Misplaced Pages

#315684

52-628: The BYC is located on an extension of land at the eastern end of Lac Deschênes , near the Deschênes Rapids on the Ottawa River. A land block owned by the National Capital Commission on the south side of the harbor is leased to the BYC. The area immediately south of the property is occupied by residences of Britannia Bay. The harbor was built from an abandoned power canal, which now lays beside

104-489: A 2000-foot canal to extend to the lower end of the Deschenes Rapids. Although the hydroelectric project was abandoned as unfeasible, the unfinished canal was used in 1951 by Past Commodores Thomas G. Fuller and Reginald G. Bruce with labor provided by volunteer Club members as the basis of the BYC protected harbor. Today, the BYC harbor provides 250 wet moorings, fuel and pump out facilities, for both sail and power boats. In

156-519: A few hundred metres at its narrowest. The provincial border between Ontario and Quebec runs through the length of the lake with the City of Ottawa on its southern shore and the city of Gatineau on much of its northern shore. The shoreline is mostly gently sloped and composed of broken limestone interspersed with smaller sections of aquatic shoreline vegetation or mudflats. Above the Chats Falls Dam

208-488: A group of people sailing towing a bun, man in a cockpit, regatta etc. c.  1895 by Charter member, E. L. Brittain. After the club outgrew the old mill building, the present club house designed by Edgar Lewis Horwood was opened in 1896 on the present site, on a leased property owned by lumber baron J.R. Booth , closer to the Deschênes Rapids. A photo of the Britannia Club House, 1896 by William James Topley

260-634: A takeoff of Gilbert and Sullivan 's nautical comic operas such as HMS Pinafore for 400 guests at the Club Cabaret, summer social highlight. Lac Desch%C3%AAnes Lac Deschênes is a 44 kilometres (27 miles) long lake on the Ottawa River that runs from the Chats Falls Dam near Fitzroy Harbour in the west to the Deschênes Rapids at Britannia in the east. It is a little over 3.2 kilometres (2.0 miles) wide at its widest point and little more than

312-561: A tempest in the region, on July 26, 1934, the railing on the long Britannia Boating Club pier was blown away and numerous trees on the grounds were felled by the sudden gale. A photo of Britannia Yacht Club, 1935 by Clifford M. Johnston is in the Library and Archives Canada collection. In 1936, BBC-sponsored paddler Frank Amyot gives Canada first win (1000-meter paddling) at the Olympics in Berlin. At

364-607: Is Lac des Chats . Below Britannia is a series of rapids and waterfalls culminating with the Chaudière Falls . Between the rapids and the falls, the river is not navigable. The lake was first known as Chaudière Lake by the first colonial settlers in the early 1800s. The original name of the village that became Aylmer was the Chaudière Farm Village, for the Chaudière Lake Farm created by Philemon Wright Jr. As

416-480: Is a perimeter reserved for the exclusive use of members as well as camping on Baskin's beach. The Clubhouse's dragon sailboat bar , Main Lounge , Bruce Neuk , Sunset Room restaurant and marquis tent provide casual and gourmet dining and social areas. Fuller Park is a popular social area for picnics. The BYC has extensive Perennial gardens , Wildflower gardens , Waterways and Walkways with many plantings reflecting

468-661: Is celebrating is 125th anniversary in 2012. As Dominion Architect, his most important building was the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and residence, Victoria, British Columbia , West Saanich Road (1915–16), which is a National Historic Site of Canada . Other buildings he designed include a drill hall in Calgary , Alberta in 1916–17, two buildings at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Ontario :

520-533: Is in Prescott (VHF Ch. 16 or cellular telephone *16) however dialling 911 is the most effective means of reaching local emergency services. Chart datum is 57.9 metres above sea level. Current water levels can be found on the Ottawa River Levels website. Water levels fluctuate on Lac Deschênes approximately 0.9 m annually, with the high on average of 58.8 m occurring during the spring freshet and

572-573: Is in the Library and Archives Canada collection. The G.B. Greene , known as 'Queen of the River', a double-decked side-wheeler steamer built by the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company in 1896, took up to 250 passengers up the Ottawa River to Chats Falls on daily pleasure excursions. Although she was dismantled in 1946, her anchor remains at Britannia Beach today. On August 21, 1897, the Club won

