Jersey artwork © Liam Birch

 

 

The Rideau Canoe Club first began in 1902 on the Rideau Canal, thanks to the efforts of C.H. Clendenning and W.E. Gowling. Within a couple of months of conceiving the idea for the club, paddlers secured a war canoe, practised incessantly, gained last-minute entry into the Association and won third place at the Dominion Championships. The club spent some years as the Rideau Aquatic Club from 1910 to 1946 (some sources claim 1915, but the evidence of Rideau Aquatic Club ribbons from 1910 refutes this, plus the new designation used in newspaper reports) but reverted to the original name Rideau Canoe Club after relocating in 1946. Rideau has won twelve national championships and has hosted the championship regatta on numerous occasions, being the sole host from 1947-1966 inclusive. The original clubhouse, erected in 1905, sank into the canal in 1942 prompting the “Rideaus” to relocate to Mooney’s Bay. A new structure was eventually built in 1980 and expanded further in 2010. Rideau boasts one of the finest canoeing facilities in the country, including both course and premises. A newspaper article from 1908 indicates that the Rideau paddlers were known as the "boys in black." If this is a reference to racing colours, there is, as yet, no evidence to support this.

During my research I found a reference to a "Rideau Canoe Club" in 1889 located on the Rideau Canal with colours of cardinal red and blue. Membership was almost exclusively from the 43rd Regiment Ottawa & Carleton Battalion of Rifles. Commodore was Major Sherwood.

c1970s c1920s-1960s c1900s

CanMas Champions 2015