[citation needed] In the 1840s, rowing clubs and regattas appeared in the Upper Canada communities of Toronto, Brockville, Monkton, and Cobourg.

The event attracted competitors from Toronto, Hamilton and Quebec City, but in the showcase first event — a four-mile, open boat sailing race — local businessmen Edward McGillivray in Who's Ahead and club secretary R.H. Haycock in Undine were even in the final stretch before Who's Ahead answered its own question, winning by 'about three lengths.'

But 'the start has been made,' Haycock wrote to the Ottawa Times in response to the complaints, and the club would 'spare no trouble in endeavouring to improve upon this, the first attempt.

'[4]The initial regattas organized by the club were mainly for professional rowers and attracted numerous crews and spectators.

A special train by the Saint-Lawrence and Ottawa railroad was offered for "the convenience of parties desiring to return the same evening."

[5] The original club house was a wooden building, initially built on pontoons, and moored to the shore of the Ottawa river at the foot of Parliament Hill, between the Rideau canal and the Chaudière Falls.

As a result of those difficult environmental conditions, a "new and commodious boat house" was built in preparation to the 1869 Regatta[6] organized by the club.

Discussions on the formation of a Boat House Company were held in order to avoid selling the property and boathouse (purchase offers were made by external parties).

He infuriated his reporters by paying them small salaries while openly spending into equipment and upkeep for the rowing club.

It consists of a two-story building with four bays for shell and oar storage on the ground floor.

These two crews were joined into a new shell in 1910: the "Bagnall", christened to the name of the person who provided the funds to purchase the boat.

The eight won the 1910 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and was the first holder of the Ned Hanlan Memorial Trophy.