Old Mill Boathouse
The Old Mill Boathouse is a center for Rowing, Sailing and Paddling at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody.
Rowing and paddling became official in Port Moody in the late 1960s under the leadership of the late, John Rockingham. A permanent facility had been planned but was never developed. Rowing and paddling ceased in the early 1970s.
At the same time, organized sailing became popular in Port Moody. Over the next 25 years, Centennial Sailing Club (CSC) hosted many sailing events in Port Moody including national and provincial events. In 1987, CSC began to develop a permanent sailing facility for children at Rocky Point Park. In 1996 this organization was registered under the BC Society’s Act as Rocky Point Sailing Association (RPSA) – an organization dedicated to low-cost (or free) sail training for children and youth.
In 1999 the Port Moody Rowing and Paddling Centre joined RPSA in an effort to convince the local governments that a properly built structure was required to develop non-powered sports in the area.
A design and implementation committee was formed from the task force, basic design features were agreed upon and an architect was hired – rba Burgers of West Vancouver, BC. Formal designs were made and agree upon and the final plans were made.
A sod-turning ceremony took place on July 21, 2001 with Mayor Joe Trasolini of Port Moody.
The Old Mill Boathouse (OMBH) was created to provide a recreation and training centre for boaters involved in rowing, dinghy sailing, canoeing, kayaking and dragon boating. Aside from boat storage, change rooms, showers and a common room, the OMBH has a ‘Great Room’ on the upper floor with a feature fireplace and balcony for social functions. The room is rented for social functions (events, anniversary, birthday parties, etc) to assist with the operating costs of the building.
The Old Mill Boathouse is managed by the Old Mill Boathouse Society which is a non-profit society, formed with each of the member clubs represented on the volunteer board responsible for managing the facility.
Under the terms of the agreement with the City, the society agreed to contribute $ 250,000 of the estimated $ 1.1 million construction cost, with the City contributing $ 650,000 and the BC Government $ 200,000. The Society undertook a fund raising campaign in the local community with donors recognized on the donor wall in the building.
The building features 7 large timber trusses that were recoverd from the Flavelle Mill building (adjacent to Rocky Point Park), believed to have been originally made in 1900.
On July 1, 2002, during Golden Spike Days, the Old Mill Boathouse officially opened.
The Old Mill Boathouse became the 'home base' for Rocky Point Sailing, Port Moody Canoe and Kayak Club, Port Moody Rowing Club (now Inlet Rowing), SFU Rowing, as well as the commercial operations of Rocky Point Kayak.