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Wascana Racing Canoe Club
Our Club
WRCC is a non-profit organization established in 1986. The club provides a competitive and recreational Sprint Canoe/Kayak program for Regina area youth and adults. Athletes train and compete in one, two and four person canoes and kayaks as well as in the 15 person war canoe. Athletes also have the opportunity to train and compete in the annual Dragon Boat Festival.
WRCC has had a short but successful history. The club has had medalists at the Provincial, Western Canadian, National and International levels. WRCC enjoyed one of its best competitive seasons last year, placing 4th as a team at Nationals and 2nd at CanMas (Canadian Masters Championships). As well, one of our athletes was named to the Canadian Under 23 National Team and enjoyed success at international competitions. In the previous season, 4 WRCC athletes were named to the Canadian National Junior Team and achieved excellent results at the Pan Am Championships and World Championships.
*WRCC Staff
Dave Robertson rejoined WRCC in January of 2009 as Head Coach. Dave has recently returned from the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club in Gainesville Georgia where he had great success as Head Coach. In the spring of 2009, Dave was awarded “Coach of the Year” honours by USA Canoe/Kayak. Dave was a long time athlete with Wascana and was the club’s Head Coach before heading to the United States. Dave was also the coach of the highly successful 2005 Canada Summer Games Canoe/Kayak Team and the Wascana team that placed 4th at the 2006 Canadian Sprint Canoe/Kayak Championships.
Stephanie Robertson joined WRCC in the fall of 2007 as Head Coach and is now working in the capacity of Development Coach. Stephanie is also a current canoe/kayak athlete. She has been a National Team member and brings a weath of experience and enthusiasm to our club. Since joining WRCC, Stephanie has been accepted to the “Women In Coaching Apprenticeship Program” for the Canada Summer Games in 2009. As well, she was asked to provide her expertise to the Junior National Development Team as an assistant coach for the 2008 Pan Am Canoe Championships.
Devri Robertson has come on board for the summer months as the WRCC Administrator. Devri has worked in this capacity in the past, but is also a former athlete and coach at Wascana. Devri also worked as a coach at the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club and took on many responsibilities with the club. Devri is available to help athletes and parents with questions and concerns. Wascana welcome Devri back to the club!
Safety
WRCC coaches, staff and volunteers work hard to ensure the safety of all participants on the water. All staff are required to hold a current first aid certificate. As well, all WRCC staff are highly competent water safety personnel. WRCC follows the CanoeKayak Canada Code of Safety. The club adheres to the Canadian Coast Guard Small Vessel Regulations that relate to racing canoes and kayaks.
The Club Environment
The WRCC executive, coaches and staff wish to build a strong, positive team spirit within the club. To accomplish this, we must be assured that all members of the organization feel comfortable and that a positive training environment exists for all. The coaches and staff work closely with the athletes to ensure that a positive atmosphere exists at the boathouse, on the water and at regattas. To help achieve this goal, competitive athletes will be asked to sign the Athlete’s Code of Conduct at the beginning of the season. The Code of Conduct outlines expectations for the personal conduct of the athletes within the context of training, traveling and competing. All WRCC coaches and staff adhere to a comparable code of conduct.
Facility
WRCC’s boathouse is located in Wascana Park. The boathouse consists of storage bays for club and athlete boats, a change room with storage space for athletes and a bay for club administrative use. As well, athletes have access to a refrigerator and microwave for storing and preparing lunch. There also is a bike rack beside the boathouse for those needing to lock their bikes. WRCC athletes also have access to the Canada Games Lake Centre (south end of the Rowing Club boathouse). This facility houses change rooms, showers and washrooms.
Equipment
WRCC has a large fleet of recreational, training and racing boats, as well as other necessary padding and safety equipment. All athletes will have access to a full range of boats and will be given the opportunity to train and race in canoes and kayaks for one person (C-1 and K-1), two people (C-2 and K-2) and 4 people (C-4 and K-4). In addition, athletes will train and race in the Canadian War Canoe (C-15), which is an event exclusive to Canada, where there are 14 paddlers and a coxswain or steer person. The War Canoe is an exciting event at all regattas.