SECTION 10

#1733086048316

624-722: Is the Nepean Sailing Club established in 1979 but now the largest of the Ottawa area sailing clubs. It is located in Dick Bell Park on Carling Avenue in the former City of Nepean . The Lac Deschênes Sailing Club and the Kanata Sailing Club are the two smaller clubs consisting primarily of dinghy fleets. On the Quebec side of the lake is the Club de Voile Grande-Rivière located at

676-581: The Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa . He worked as an architect in private practice in Ottawa and the National Capital Region as E.L. Horwood (1895–1912); Horwood & Taylor (1907–10); Horwood, Taylor & Horwood (1911–1912); E.L. Horwood (1918–1929); Horwood & Horwood (1929–1937). In 1891, Edgar Lewis Horwood designed the Britannia Nautical Club ’s first clubhouse; the Club

728-847: The Ottawa Electric Railway in 1905–06. The old Club House building was used for storage. In 1905, the Britannia Boathouse Club was renamed the Britannia Boating Club; the activities covered racing and the use of practically all types of boats. In May 1906, the Department of Agriculture registered Industrial Design number 11 folio 2455 by the Britannia Boat House Club, for use in club pins, jewellery, stationery, flags, badges and emblems. The Edwin L. Brittain Trophy

780-627: The Aylmer Marina. Further upstream on the Ontario side is the Port of Call Marina. Numerous launch ramps exist on both sides of the lake. On the Ontario side, these are located at Fitzroy Harbour, Buckham's Bay, Port of Call Marina, Shirleys Bay , and the Nepean Sailing Club. A small public dock exists at Pinhey's Point while the village of Quyon maintains much larger public dock facilities near

832-610: The Britannia Aquatic Club (BAC) changed its name to the Britannia Nautical Club (BNC), still using a converted Mill built in 1880–85 by John Cameron Jamieson as its headquarters. On August 29, 1891, the BNC held its first regatta which included sailing, paddling and rowing races. The mandate of the Club was to foster all kinds of water sports, and to hold regattas, sailing races, canoe, rowing and log rolling events. In 1895

884-412: The Britannia Boat House Club was granted an Act of Incorporation by Judge Ross. The board of directors consisted of Thomas H Kirby, C Jackson Booth, E.L. Brittain, Arthur Tache and William Wyld. In 1895, the Club ran its first annual regatta. In 1896 the Britannia Nautical Club changed its name to the Britannia Boat House Club. The Edward Miall award for Junior Members who show improvement in their ability

936-665: The Britannia Boating Club Construction of 1948. On July 18, 1942, there was a meeting of 17 BBC members, in army and civilian war jobs during World War II , at Holborn Restaurant in London, England. In 1944, the Princess Alice Barracks Cabin at Britannia Bay provided a summer home for Royal Canadian Air Force Airwomen during World War II close by the BBC's facilities for tennis, dancing and boating. Rented from

988-567: The Britannia Boating Club. In 1940–41, the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves scheme for training Yacht Club Members developed the first central registry system. A Royal Canadian Air Force crash launch, a 16-foot motor launch, was stationed at the Britannia Boating Club. The Britannia Boating Club's Basketball team were the Ottawa Champions in 1941. In 1941, the bridge to the Club pier was built. The Club installed lights on two of

1040-522: The Britannia Yacht Club area; some of which date back to the 1920s. In the 1920s, Britannia Boating Club racing watercraft fleet included 'Ellen', 'Calleroo', 'Restless', 'Riona' and 'Quicksilver'. In 1924, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Club was formed under the leadership of Mary Davis. A marine railway was built in 1925 to assist in launching and hauling boats. The BYC's inaugural tennis season

1092-521: The City of Ottawa Inventory of Sports facilities . BYC provides access to 45 kilometers of sailing waters on the Ottawa River . Canadian Hydrographic Service Chart 1550 - Britannia Bay to Chats Falls covers the whole of Lac Deschênes. The BYC offers Social and boating memberships to close to 1,200 members. BYC has a marina with a main and inner Harbor which accommodate 280 Keelboats . For Dinghy sailing, dry sail facilities are provided. BYC offers Tennis , youth and social programs. At Sherwood Port,

SECTION 20

#1733086048316

1144-623: The Club logo consisted of cross paddles and a burgee. A photo of the Britannia Bay Club House c.  1900 by Harmer William Morell is in the Library and Archives Canada Collection. The Club hosted the CCA championships in 1902, 1908, 1911 and 1935. On June 6, 1902, Lewis Skuce, 15, saved the lives of a young man and lady who were rowing across the head of the Deschaines rapids when their oar-lock broke and their craft began drifting towards

