History
From 1829 to 1932 Port Dalhousie was the entrance to the first three Welland Canals. In 1932 the fourth Welland Canal opened with a new entrance three miles east at Port Weller and a transformation began as the beach and the harbour focused on recreation. Power boaters and sailors wanted facilities to launch and moor their boats and saw the opportunity, as property and water rights became available for lease.
In 1936, preliminary plans were put together by a small group of local businessmen, and on January 8, 1937 the first meeting to create the Dalhousie Yacht Club was held at the St. Catharines, YMCA. After leasing land and water rights the first priority was a crane followed by a 20 x 20 shack (AKA Club House) built on stilts as the lake level was unpredictable. Those were the depression years and it was the members who did all the work. Dues were $5 a year and many boats were constructed by their owners. Camaraderie was the order of the day and the term Work Party was taken literally; members worked together for the common cause, and then they partied.
After WW II members felt the need to formally incorporate and Provincial Letters Patent were granted on March 1, 1945. Members began a building fund and in 1950 a new clubhouse (20 x 60) with an open veranda was constructed at a cost of $8,000. Members finished the interior over the winter months with donated materials including the fireplace, which was constructed with materials left over from the “Mills Memorial” being constructed at Victoria Lawn Cemetery.
In 1955 the lounge area was added; renovations and improvements to the facilities continued to mark progress. As east side operations such as the rail terminal and rail line (which previously took passengers to Niagara Falls) ceased operating the land became available and DYC expanded the leased area. Boats originally moored on the west side requiring dingys and the west side docks became the next major project. Negotiations with the city over the location of the harbour walkway, and a proposal to become part of the outer harbour Marina, which was rejected by a majority vote, occupy much of the clubs files.
2012 was the 75th Anniversary for DYC. The Club is member controlled and remains to be a tribute to the founders.
Past Commodores
lew holloway
2021 - 2022
Richard Nowina
2020 - 2021
Simon krall
2018 - 2019
Paul Haynes
2016 - 2017
Jim White
2014 - 2015
Barbara McMullen
2012 - 2013
Chris McLaughlin
2010 - 2011
John Krall
2008 - 2009
D'Arcy Cashmore
Eric Allan
2006 - 2007
2004 - 2005
John Dickhout
2002 - 2003
Ted Chamberlain
2000 - 2001
Bjorn Christensen
John Krall
1998 - 1999
1996 - 1997
Mel Holenski
1994 - 1995
Gordon Andrew
1992 - 1993
Richard Baker
Denny McQuilkin
1990 - 1991
1989
Tom Moss
1987 - 1988
Syd McBrain
1985 - 1986
Norm Houghton
Joe Barlow
1983 - 1984
1981 - 1982
Neil McFayden
1979 - 1980
Len Baggot
1977 - 1978
Philip Whitehead
Chet Pryzbek
1975 - 1976
1973 - 1974
Victor Scull
1971 - 1972
Eric Holmes
1969 - 1970
Keith Walker
Larry Locke
1967 - 1968
1965 - 1966
Garnet Stouck
1964
Colin Johnston
1962 - 1963
Vernon May
Fraser Klager
1960 - 1961
1958 - 1959
Fraser Thompson
1957
Fraser Kalger
1956
Charles Wright
Fraser Klager
1955
1951 - 1954
Garnet Stouck
1947 - 1950
William Gutteridge
1946
Jack Gibson
Howard Gutteridge
1945
1944
Frank Cornelius
1937 - 1943
Elections and board changes occur in October. The listed dates reflect the years in which the major part of the term was served.