23 January 2023

By Göran R Buckhorn

Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) announced last Friday that British coach Lauren Fisher, who has worked with British Rowing for several years, has been appointed new coach at the RCA National Training Center (NTC).

Adam Parfitt, RCA’s High Performance Director, is excited about the appointment.

“It’s great to have Lauren joining our team as we grow closer to Paris 2024,” he said. “Lauren is going to be a great fit with the program and bring an expertise that will continue to unlock potential from within our team both on and off the water.”  

Most recently, Fisher was focusing on Team GB’s women’s quad with Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne, Hannah Scott, Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne and Lucy Glover, helping them to a silver medal at the 2021 European Championships and a first place in the B Final at the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

“I am incredibly excited to be joining the coaching team at Rowing Canada Aviron,” said Fisher. “I look forward to becoming part of the developing team and culture as we make preparations for the coming season and Paris 2024.” 

Lauren Fisher will start her new role on 15 February.

Last year, RCA stated that the organisation had partnered with the Municipality of North Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia, to establish an NTC and a new home for rowing on Quamichan Lake.

The same day RCA announced Fisher’s appointment, RCA President Carol Purcer, published a letter to the RCA member clubs. It seems some of the clubs are unhappy with how RCA is run and how the RCA Board has mishandled certain situations. Purcer mentions in her letter that at the time of the Tokyo Games there was an “unhealthy high performance environment”, and while RCA took action then, “we are still feeling the impact.” As five per cent of the member clubs have sent RCA two motions, including the removal of the RCA Board, there will be a Special Meeting to address the motions on 22 February.

Read Carol Purcer’s full letter here.