The James Bay Athletic Association was founded 1886 and were members of the American Canoe Association along with other Canadian clubs. They had several avid canoeists, many included in the composite below. James Bay raced "war canoes" as they called them and inquired into CCA membership around 1930. The Athletic Association had many sports under its wing, much like the Balmy Beach Club today or the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. James Bay can be confused with the body of water off the Hudson Bay. It is actually the name of a subdivision of the city of Victoria, on the south side of the mouth of the Gorge Waterway.