before beginning their competitive lives on the water.

The shell’s name, Goose 71, pays tribute to Warwick’s victory at the prestigious Henley Regatta in St. Catharines in 1971, where he captured gold as a member of the lightweight eight crew.

O’Shaughnessy shared that the event also included a 50/50 draw that produced an unexpected twist… Mayor Wren was invited forward to draw the winning ticket, only to discover the prize was going to his wife, Danna Wren.

Rather than keeping the prize, which totalled $450, Danna Wren immediately donated the full amount back to the club.

Another highlight of the afternoon’s festivities was the presentation of the prestigious C. Douglas Marshall Trophy, one of the club’s highest honours.

The award was established in 2008 following the passing of longtime head coach Douglas Marshall, affectionately known as “Humphrey.”

Marshall served as head coach of the BRC for 42 years and is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the organization’s history. According to O’Shaughnessy, the trophy is not awarded annually, but only when coaches identify an athlete who demonstrates exceptional leadership, initiative, teamwork, dedication, and determination in their field.

This year’s recipient was Calla Webster, whose rowing journey began at the club’s summer camp in 2019 when she was just 12 years old. Over the years, Webster has progressed through the club’s development system, eventually becoming one of its top athletes.

In his speech, Coach Dave Boyd praised Webster not only for her athletic accomplishments but for her character and commitment to the club, serving as a mentor to younger rowers.

“The results she accomplished were amazing, but what was more amazing is how she devoted herself to improve as a rower,” Boyd shared. “During her last couple of years rowing at the BRC she was the lone senior athlete and did all her training by herself. This is an extremely difficult task to accomplish.”

In her rowing career, Webster competed at major regattas including the Schoolboy Championships, Ontario Championships and the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. She also participated in Ontario’s Next Gen program and earned selection to Canada’s Junior National Team. Her success attracted interest from several American universities before she accepted a four-year scholarship to the University of Connecticut.

For BRC officials, the ceremony served as a reminder that while rowing is built on tradition, its future depends on the dedication of volunteers, donors, coaches and athletes who continue to invest in the next generation.