ABOUT Hanlan Boat Club

History

In 1975, UCC parent, Sam Craig, formerly of Cadillac Fairview Corporation, acquired a lease for the current Regatta Road site in the Toronto Outer Harbour. Within a year, Sam purchased and had built on the property the first (east) Quonset hut. Since 1976, Hanlan youth men and women, representing either Hanlan or their high schools, have competed at the CSSRA Championships, Royal Canadian Henley, Canadian Championships, World Championships, and the Olympics.

During the late 1980s the club began to grow with the help of the increasing popular Masters rowing, for athletes over 27 years old, following the August 1985 12th FISA Veterans International Regatta and the inaugural World Masters Games. By 1989, Havergal College moved from the Argonaut Rowing Club to Hanlan. Sam Craig donated a second Quonset hut to accommodate the expanded fleet. A second dock was also constructed to accommodate the growth. From 1987, a formal executive committee was established and the running of Hanlan was led by Michael List and in the early 1990s by Debbie Beatty. Hanlan had over 200 members, including two high schools, Masters rowing enthusiasts, and a Learn-to-Row program.

In the mid-1990s, electricity was brought in and the road leading to the club was paved. A full summer program was in place with well over 100 athletes competing in various regattas.

Hanlan was recently profiled by RowOntario. Read the full profile here: Getting to know the Hanlan Boat Club.

Ned Hanlan

Hanlan Boat Club, named after the world-famous sculler Edward “Ned” Hanlan has a rich and colourful history on Lake Ontario. Read about Ned's life here: The Life of Ned Hanlan by Richard MacFarlane and Ned Hanlan: 2020 Hall of Fame Inductee.