The games may have been delayed by the pandemic, but construction is still very much in progress.

On November 12, officials from the municipal, provincial and federal governments were on hand at the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in St. Catharines to mark the beginning of construction on the Henley Rowing Centre. The facility is one of a two being built in support of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

The Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course has been a host venue to countless regional, provincial, national and international competitions in its more than 100-year history. It is one of the premier sporting venues in the Niagara region. The summer games, however, required a new facility to be built that allows for essential off-water training and support facilities at the course.

“Henley Rowing Centre is a key community legacy project that will be built as a result of Niagara hosting the 2022 Canada Summer Games,” said Doug Hamilton, Chair of the Niagara Host Society. “This development at the Henley Rowing Course in St. Catharines will not only benefit our rowing community, but it will also further enable Niagara to continue to host major national and international championships, such as the 2024 World Rowing Championships.”

The Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course and the new Henley Rowing Centre will be the site of the rowing competition for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. The games, which were originally scheduled for the summer of 2021, will now take place from August 6–21, 2022. The new facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

“Canadians have been rowing on the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in St. Catharines for over 135 years,” said St. Catharines MP, Chris Bittle. “Preparing to host the rowing competitions during the Canada Summer Games in 2022 is an excellent opportunity to upgrade and expand training facilities on Henley Island. This not only provides a world-class experience for rowers during the games but also for years to come.”

Construction of the Henley Rowing Centre, as well as of Canada Games Park at Brock University, is being led by Brampton-based Aquicon Construction. The company was awarded the contract to work on both facilities in December 2019, and has a long history of work in the Niagara region.