2010-11 NEWS RELEASES

University of Ontario Institute of Technology
NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Millikin to be honoured by the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association

OSHAWA, Ont. – Founding coach of the UOIT Ridgebacks rowing program Rob Millikin is receiving another award in recognition for his contributions to the sport of rowing as he is being honoured with an award of excellence from the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association (CSSRA).

“This award is very much appreciated”, said Millikin. “Coaching youth programs has been my favourite activity in rowing throughout the years.”

The ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 6 at a breakfast reception during the CSSRA's 65th annual High School Regatta. The event will be held at the Canadian Henley Course in St. Catharines, Ont.

Millikin is being honoured for his contributions to high school athlete development. To be eligible for the award, the criteria is as follows:

1) The nominee has been a coach, club official or staff advisor who is or has been involved with various crews that have attended the CSSRA regatta.
2) The nominee has been actively involved with high school athletes for at least 25 years.
3) The nominee must be nominated by the directors, and or a Secondary School.
4) The nominee must be approved by the directors of CSSRA.

In 1989, Millikin was one of the founders of the Durham Rowing Club (DRC), which high school rowing programs across the Durham Region have been partnered with for a number of years.

Although high school rowing still exists in the Durham Region, it is still not at the level where Millikin would like it to be.

“Unfortunately the high school participation in rowing in the Durham Region, especially in Oshawa/Whitby, Scugog and Uxbridge has not progressed beyond a few schools, where there is a teacher interest in the sport,” said Millikin. “DRC President Jenn Marsh and Club Captain Jeanette Lunenborg have been trying very hard this year to recruit high school age athletes as it has had several initiatives to encourage them to come out to ‘learn to row' programs, currently being held two nights a week at the Club House in Port Perry.”

As head coach of the Ridgebacks, Millikin has continued to work on getting high school students involved with rowing, “UOIT has also made several attempts to gain an interest in rowing for high school age athletes, so that they can become recruits for UOIT Varsity rowing crews. Everyone will continue to work hard to try and grow the sport of rowing in the Durham Region, especially at the high school level.”

As a member of the DRC, he served as president for two terms, most recently from 2004 to 2006. He also served on various committees and has coached at the DRC since the opening of the club. He has also served on the board of the Ontario Rowing Association, as vice-president from 1992-1996 and secretary from 1996-1998.

Millikin has received a number of awards for his contribution to rowing. In 1999, he was awarded the Province of Ontario's Special Achievement Award (now the Syl Apps Award). In 2003, he was the named the Ontario Rowing Association official of the year, Rowing Canada's Official of the year in 2004, and in 2006, he was Rowing Canada's volunteer of the year. In Vancouver this past December, Millikin received one of Rowing Canada's highest honours as he was presented with the Rowing Canada Aviron Centennial Medal of Merit for his contributions to the sport.

Announced earlier this month, Millikin has retired as the head coach of the rowing program after leading the Ridgebacks for four seasons.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College & UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca