Legacy celebrated
Former Parkland student and Olympic rower Adam Parfitt, dedicated a rowing shell to the school.
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Parkland secondary school’s rowing legacy of nearly 25 years was celebrated as Parkland rowers and parents gathered to dedicate a singles rowing shell, which now hangs in the foyer of the school.
What made the event unique is that Olympian rower Adam Parfitt built this rowing shell when he was a student at Parkland 17 years ago. Parfitt is now the manager of the Canadian rowing team, and in dedicating the shell, commented on the number of national and Olympic rowers who have grown up on the Peninsula.
“Parkland continues to build on its strong rowing culture with the return of many graduating students to coach, and Adam’s legacy is wonderful gift to the school,” said Parkland teacher Sheila Stelck.
Doug Butterick, the head custodian at Parkland had the vision to rescue Adam’s rowing shell out of the wood shop where it had been stored for many years and hang it in the entrance to the school. Tyler Caddell, the woodshop teacher, facilitated the clean-up of the shell by student Alex McKay, and Greg Sedun, a Parkland grad and now coach of the junior boys team, found some oars in the Elk Lake boathouse to hang with the shell.
Caroline Hassett, the head coach of the Parkland rowing team, said that she continues to be involved with coaching new rowers as a way of giving back to the community and supporting new crews of junior rowers.
editor@peninsulanewsreview.com
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