The South Island could be losing one of its national training centres as Rowing Canada searches for a new home base.
The organization has operated its men's training program at Elk Lake for years, with the team rowing to Olympic gold in the men's eights in 2008.
The women's program also recently moved to Elk Lake from London, Ont. so Rowing Canada could keep both teams together.
With the multi-use Elk Lake becoming crowded, especially over the summer season, a call for proposals from Rowing Canada went out in the spring for communities wishing to host the national team.
It came as a shock to those in the rowing community on Elk Lake. Go anywhere across Canada, they say, and the one sport most mentioned in association with Greater Victoria is rowing.
The Island, however, remains in the hunt with two of the five proposals expected to be submitted by Friday’s deadline.
A Lower Island group is proposing a revamped national team training centre that would utilize Elk Lake, Shawnigan Lake and Finlayson Arm.