1196-785: The Dickson trophy (Junior 4s rowing -city championships), which was donated by J.P. Dickson at a regatta on Lake Deschenes before a record crowd of 500. Mr Roderick Percy Sparks , then president of the Britannia Boating Club, announced that the four rowers would compete in the Canadian Henley Regatta at St. Catharines, Ontario , in August 1910. Housing shortages in and around the capital during First World War , Great Depression in Canada and Second World War and in post-war years led to families occupying summer cottages at Britannia year-round. During

1248-593: The Eastern Champions in 1928–29. The Club avoided closure during the dark days of the early 1930s; the club did not have a single unencumbered asset during that period. In 1932, Britannia Boating Club's basketball team, the Ottawa Valley Champions, were scheduled to compete in the Dominion playdowns in Quebec, however they were unable to make the trip to Quebec for financial reasons. In 1931, the Club property

1300-583: The First World War, the 207th (Ottawa-Carleton) Battalion, CEF encouraged locals to enlist at the Britannia Pier. On June 26, 1916, the Soldier's Service Club of Ottawa's programs of music, dancing and in concert attracted crowds to the Britannia Boating Club to raise money to establish amusement places in six Canadian camps that lacked entertainment halls. The crowd of thousands enjoyed musical entertainment in

1352-516: The Francophone population of the area increased, it became more commonly known as lac-Deschênes. It is now officially known by the French name only. Lac Deschênes is used for recreational boating and sailing. It is home to five sailing clubs and one commercial marina. Britannia Yacht Club is the oldest, established in 1887. It is located at the eastern end of the lake near the Deschênes Rapids. Next

1404-592: The King's Daughter's Guild of Ottawa, the cabin featured 60 beds, a separate cookhouse and dining pavilion. In 1945, the Club hosted a 50th anniversary cabaret with acts such as 'Miss Britannia', Hawaiian dance , Scottish Dances , Sailorettes and Arabs and cabaret dancers. In 1946, the Britannia Boat Club hosted the first Canadian Dinghy Association Regatta. Exhibition tennis matches featuring tennis stars Don McDiarmid, Edgar Murphy , Eddie O'Hara and Sonia Swift marked

1456-420: The area behind the Club pier. The materiel dug out was used to fill in the end of Cassels Street where the memorial flower bed is now. A masonry wall was built to retain the fill. On August 14, 1940, Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and her husband Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone , who served as Governor General of Canada from 1940 to 1946, attended an exhibition tennis match at

1508-694: The auditorium, dancing to the Tippins' orchestra in the club house, band concerts in the parks and a spirit of carnival. The ladies made costumes for the minstrel show at the carnival as well as an earlier show held at the Russell Theater earlier in the season. Invitations were sent to convalescent soldiers at the Fleming home, who attended as guests of the club. This was the first carnival of its kind held in any Canadian city. The new clubhouse, as well as canoes, accessories, boating equipment, records and trophies stored in

1560-472: The bays. Ring-billed , herring and great black-backed gulls are abundant as well as various other waterfowl species. Large numbers of Canada geese and other waterbirds stop at the lake during their fall migration. Mallards have been seen particularly in the Shirleys Bay area. Red-throated loons , Arctic terns , and common terns have also been spotted. Moderate numbers of shorebirds concentrate in

1612-471: The blue and white club colors. By the 1830s, steamboats traveled for 10 or 11 months a year 48 kilometers up the Ottawa River from the Deschênes Rapids to the foot of the Rapids des Chats. The log drives, which resulted in 16-foot logs lying along the waterfront, ended in 1982. By the 1870s, Britannia Village was a summer resort for people who lived in Ottawa , Ontario . In the 1870s, rails were laid towards

Britannia Yacht Club - Misplaced Pages Continue

1664-500: The boathouse were destroyed by fire in 1918. The Club returned to its present location in 1920. The J.G. Hickson Memorial Cup was first presented in 1918 to the keelboat champion in the weekly series racing (now Class 5). The Lt. Col. C. E. Long Trophy was first presented in 1919; It was originally and is currently awarded for a race between the Club and Armitage's Wharf (Elapsed Time). The National Air Photo Library (NAPL) of Natural Resources Canada archives of aerial photographs covers

