The E.L. Crossley Secondary School rowing team has appealed to the Town of Pelham for financial assistance to replace what it characterizes as aging and faulty equipment. A spokesperson for the team, parent Pauline Oliver, expressed gratitude for the Town's initial response during a recent Town Council meeting.
At the March 6 meeting, Oliver, along with Crossley students Kaitlyn Furtney and Hunter Guillemette, spoke to council members about the team's need to replace decades-old equipment.
"I'm very happy about what happened," Oliver said. "It was quite exciting for me, Hunter, and Kaitlyn to hear the response from the councillors."
Oliver said parents of rowing students have been working hard to raise $100,000 for newer, second-hand equipment, but it won't be enough. The team is ineligible to apply for grants because it's not a club. So far, Oliver said the team and its volunteers have raised about $10,000 of the final goal.
Equipment has been a recurring issue for the team, with incidents ranging from broken wheels on seats to defective riggers. These incidents lead to boat mishaps during competitions, which is a significant problem for rowing students who hope to secure athletic scholarships for post-secondary schools.
"Another parent, Nicole Kennedy, and I went into some of the boats. They are hard to row, not smooth, and sometimes they break down during races,” said Oliver.
Recognizing the significance of rowing locally and nationally, council members pledged to explore avenues for support. Ward 2 Councillor John Wink requested a report from municipal staff to assess the extent of assistance the council can provide.
Referring to E.L. Crossley's track record in rowing, Wink lauded the team as an "amazing ambassador for this community," asserting a need to maintain its reputation. The school’s rowing team has won 11 consecutive national championships and ranks first with 154 gold medals won at the Canadian Secondary School Regatta between 1939 and 2023.
"E.L. Crossley has been the gold standard for rowing programs across the country," Wink said.
Corporate Services Director Teresa Quinlin-Murphy offered to explore options for writing grants on behalf of the team.
"Now that we're aware of your need, we will definitely put that on our list of something to look for,” said Quinlin-Murphy.
During the council meeting, student Kaitlyn Furtney shared her passion for rowing, which she said she discovered in Grade 8. Like many of her teammates, Furtney said she aspires to secure a scholarship for competitive rowing at the post-secondary level, making the sport pivotal for her academic future.
Recalling an unfortunate incident during last summer's Dominion Day Regatta in Toronto, Furtney recounted how equipment failure impacted their performance. Furtney told the council her seat fell off during a race.
"We were in really good shape in the beginning, and then we ended up losing that race that we should have won."
Student Hunter Guilmette said rowing at Crossley is more than an extracurricular activity.
"It's a family. The coaches are not only the best in the city but the best in the nation. Unlike most sports teams at the high school level, there are no tryouts for the rowing team at Crossley," he said, adding, "It is inclusive, and everyone is welcome."
Guilmette said he's witnessed his introverted teammates become more confident and have grown as athletes. But those benefits come with a price.
"Boat equipment and racing is not cheap. We as a team are asking the Town of Pelham for help to keep this amazing program going," he said.
Discussions during the meeting also touched upon exploring sponsorship opportunities, and Ward 1 Councillor Kevin Ker suggested the possibility of the high school establishing a formal alumni association—a separate entity from the school—for the rowing program to access grants and funding.
Chief Administrative Officer David Cribbs said a comprehensive report will be prepared for the upcoming April 17 council meeting. The report will provide councillors with a clearer understanding of available resources and budget allocations.
