 The national championship was initiated in 1900 although no club champion was designated until 1904, the Ottawa Canoe Club becoming the first official Canadian Champion at that time.Championships were cancelled during the years 1916-1918 and 1942-1945 due to the two world wars.While the national championship continues to this day and is considered the premier national regatta, provincial divisions and regions have organized a variety of events to fill out the seasonal schedule of events for competitors.