1716-527: The capital, linking the waterfront of Britannia Township , Woodroffe and Westboro. By 1871, Britannia Township consisted of a flag station of the Canadian Central Railway (CCRR), farmland, a few houses, shops, a mill and a Methodist church. The Britannia Aquatic Club (BAC) was founded c.  1887 using a converted sawmill, cottages and boat storage built by John Cameron Jamieson, a lumberman, baker, and alderman as its headquarters. In 1892,

1768-553: The club property, and has been expanded twice since its original development. The harbor's water level is controlled by a system of stop logs at its entrance. The BYC is a member of the Ontario Sailing Association, Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, and the Canadian Yachting Association . Its officers include a Commodore , Vice-Commodore, Rear-Commodore, Secretary, and Treasurer. The BYC is included in

1820-526: The entry to its harbor, a plaque was erected in honor of Hon. Justice Lilius Anglin Sherwood (1923–2002), magistrate (1960) provincial judge (1968–83) and federal court judge (1988–93), sailor and international sailing judge. The Main Harbor, which opens to the Ottawa River, is surrounded by Mauve Cove, Crimson Cove, and Blue Lagoon. The Inner Harbor is surrounded by Emerald Cay, Mauve Cove and Crimson Cove. Onshore there

1872-527: The five tennis courts. In 1942, with Don McDiarmid, Canadian tennis champion serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, the traditional McDiarmid Family Tennis Tournament was cancelled for duration Approximately 100 of Malak Karsh 's photos of the Britannia Boat Club c 1940s are in the Library and Archives Canada collection. The Karsh photographs depict a race from Britannia 1940, Britannia Beach 1941, Britannia Boat Club in 1942, 1946, and 1948 and

1924-565: The late 1800s upon the death of a Charter member and custodian of the club records, E. Stockton, the administrators of his affairs sent the documents to the Township dump. The Britannia Boat House Club was one of nine co-founders of the Canadian Canoe Association (CCA) in 1900. In 1900, Britannia Boathouse Club won the War canoe and the canoe race at the regatta hosted by Britannia. In 1900,

1976-647: The low on average of 57.9 m occurring during September. Water levels are affected strictly by the flows being passed from upstream. Waters are slow flowing except immediately below the dam at Chats Falls and again at Britannia Rapids. Although much of Lac Deschênes is relatively shallow, generally less than 9.0 m, there is a deep trough between Twelve Mile Island and Aylmer Island that reaches depths of 49 m. Numerous species of sport fish can be found in Lac Deschênes including black crappie , pickerel (walleye) , muskie , and pike . Catfish abound in many of

2028-413: The muddier parts of the shoreline such as at Shirleys Bay and Andrew Hayden Park. A colony of purple martins makes their home at the Nepean Sailing Club. In August 2023, Jean-Pierre Caron, a resident of Aylmer, proposed the creation of a pedestrian bridge connecting Deschênes to Britannia. The bridge would be approximately 795 meters long and seven meters wide. The cost of a potential bridge would be in

2080-621: The opening of the new lighted tennis courts at Britannia Boating Club on August 14, 1946. In 1946, the Britannia Boating Club Memorial Park Association was formed to honour Club members killed overseas. For example, Captain Percy Royston Gilman died on June 10, 1944, one of 335 officers and men of the 3rd Canadian Division who were killed in action or died of wounds on that day. On July 28, 1947, Club members performed 'The Reluctant Mariner', by George Orr,

2132-447: The range of $ 45 to $ 70 million. An online survey received over 1,000 responses within the first couple weeks. Hull-Aylmer MP Greg Fergus stated the federal government is not close to funding the project, while residents in Ottawa have expressed environmental and traffic concerns. The National Capital Commission (NCC) stated they would consider the bridge plan in their 2024 evaluation of the circulation and interprovincial travel needs of

Britannia Yacht Club - Misplaced Pages Continue

2184-545: The rapids. Lewis Skuce paddled out to the drifting boat, transferred the couple into his canoe and conveyed them to shore while Charlie Scott and Wilfrid Harrison rescued the deserted rowboat. Designed by Charles Penruddocke William Kivas Band, architect and partner in Architectural & Engineering Co., a new clubhouse, known as the Britannia Boating Club House was built on the pier by Thomas Ahearn , head of

2236-477: The region. Edgar Lewis Horwood Edgar Lewis Horwood (1868–1957) was a Canadian architect who served as Chief Dominion Architect from 1915 to 1917. As chief government architect he was responsible for many of the federal buildings constructed in this period. Drawings for public buildings designed by Horwood and his staff during his tenure as Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works are held at

