As a child, exploring British Columbia’s coastline with his family set the stage for Rob Denny’s lifelong love of boats and the ocean. While his career centered on making fine furniture, Rob spent spare moments crafting beautiful boats for his own use. About 1987, he built a 12-foot rowboat called a Yankee Tender. In 2000, the boat had been little used and was still in like-new condition.

In 2000, Salt Spring Islanders were trying valiantly to raise sufficient funds to purchase a large tract of ecologically significant land from a logging company. When the Salt Spring Conservancy asked people for auction items at a fundraising dance, Rob generously donated his rowboat. It was the centre of attention that night and its lucky owner, Tamar, now enjoys rowing along the island’s shoreline.

I felt happy that the boat would be going to someone else who cared about our island and who might have pleasure in rowing it. I, myself, was a strong believer in the cause for which the funds were being raised.

Rob Denny