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Dragon Boat Canada


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Canoe Kayak Canada

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Towne Crier
Issue 170
July 9, 2007

NANIAMO
Save-on-foods Nanaimo DB Festival
By Susan L

There’s only one thing better than the races at the Nanaimo Festival and it’s usually the Beer Gardens. This year proved to be different.

Emotions ran high as the Pink Carnation Ceremony took place. Paddles were raised in an arch-like-fashion as the teams of Breast Cancer Survivors walked up the jetty. Shania Twain played in the background and there wasn’t one dry eye in the house…..or Harbor. “It is always one of the best moments of the year and makes me realize why I paddle….these ladies are fantastic� says Jena, a friend of the Dragon Divas.

More emotion came when the CFB Esquimalt NAVY Dragon Anchors accepted their silver medals and the crowd took off their hats to salute the team with a singing of “Oh Canadaâ€� The NAVY Team made their debut in 2002 and has consistently won the respect of not only competitors, but onlookers and volunteers alike. “You can always spot the NAVY team heading down for a race…they March and hold their paddles high…it shows how much respect they have for military tradition…it’s just wonderfulâ€� says Dan, a retired Air Force Captain. 

The Victoria based Dragonauts were victorious in defeating NAVY Dragon Anchors, Portland Fire Dragons and Precision Impossible (PI) to take the festival trophy. 

As the festival came to it’s close, the beer gardens became quiet and snippets the of NAVY stickers littered the grounds, lamp poles, signage and tables, I realized that we are not only here to “paddle a boat� or “win a medal� but to make friends and memories. The sight of the Breast Cancer women waving their pink carnations in the air to remember those lost; the sound of the crowd cheering on their boats and the echo’s of our National Anthem will stay vividly in my mind for quite some time.

Congratulations to all the teams who participated and thanks to the volunteers. Job well done.