IV Into the Modern Era
The sustained international competition of the 1950's with its accompanying strain on fund raising efforts obscured the serious situation that had been developing in the deterioration of the Clubhouse. Following an engineer's report in 1962 the building was condemned. All athletic activities on the premises were curtailed and general gatherings were banned. A test of the original gumwood piles proved they were still sound, and still level with one another! In 1963 at a cost of $17,000 the structure was reinforced with steel and the building saved. Another $25,000 was spent to modernise the interior. In 1971 further considerable expense was incurred to re-enforce the pilings.

It was also in 1971 that the first women's rowing crew was formed. Unbelievably, this was the first women's crew to be formed in Canada! We recently learned that the press photo heralding this event was somewhat ‘doctored'- the crew in the photo being comprised primarily of barmaids from a local tavern! Nonetheless, women's rowing quickly caught on and in 1971 a ladies changing and shower room were added to the clubhouse.

The seventies saw the addition of two new sections: Field Hockey in 1974 and Tennis in 1975. The tennis section eventually grew to a membership of 200 and, in conjunction with the Vancouver Parks Board, annually organized and ran what at that time was the largest amateur tennis tournament in Canada.

Meanwhile the Cricket section had begun to thrive with Cliff Cox, the Cricket Captain, being chosen to Captain the Canadian National team in 1969 and again in 1970. The VRC Cricket 1st Division won the BC Mainland League Championship for five consecutive years from 1973 to 1977.

VRC/UBC rowing crews continued their strong international tradition, representing Canada at the PanAm Games: in 1967 with Silver Medal finishes for both our eight and coxless four (B. Clark, P. Webber, A. Netupsky, R. Fearn); in 1971 with a Bronze Medal finish for our eight (E. Smith, K. Jonker, R. Bell-Irving, M. Neary, R. Advent, J. Walker, R. Cunliffe, I. Gordon, & M. Conway-cox); and again in 1975 with UBC/VRC members taking part in composite crews for Silver in the coxed pair and Bronze in the coxless four.

In 1974, when the Club was celebrating its 75th Anniversary, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, accepted our invitation to become our Patron. Four years later, on a sunny August 8th, the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by Prince Andrew, delighted over 150 members and friends with an informal visit to our club. Prince Andrew was subsequently made an Honorary Life Member of the Club.

The 1976 VRC/UBC crews conceived a tour to the Henley Royal Regatta, and were financially helped by "Friends of Rowing", their families, and by the individuals themselves. While the eight and the coxed four were unsuccessful, the coxless four went on to win the Steward's Cup, presented by HRH Princess Alexandra.

The Olympic Games in Montreal that year saw Vancouver Rowing Club women competing in the first Olympic female crews: Cheryl Howard in the double sculls; Tricia Smith in the coxless pair; Susan Antoft and Ilona Smith in the eight; and Joy Fera in the coxed four.

1976 was also one of the club's darkest years. A split had developed between the VRC and the Burrard Yacht Club over finances. This culminated in a lawsuit that was resolved in June 1976 with BC Supreme Court Justice McKenzie ruling in favour of the Club. The Burrard Yacht Club shortly after obtained new facilities in North Vancouver where it resides today.

The Club installed a new network of floats, financed in part through the issuance of Moorage Debentures. These were soon occupied, and the Vancouver Rowing Club Yachting section, as we know it today, came into being in 1978. Through the late 70's and into the 80's the Yachting section continued to grow. With their competitive racing throughout the year the "new" Yachting section brought a more sports attuned feeling to the Club than had been present in the B.Y.C. association.

1973 saw the Rugby section winning the Tisdall for the first time since 1925. That year also saw the Rugby sections' first overseas tour, a seven game affair covering Wales, Scotland and England. The Club's 1st fifteen won the 1979/80 League Championship and the Miller Cup for the first time since the 1954/55 season, edging the UBC Old Boys 3-0. The previous year they had been beaten in the final by Ex Britannia.

Rugby continued to tour regularly throughout the ‘70's and '80 as did both the Field Hockey and Cricket sections. All three sections also saw many of their players being chosen to play for their respective national teams as Canada's international representation and results in these sports continually improved. The club was rewarded with strong membership figures from the sections with membership reaching approximately 1,300 in 1988.

In 1979 the club's Canadian Championship eight was chosen to represent Canada at the PanAm Games where they took Silver (Richardson, Withers, Felix, Hartvikson, Wilkinson, Catherall, Orr, Hood and coxen M. Conway). This was the first time a non-composite crew had been chosen since 1971. VRC/UBC was also well represented at the1984 Los Angeles Olympics with 14 rowers attending the Games and five medalling (2 Gold, 2 Silver, and a Bronze). Former Club President, Cathy Lund (our first female president), also competed at these games on the Canadian Women's eight placing fourth.

In the mid-1980's the clubhouse was again in a serious state of deterioration. The 70+ year old gumwood piles had finally begun to rot, and the club was slowly sinking into the harbour. With water lapping into the building, the clubhouse was closed again.

Operations moved to other locales and a huge fundraising effort, "Operation Landmark" began. The project of lifting the building onto new legs proved long, daunting and expensive.

Due to the costs imposed on members through increased membership fees and assessments, as well as due to complications arising with their playing areas, both Cricket and Tennis ceased to be active sections by the time the project was complete in 1988. All sections lost significant numbers of members during this period. This did not diminish the resolve of members that remained.

Rugby's 1st Division again took the Millar Cup in 1988/89. A VRC coxed four won the Prince Philip Cup at the 1988 Henley Royal Regatta and competed at the Seoul Olympics. Yachting was involved in local yacht racing, in VARC (Vancouver Area Racing Council) as well as in international races such as Swiftsure and the Vic-Maui. Field Hockey continued to play, tour and socialise as aggressively as always and were well represented on the National Team. Rugby had 19 members take international honours from 1983 to 1996.

Renewed energy was also expended on the clubhouse with members adding the Carver Room, renovating the Main Hall and rebuilding the Trophy Lounge in the early 1990's. Installation of a fire suppression system, a new cedar roof, upgrades to the docks' floatation and electrical system and installation of a new vacuum pump-out system all added to approximately $2 million in upgrades and renovations since the 1980's.

Rowing, Rugby and Field Hockey have maintained their commitment to nurturing and developing youth activity in sport, either by offering programs directly or by supplying volunteer coaching to high school programs, in most cases both.

This ongoing commitment continues to strengthen their sports at local, national and international levels. An example is the 1992 Olympic Gold Medallist Women's eight. Five of the nine crew members began rowing at VRC either through high school, junior, or VRC/UBC programs. These five brought home a total of nine gold medals from that Olympics.

Ironically 1992 was also the year that VRC and UBC dissolved their longstanding relationship.

As we head into our second century the Club appears to be in good hands. Sections are healthy, if not expanding.

Field Hockey has had League Championship men and women's teams in recent years and continues to have all teams place well every year.

Our Yachters continue to be well represented in local races and to post excellent results in local and international yacht racing.

Rugby 1st Division won the Millar Cup again in 1994 – 1995 and continue to field highly competitive teams in their three divisions; their Women's and Junior teams were the teams to beat throughout the late nineties.

Rowing continues its commitment to both introducing the public to the sport and taking them to their highest potential as witnessed through our members recent accomplishments at the Nike World Masters games and other local and national competitions.

The Club is not without risks for its survival, but if members maintain the hard work and dedication to their club they have shown over the last century, the club may indeed survive for centuries to come.