2288-600: The street-car operated on Sundays, its recreational developments at Britannia were profitable. Large numbers of people took the Britannia-on-the Bay street-car each summer from 1900 to the Second World War to a combined waterfront amusement park, summer resort and commuter village. In 1899, the Metropolitan Power Company was formed to construct a powerhouse just north of the Britannia Boathouse Club with

2340-705: The third annual regatta. In 1898, Britannia Boat House Club's War Canoe beat a team crewed by the Ottawa Canoe Club to win the Canadian National Canoe Championship. This race was re-enacted as part of the BYC 125th celebrations on Saturday June 16, 2012. In 1899, the Ottawa Electric Railway Company privately financed and built a double street-car Britannia line from Holland Avenue, which was in operation from 1900 to 1959 with off-peak service of 5 cars per hour to Britannia. Since

2392-406: The time, the population of Britannia Bay was 630 (1936) and 758 (1937). In 1937, the Ladies' Auxiliary presented the play, 'Good Morning Bill' at the Masonic Temple Hall in Westboro. In 1937, wood supports were built for the old pier. Nepean Township supported plans in 1939 and 1944 for a riverfront parkway from Britannia to downtown Ottawa. In 1939, Fraser Duntile Ltd. supplied a bulldozer to dredge

2444-593: The western end of the lake. Access between Ontario and Quebec across Lac Deschênes is provided by a ferry service between West Carleton and Quyon. Although a bridge has been proposed, it has not yet received approval. Canadian Hydrographic Service Chart 1550 - Britannia Bay to Chats Falls covers the whole of Lac Deschênes. The Canadian Coast Guard maintains lights and buoys on the lake, however local emergency services in Ottawa and Gatineau are responsible for providing search and rescue services within their respective city boundaries. The nearest Coast Guard radio

2496-538: The wreck of the new club house from the front is in the Library and Archives Canada collection. In 1908, the Ottawa Association of Aquatic Clubs (OAAC) was founded. Lists of members who were in good standing and lists of members who were suspended were submitted to the OAAC. The executive consisted of Chair E.A. Oliver of the Victoria Yacht Club; Vice Chair Q.A. Lamb of Ottawa Canoe Club and Secretary J.M. Douglas of Britannia Boating Club. In July 1910, Jack Fee's Britannia Fours (Fee, McKenzie, Harrison & Carnochan) won

2548-460: Was 1926 on clay tennis court. The No 1 and 2 courts on the east side of the Clubhouse were built. In 1927 four rooms were built in the area which is now the Ladies Locker room. The clubhouse was re-shingled in 1927. In 1929, a new lounge in the southwest corner of the cub-house, which is now the manager's Office, was built. In 1929, Britannia Boating Club's water polo team swam out of the Plante Baths. The Britannia Boating Club's Basketball team were

2600-622: Was first presented in 1905; It was originally and is currently awarded for a race from the Britannia Yacht Club to Pinhey's Point and return - Elapsed Time. In the years before the First World War, the Ottawa Citizen 's 'News from Ottawa's Beautiful Resorts' or 'Restful Resorts around the Capital' regularly featured stories about summer life in Britannia; Typical articles described social visits, recreation, fireworks, bonfires, bands, stage performances, singing, storytelling, water sports, regattas, and flotillas of boats and canoes. A photo by Lawrence Hurt Sitwell dated April 20, 1907, of an ice jam and

2652-399: Was founded in memory of three brothers, Alexander (22), Walter (19) and Eddy (16) Brothy and Peter Winfield (10), who drowned on July 26, 1895. Edward Miall, whose son Ray was rescued three hours later still clinging to his father's capsized skiff, sought to stress all-round proficiency in hope of presenting such tragedy in future. The B.Y.C. Photographic Archives' six oldest known pictures show

SECTION 50

#1733086048316

2704-556: Was sold for arrears of taxes. A group of members purchased the property on behalf of the Club, receiving clear title from the Crown. In 1931, an addition in the North side of the Clubhouse accommodated a men's locker room and washrooms for men and women. The Club's semi-monthly booklet outlining varied water and land-based activities, known as the 'Amphibian', was founded in 1931. On August 10, 1933, Frank Amyot rescued Ottawa Rough Riders Dave Sprague and Eddie Bond , when their canoe overturned on Lake Deschenes on June 18, 1933. During

#315684