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When I first arrived at Trent University, I knew that rowing was highly respected here. Everywhere I went, “Try out for Rowing” was scribed in chalk; on the cement stairs of the Bata library, along the sides of the bridge, and along every walkway. It therefore didn’t surprise me when I discovered that the most celebrated event of the year is a rowing regatta.

The countdown to Head of the Trent had been displayed on campus proudly for weeks, and I wasn’t sure what to expect when the actual day came. Of course I had done my homework: the rowing regatta was initiated in 1971 by the same person who had created the Trent University Rowing Club, a man named Chris Leach. Originally the regatta hosted crews from Brock University and the University of Toronto, alongside Trent. It has since grown to become the University’s most celebrated event, attracting more than 50 universities and clubs, while also incorporating the activities of other clubs and varsity sports.

In the morning, there were many grumbles directed towards an overcast sky. I printed off the schedule and brochure, wondering if inclement weather would cause some of the activities and events to be cancelled. Luckily, aside from the choppy waves, there was no sign of rain. The rowing had begun for the second division by the time I reached the water. The slick bodies of the boats and the steady heartbeat of their teams’ oars slicing the water sent a thrill through me, and I took in the crowd around me. The bridge was not quite packed by this time in the morning, but a good number had settled along the side walls to watch or cheer.

The alumni were easily distinguishable from the students. Their eyes met ours with nostalgia as they wandered the old haunts, occasionally commenting that something had changed or wondering aloud if they would run into a particular past classmate.

After a lunch at the barbecue, I began to explore the vendors that had travelled here for the event. The Canadian Canoe Museum vendor and I discussed white-water sports and the merits of Rice Lake canoes. On my way to the women’s varsity soccer game between the Trent Excalibur and the Carleton Ravens, I was stopped by several members of Trent’s cheerleading team. They were selling homemade cupcakes to support their group. I had to laugh when I discovered that my cupcake was not only crowned by six green jellybeans, but that the cake batter inside the cupcake had been dyed green with food colouring as well, as if to say, “We’re just as spirited on the inside!”

After the game I went back down to the river to watch the third division of the regatta, where I befriended some members of the London crew. I was touched at how interactive everyone was, despite the distance between our postal codes and the fact that our crews were competing against each other. There was a sense of camaraderie that I have come to associate directly with Trent; here, even rivalries can pause to savour the moment of holding breath in, waiting for the rhythmic unity of a passing crew’s strokes to fade.

The best part of my day came next. One of my closest friends on campus, Emma, was being visited by her parents for the day; both of them are Trent alumni. Their dog Lucy had accompanied them for the trip. As her parents attended the alumni reunion at the Ceilie, we walked Lucy around campus. We soon learned how many students were missing their own dogs back home, and began to joke that Lucy was a therapy dog. Every few metres we were stopped by a student desperately asking to pet her.

When Emma’s parents returned, they reminisced about their time at Trent as we prepared to go out for dinner. It felt strange, to see the divide between where Emma and I stand now and how far her parents had travelled, knowing that they had been in our exact position once. 

Head of the Trent aided me in realizing the diversity and sense of community that is characteristic to Trent. It also brought into perspective just how many people have called the University home over time. It’s like looking back along a family tree, and wondering what similar and different experiences we share with those who came before us.

I’m looking forward to attending this event for many years to come.

Posted on Monday, October 7, 2013.