TORONTO— The daylight is dim, and the air is cool as Neve Jullienne hops onto her bike, embarking to the Hanlan Rowing Club at Cherry Beach. Her doubles partner, Kayla Solway, pedals alongside her as they slowly come to life. 

By the time they reach the calm and glassy water, the first rays of sunlight begin to shine across the horizon, announcing the start of a new day. With each stroke of her oar, Jullienne takes a deep breath, letting the fresh air wash away the noise and pressures of city life and university stress.

"[Rowing is] the biggest change that my life needed," Jullienne says. 
 
Before late last fall, the idea of rowing, especially for a university team based in the core of Toronto, had never crossed her mind. But one day, after her regular workout at the Recreation and Athletic Centre (RAC), she was approached by a founding member of the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Rowing team, handing out flyers. 

"I had never heard of a rowing team in Toronto. So I kind of thought that wouldn't be an option for me," Jullienne recalls. 

It was this brief interaction that marked the beginning of what would become her transformative journey with rowing.

Jullienne had never rowed before joining TMU's team. While she came from a strong athletic background, participating in competitive dance, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and rock climbing, rowing was something entirely new. 

"I knew about the rowing machines and the ergs, but nothing too intense," said Jullienne.

She officially joined the team in January of 2025, just as dryland training began.

"It's interesting because we started erging, so that was easier to understand because it's on a machine," said Jullienne. 

The transition from gym training to being on the water was a frustrating yet rewarding experience. "Once you add in a boat, an oar, and gravity, it kind of changes it," she explained.

Noticing her hesitancy, TMU Rowing Assistant Coach Kelly Brigley took her under her wing. She attested to her athletic ability and rowing potential, pushing her to continue trying.

"I'm not good yet, but she saw that I could be," said Jullienne.

She appreciated Brigley's coaching style, with a feedback focused approach. Her clear and direct instruction pushed her to continue to get better. 

Jullienne's journey with rowing has been anything but linear. What kept her going through the challenges was the people around her. A sport rooted in synchronization, rowing naturally deepened her connection with her teammates.

"Once you get in the boat, you have to swing the same, you have to push your legs in the same way," said Jullienne. "You have to move like a carbon copy of the person in front of you."

One bond that stands out is her doubles partner, Solway. 

"Being in sync all the time and working together to create a set and balance is kind of special," shared Jullienne on her and Solway's partnership.

Even on the most difficult days, it's showing up for her fellow team members that drives her: "You look forward to seeing your friends, the connections you make are probably the best thing."

This sense of community was something Jullienne had been searching for. In her first year at TMU, she felt uninvolved with her school community. She knew something needed to change.

"I'm just grateful to be there and to work out and meet new people," said Jullienne. That's the original reason I wanted to join a team at TMU, it was, you know, having that community feeling."

Moving to the city was not originally in the cards for Jullienne. A native of Aurora, Ont., she enjoys spending her time up at her cottage, unwinding in the quiet. But when she was accepted into TMU's renowned Interior Design program, she knew the city was where she needed to be. 

Now, being a part of TMU's Rowing team it offers her an escape from all the noise of downtown Toronto and the demands of her intensive program.
 

"Starting my day off in nature and getting more fresh air, it's a reconnect. I think it's a nice way to separate my life," said Jullienne.

What began as something unfamiliar has quickly turned into something she can't imagine living without: "It's such a big part of your routine that you can't not make it the biggest part of your life."

Currently in the midst of the fall OUA regatta season, the stroke seat is in pursuit of some key goals during her first official fall campaign with the team. After a summer of racing competitively with Hanlan Rowing Club—an active partner of the TMU Rowing program—she hopes to bring that valuable experience into her OUA performance.

Her current focus includes improving her 2km time and refining her technique to continue growing.

As an individual who always seeks a challenge, and in pursuit of finding her place, Jullienne is confident she has found the right match.  

"I'm trying to find my niche, and honestly, I can say I found it, like I'm obsessed."