There is a long-standing tradition of sport and recreational access on the Gorge Waterway that dates back hundreds of years. Throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries people have rowed on the Gorge. For nearly twenty years, the Gorge Rowing and Paddling Club continued a tradition of excellence in both rowing and paddling sports here in the Selkirk Waterfront Community and on the Gorge Waterway. The Gorge has produced multiple Olympians and countless National and International Champions, and has had our athletes selected to represent dozens of prestigious colleges and universities.
In November of 2013 a new chapter for the waterway began. The GO Rowing and Paddling Association of Canada decided it was time to exit from the day-to-day management and operations of the Gorge Rowing and Paddling Club. With the future of sport and recreational access on the Gorge waterway ambiguous, St. Michaels University School agreed to step up to run programs out of the boathouse. In 2017, the Gorge Narrows Rowing Centre officially became independent from SMUS and has been running successfully ever since.
The Greater Victoria Youth Rowing Society (GVYRS) is again partnering with the GNRC to host their 10-week fall high school rowing league. The centre has hosted teams from Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Spectrum, St. Andrews, SMUS, Lambrick Park, Glenlyon Norfolk and Victoria High.
The GNRC has a long-standing masters rowing program, offering rowing year-round, and an ever-growing team. New members join regularly through our various Learn-to-Row programs, as well as migrating from clubs across the country when they move to Victoria. If you are interested in joining the Master’s program, please visit our Master’s Program Page.