A Dream Come True: Bringing The World To Brentwood – One Stroke At A Time!

27 April 2013Mrs. Edna Widenmaier, Director of Arts

Forty three years ago John Queen (Emeritus Faculty and House Parent of Whittall) as Head of Rowing, invited Lakeside School from Seattle to have a few friendly races during lunch to test the mettle of Brentwood’s newly developed rowing crews. The next year, Shawnigan was invited.

From then, year by year, more crews were given the nod until in the early 80s when John says “We got ambitious.” All the local clubs were now attending the Regatta so why not open it up internationally? A “dressed up brochure” was sent to the National teams of every country in the world who had a recognized high school rowing programme. That year, he noted “We had a very large mailing bill.” But “if you build it, they will come.”

Over the next few years, teams from England, Mexico, the U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand and Eastern Canada sent crews until today we can celebrate being the largest sporting event hosted by a single high school “in the world”. John is, deservedly, very proud that he “did something which brings so many young people together doing something valuable.” In his own coaching career, his 1977 and 1981 Senior Boys Lightweights won St. Catherines. The legacy of his dream includes 22 Olympians. The Regatta is now “established”, doing what it does very well with the entire Brentwood community taking part: “students and faculty, staff everyone contributing to this weekend.”

We tip our caps to the Father of the Brentwood Regatta, Mr. John Queen.

Mrs. Edna Widenmaier, Director of Arts

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