Take 'er Away!

To watch a Canoe Regatta on the Mississippi at Carleton Place, is to participate in history. For in the cradle of these waters, the Ottawa Valley Canoe Association (OVCA) was born in 1893. Now in its 115th year of existence, the Carleton Place Canoe Club is the oldest, continually operating club in the country and is the only surviving, charter member of the Canadian Canoe Association.

The Annals of Canadian Canoe Racing are studded with Carleton Place paddlers, making a steady stream from the very first CCA championship regatta, to the present. Over the years, the club has produced numerous Canadian Champions in various categories, both male and female.

In addition, the club has consistently produced athletes who further qualify for higher levels of competitions, on a variety of Provincial and National teams. These range from Ontario team members to Canada Summer Games team members, Junior World Championship competitors to Senior National Team members.

Leader in the Sport

The Club has been on the forefront of developments through the years. It's membership was opened to women in 1903 and Ladies' War Canoe training and competitition were an early feature. The Club was an early advocate for the inclusion of Ladies Classes in the C.C.A. Race Schedule. Year round training became a feature in the late 1960's with startling results and the Club became one of the first to apply scientific methods to the assessment of training needs and design of training programs. There has alway been an active social program, the Annual Commodore's Ball being but one example. Today, the Club continues to lead the way in Canoe Sport.

Since the founding of the OVCA, the Club has been adopted by the social, business and political leadership of the Community. It was soon recognized as a major social centre for recreation and youth training and something worth working for. All through the Club's history, what is remarkable is the number of people who have maintained a life long associtation with it in some active capacity or other. Perhaps this, more than any other thing, can explain the success of the past one hundred and fourteen years.

For the community of Carleton Place, summertime, the Mississippi and the Canoe Club are inseperable.