This year, the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA) recognized Susanne Walker Curry for her years of service to high school rowing by presenting her with a Lifetime Service Award. Susanne was honoured with the esteemed accolade during the 2023 CSSRA Championships held in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Award recipients must have served high school rowing for at least 25 years. Susanne surpassed that mark through her 11 years at Brentwood College School and 17 years at St. Michaels University School. Nevertheless, the essential prerequisite for Susanne was the need to have contributed to high school rowing by creating innovative, influential, and motivational initiatives. As Head of the SMUS rowing program, Susanne is known for her ability to develop well-rounded individuals and prepare them for the challenges of life in general, not just in sports.
Just one of the highlights of Susanne’s commitment in recent years was the program she ran during COVID. When COVID first resulted in students being sent home, she implemented virtual fitness training sessions. Despite the time differences around the world, she had athletes from across Canada and the United States, England, Germany and Hong Kong who continued to participate as part of the team, despite some of them knowing they would never have the opportunity to row again for SMUS. Even when classes began but restrictions still applied for sports, Susanne moved the dryland training outdoors so athletes could continue their training while respecting the COVID restrictions.
Firinne Rolfe ‘21 was offered multiple scholarship opportunities when she graduated. She credits Susanne with promoting healthy competitiveness and a love of hard work. She said Susanne always believed in her and pushed her to be the best version of herself. “She has always believed I could achieve things before I have had the confidence to believe it myself.”
This sentiment was echoed by Nathan Yang ‘20 who noted “She believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.” He said that Susanne, through her critical yet compassionate approach to every athlete in the program, had an incredible impact on his life and development as a student, athlete and human being.
Parents of athletes in the rowing program have observed the impact Susanne has had on their children. Dan Sheehan noted that Susanne’s “ability to transform kids from non-athletes to Canadian champions is truly miraculous. It is through her inspirational teaching methods and her true love for each and every member of her team and fellow coaches that she is able to create transformative change.” The life lessons learned from Susanne will carry these young people long into the future.
Martin McElroy, who was not only a parent but also an Olympic Gold medal rowing coach, understands the demands and stress of the job. According to Martin, being a professional coach was relatively easy when compared with running a program in a school environment, balancing the demands of school, academic and sporting life, and maintaining a position as a teacher. Martin said he helped with coaching whenever he was able, but he felt the SMUS rowing program may have helped him more than he helped the program. “Watching young athletes have fun, seeing them develop as individuals, and see them come together selflessly for the team was a reaffirmation of the power of sport to me. There is no question that the hub and source of the energy that propels the SMUS rowing program comes from Susanne.”
Sarah Hagkull ‘16, current SMUS rowing Assistant Coach, credits Susanne’s empowering mindset and leadership with bringing her to the position and profile she currently has at the school, and in life in general. She reflected on how she learned that whether sitting at the starting line, crossing the finish line or walking through the hotel lobby, she represented the school, team, families, and coaches, as well as herself.
Susanne’s passion for the rowing program and her athletes is evident in both the program and her rowers. She has not hesitated to bring in other professionals to support the athlete development, including a former athlete who now has a career in Los Angeles, to host an online scavenger hunt on campus for team members. The athletes were having so much fun they didn’t recognize the teambuilding and fitness aspect of the activities until the event was finished. Susanne also engaged a sport psychology professional to support the athlete's development. In these cases, the individuals donated their talents and time out of respect for Susanne. That respect and passion is evident even at the local regattas where SMUS rowing alumni returning from university regularly volunteer their services to help at major regattas and encourage current team members.
Nathan Yang ‘20 summed it up best when he said “She is much more than just a rowing coach; she is a teacher, leader, mentor, and most of all – family. One team, one family.”
