A Short History of
the
Ottawa New Edinburgh Club
By Richard Vincent and John Savage
The Ottawa New Edinburgh Club (ONEC) is one of the oldest boating clubs in Canada
with a historic boathouse that is one of only four in Canada. Its history is interwoven
with that of the City of Ottawa itself and continues to play a role in the social
and athletic development of our community. It has long been a meeting place for Ottawa's
sportspeople.
The ONEC was established in 1883 as the Ottawa Canoe Club (OCC) on
the banks of the mighty Ottawa River. The first boathouse was a floating structure
and was moored at the foot of the Rideau Canal locks, near Parliament Hill. Sawdust
in the water from Chaudière Falls mills provided enough of a navigational
deterrent that the Club relocated 2 miles downstream in Governor's Bay, near
the Governor General's residence and at the foot of today's Prime Minister's
residence at 24 Sussex. For 30 years the club operated in this New Edinburgh neighborhood,
where OCC members stored their canoes and set forth on expeditions to adjacent rivers,
raced in regattas, and swam.
Just before the First World War, the Club acquired a
water lot further downstream adjacent to flat land. This semi-rural location amongst
tall white pines was at the end of a streetcar line connecting it to the downtown.
Tennis was all the rage and the feeling was that tennis would attract more members.
Buoyed by the prospect of a new boathouse situated beside a straight three mile racing
course, the members of the New Edinburgh Canoe Club (NECC) decided to merge with
the Ottawa Canoe Club (OCC) to form the Ottawa New Edinburgh Canoe Club (ONECC).
Because of the Great War and construction costs, it took many years before the new
structure was built.
The new boathouse was a $50,000 marvel sunk on piles thirty feet
into the riverbed. It was steel framed with a concrete foundation. Ottawa architect
C.P.Meredith designed the Boathouse in the Queen Anne recreational style. Features
of the structure include a magnificently proportioned ballroom that suited the "roaring
twenties" and
a two level deck that commands superb views of the Ottawa River at a most scenic
spot across from Kettle Island where deer, moose, and fishing camp fires at night
are still sighted.
The building contained a boat storage facility below, as well as
a clubhouse with locker rooms for the canoeists and tennis players whose courts were
situated where the Rockcliffe Driveway now lies.
It's 1923 inauguration coincided
with the holding of the Canadian Canoe Championships on the adjacent course in the
Ottawa River.
The Club's golden years were from 1923 to 1929. In these years, membership
boomed and Club members won championship after championship, including winning the
Birks Cup outright for being Canadian half mile war canoe champions for three years.
The
Depression, with its Civil Service cuts, consumer belt tightening, and streetcar
service curtailment, ushered in years of struggle. There were golden moments like
the Canadian Canoe Championships of 1941 held at the Club, along with social events.
Dances at the ballroom attracted young singles, lured to the Civil Service that had
expanded due to the war effort. But in general, the Club was paddling upstream against,
first, the austerity of the Depression and then World War II and later suburbanization
and privatization of transport and recreation. In the mid-1950s the construction
of the Rockcliffe Driveway forced the relocation of the tennis courts and physically
divided the Club.
In 1965, the Club had financial difficulties and was reborn as the
Ottawa New Edinburgh Club (ONEC). Dinghy sailing replaced canoeing. Laser sailing
and tennis booms of the 1970s and 1980s rejuvenated the Club. At the height of the
tennis boom it was difficult to book a court.
However, the Recession plagued early
1990s were tough with cutbacks and a waning of interest in dinghy sailing and tennis.
Even so, improvements were made to the club structurally and program wise.
Rowing Comes to the Ottawa New Edinburgh Club
By
the late 1990's
the club began attracting rowers, who understood the advantages of the
club's
river location and its facilities. In late 2001, the club was approached by seasoned
rowers , from the Ottawa Rowing Club
(John Savage, Jon Morris, and Aileen Dimasuay) who also recognized the great potential
of developing a rowing program out of a large boathouse located on a more peaceful
stretch of river from the busier section up river. They also were
attracted to a club that could accommodate social events and athletic programs in
its ballroom and on its lounge decks, much like its heyday in the 1920's. It was
felt that with a strong rowing program, the club could resurrect those friendly ghosts
of parties past and breathe new life into an Ottawa institution.
Together with the guidance of Rowing Director, Richard Vincent, the rowing
membership ballooned in 2002 to almost 80 members from 24 the year before and rowing
became a major component of the club.
Since then, other athletic programs were added, including yoga
and swing dancing in the ballroom, where guests can enjoy the sunsets on the deck,
just as they had in those glory years. The focus is now towards providing a place
where people can enjoy any variety of athletic and social programs in a cottage-like,
natural environment close to Downtown Ottawa. In truth, the Ottawa New Edinburgh
Club is undergoing a Renaissance, as we continue to write its history. Perhaps you
can be part of it!
125th Anniversary Speech
On Sunday June 7th. 2008, ONEC Celebrated its 125th anniversary
with a reception at the boathouse. The speech given by the current
President Marko Yanishevsky is available here.
Current Programs
ONEC now has three sports lines:
There are sailing and tennis day camps as well as instruction in all three
sports. The ballroom, including the magnificent upper deck with
its sunset views, is rented for swing
dance lessons, weddings, and community events. The Ottawa New Edinburgh
Club is a members' Club with a volunteer Board
of Directors. You can help the Club by joining, sending your
child to an ONEC Day Camp, or renting
the Ballroom.
Download the PDF version of this history
For more and general information: onecboard@hotmail.com
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