Greater Victoria Youth Rowing Society

Greater Victoria Youth Rowing Society is a non-profit youth rowing organisation serving middle-school and high-school athletes in Greater Victoria. Its stated purpose includes acquiring boats, oars and other equipment for instruction, practice and competition.

The society traces the inaugural Lower Vancouver Island Schools Sports Association rowing season to 1987. Its own site says it has supported youth training and racing since 1988, and that former participants have gone on to represent Canada.

Its school league works with the regional schools sports association and School Districts 61 and 63. The published format gives students three training sessions and two regattas during the school season, with participating schools rowing from Elk Lake or Gorge Narrows.

A separate middle-school programme uses experienced high-school athletes to help introduce younger pupils to the sport. High School Plus provides further training for experienced school rowers through partner clubs at Victoria City and Gorge Narrows.

GVYRS also supports pupils whose schools do not run a team and publishes coach orientation and development resources. Its coach work covers on-water procedures at both training locations and support towards specialist education and certification.