Discovery Day Regatta set for June 25 in St. John’s, NL

The 2011 Discovery Day Regatta will be held tomorrow, Saturday June 25, 2011, weather permitting. This year, 44 crews, of all ages and levels, will hone their skills in preparation for Time Trials slated for July 9.

There are 10 races scheduled from tomorrow’s regatta, with the first race starting at 9:00 AM. A tentative schedule is now posted online on The Committee’s new website www.stjohnsregatta.org. Participants are asked to listen for a radio announcement at 7:15 tomorrow morning to determine if the races are going ahead. Updates will also be posted on the Committee’s Twitter page
@stjohnsregatta.

As part of this year’s Discovery Day Event, there will be a special lakeside ceremony to recognize the efforts of Major Walter F. Learning, CM, of the Church Lads Brigade (CLB). Walter Francis Learning, CM, has been a long time member of the CLB, having joined in 1939 under the regimental number 5293. Boasting 73 years of involvement with the organization, Learning was
a proud member of the Regimental Band for 68 years.

In 1964 Major Learning accepted the position of Bandmaster, providing guidance and leadership to the group for 36 years. Through his involvement with the CLB Regimental Band, Major Learning participated in or lead the Band in the Royal St. John’s Regatta for 47 years, performing numerous songs from the bandstand at Quidi Vidi Lake. Rain or shine, cold or heat the Band under Major
Learning’s guidance, performed admirably.

To commemorate this outstanding contribution to the Regatta, The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee in partnership with the City of St. John’s will dedicate the bandstand to Major Walter F. Learning, CM. The ceremony will take place at the bandstand at 2:00 PM following the conclusion of the Discovery Day races.

You can find more information at www.stjohnsregatta.org
Or contact:
Ken Butler
Media Liaison,
Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee
knbutler@nl.rogers.com
709‐765‐3377