A CRC History

1967 was the Club's first full year of operation and was the only year we rowed from the congested docks of the Sailing School on the windy South Shore. The City initially wanted Rowing and Canoeing to be based there as the Parks Dept. had built a new access road and a small building but we soon commenced lobbying for a much better, sheltered location on the north side where access was also much more convenient. A wind study clearly confirmed that the prevailing winds were from the north and west and a copy was supplied to the Parks Dept.

1967 was also Centennial Year, Canada's 100th Birthday, the year of Expo '67 in Montreal and there were many "Centennial Projects". As Home Oil had helped us with a company car and gasoline to bring the initial boats from Winnipeg in 1966 we hoped that, as a Centennial Project, they might consider the building of a boathouse for the Rowing Club on the north side as a suitable project. Detailed plans and cost estimates were drawn up by Bill Bishop, former VRC Club Captain and construction expert and a well-documented presentation was made ready. Unfortunately in February a hostile take-over bid was launched for Home Oil and the management had to focus on keeping control rather than considering Centennial Projects.

Also in February, Bob Starkey, 1928 Olympic Bronze Medallist, offered to build a 'Tub-pair' for training purposes at an estimated cost of $100. This was approved and in May we ordered our first brand new equipment namely 6 oars from Pocock at a cost 0f $350. For publicity purposes, May also saw 4 CRC members and our Winnipeg IV plus oars on a trailer in the Centennial Parade downtown. In July, Phil Kueber and Dave Matthews went to the Pan American Games in Winnipeg to see the international competition but also to arrange for the purchase of an almost-new doublesculler which was available after the Games. In August, the Club participated with great success at the prestigious Kelowna Regatta and our "Fab Four" of Patrick Holmes (stroke), David Hooker (3), Dick Roberts (2), and Miles Heseldin (bow) won both the 1/4 Mile Dash and the 1500 meter race against crews from Vancouver, Seattle, and Kelowna. We made sure Calgary City Council became aware of this success and they were impressed enough to quietly give the Parks Dept. the 'go ahead' to help us locate on the north shore.

In October '67, 'D-G' Dawson-Grove and Dave Matthews traveled to Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan to bring back a double scull donated by Harry Duckett, one of the great Regina R.C. members of the 1930's. About that time, John Dicey of the Canoe Club located an old, old long, narrow (75' x 15') shed near the Glenmore water treatment plant that he thought might provide a modest boathouse if it could be obtained from the Waterworks Dept. and moved to the north shore. Trouble was it appeared to have been built in the 1930'sá probably as the construction company's offices when the Dam was built in 1932/3. CRC's two construction experts, Bill Bishopá who had built the Planetarium (Science Center) and Barry Stiel who supervised the construction of the Provincial J.J Bowlen Building on 7th Avenue S.W. were taken to view this shed but shook their heads and told John and I that it would likely fall apart as soon as it was touched. But we knew it was our only chance for some storage space so we spent the weekend cleaning it up (it had been used for coal storage) and a few days later brought the Parks people over to view it.

Lo and behold, a few months later, in early February '68, there appeared at least one, if not two, large earth-movers on what is now the parking lot and within days they had widened the ancient footpath down to the lake into what is now the road and carved a large bench out of the side of the hill. The City arranged to have the old shed cut up into two parts, placed on flatbeds, brought down to the lake, re-assembled and then put on a new roof and cedar siding to make it look presentable. They also built the parking lot, a ramp down to our new jetties plus a fire-pit and a picnic bench all at no cost to either club. That boathouse lasted for 15 years before being demolished, along with later additions, in 1983, to make was for the Judges Stand which was needed for the '83 Western Canada Summer Games.

1968 also saw the Club organize the Alberta Rowing Association, (even though we were still the only club in the Province), in order to qualify for Provincial grants. We also ordered 3 new sets of sculls from the U.K. and the Grey Cup Draw, organized by Phil Kueber, brought in $550, a substantial sum in those days (postage was just 3 cents).

In the fall our 1968 President, Patrick Holmes, one of the "Fab Four" and Stroke of the Cambridge "Blue Boat" against Oxford in 1961, accepted a position with Sonatrack, the Algerian National Oil Company and at the November AGM, 'D-G' Dawson-Grove was elected as the CRC's next President.

-- H.D. Matthews, January 19/02 (CRC's 36th Birthday)

More CRC History to come...