Club History
The Burquitlam Kayak & Canoe Club was founded in 1967 as the Burnaby Canoe Club. In 1974, BCC did not compete in any regattas but remained an active member while the municipality made plans to tear down their Deer Lake complex and build a new multi-sport centre. Meanwhile, the Burnaby Aquatic Club took out new membership the same year and most of BCC's paddlers relocated along with most of the club's equipment (CCA Annual Report 1974). In the July 28, 1975 CCA Bulletin, it was announced that the Burnaby Canoe Club had a new name, the Burquitlam Canoe Club. They scored points at the 1977 and 1978 National Championships but folded shortly thereafter in 1981. It is not clear where exactly Burquitlam was located, if they were still on Deer Lake or migrated to Burnaby Lake alongside their new rivals. Club founders were Fred L. Horompoly and Bill Collins. Burquitlam was affectionately dubbed the "Barbecue" Club by local rivals.
The Burnaby Aquatic Club was founded in 1974 on Burnaby Lake as an alternative to the Burnaby Canoe Club which had met with disaster at the hands of the municipality who had made plans to tear down their Deer Lake complex. Meanwhile, the Burnaby Aquatic Club took out new membership the same year, most of BCC's paddlers having relocated along with most of the club's equipment (CCA Annual Report 1974). Burnaby Aquatic, having attracted elite athletes and quality coaches, went on to become the dominant canoeing force in British Columbia. More recently, the club's name has changed to Burnaby Canoe & Kayak Club. Offering sprint canoe-kayak for high performance athletes, school dragon boating and summer learn-to-paddle camps, Burnaby fosters participation and athletic excellence as part of its philosophy, striving to provide the best avenues of success for its athletes.
Canada Sprint Canoe Club History
Canada Summer Games Legacy
In 1971 New Westminster and Burnaby were selected to host Canada’s 2nd Canada Summer Games occurring in 1973. The host committee ably guided by Bob Stubbs and Herb Challier, successfully positioned Burnaby Lake as the site for the rowing, kayaking and canoe events. A FISA standard course was designed along with a grandstand and boathouse. There was also a plan to dredge the lake by piping the dredged lake contents into the local sewer outlet at the dam site near North Caribou Road and flush all the dredged material out to the Fraser River. On the first day of dredging the whole plan was arrested with a total blockage in the sewer system which meant they had to change plans. The dredged material was pumped to the sides of the lake eventually compounding the issues of increased sediment and aquatic material filling the lake.
The 1973 Canada Summer Games were a great success for New Westminster and Burnaby. One of the legacies was a FISA standard Rowing Course in the GVRD area. Burnaby Lake quickly became a hub for the local and National rowing, canoeing and kayaking programs. Many regattas, including the Canadian National men’s and women’s training camps were held at the lake during the 1970s and 1980s. The BC High School Championships were frequently held at Burnaby during the 1980s. UBC’s men’s and women’s rowing programs were located at Burnaby Lake during the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1976, UBC successfully hosted the Western Intercollegiate Sprint Championships at the lake. They were usually held at Newport Beach in California and all the major rowing universities in the western USA and Canada attended.
