Looks like Calgary's back on...
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=7f9047e7-e621-4d56-8f75-8b696d1d27b7&k=79399Dragon boat race back at GlenmoreCity will issue event licence to new organizer
Kim Guttormson, Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008Calgary's dragon boat paddlers will have a hometown event to race in this summer, despite the city pulling the licence of the organizer.
"At this point, the festival will be happening," said Charlene Waldal, president of the Sistership Dragon Boat Association. "It's pretty exciting, the way it's looking."
While a number of details need to be worked out -- including finding enough additional boats for practices and the race itself -- the city has said it will issue a licence for the Aug. 9 and 10 event.
Last month, the city cancelled the Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation's permit, which allowed it to put boats on the Glenmore Reservoir. The organization's licence for the August two-day event was also pulled.
The city cited numerous concerns that hadn't been addressed over two years, including not keeping a route clear for EMS crews and environmental issues -- problems disputed by the foundation.
Paddlers in the city -- whether they participate in the sport for recreation or competitively -- immediately expressed concern they wouldn't get out on the water this season.
While the Sistership and Top Made teams each own a boat -- and have licences allowing them to use the reservoir -- the majority of vessels in the city belong to the dragon boat foundation.
Karen Young, manager of strategic planning and policy for the city's recreation department, said it is working on "renewing the fleet."
Two options being considered are working with the Calgary Canoe Club, which also operates on the reservoir, to purchase boats or to use a company that contracts boats for races.
Interested parties -- including Sistership, Top Made, the Calgary Canoe Club, Calgary Chinese Merchants Association, a group of paddlers and the city's recreation department -- have been meeting to figure out how to proceed.
Waldal said with the two boats available, "we're going to do what we can to make boats available to other times. There definitely won't be a new foundation. We just want to help paddlers get on the water."
She added the reservoir opens to boats May 1 and they'd like to be on the water by Victoria Day at the latest.
Shawn Samol, of the Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation, said he wasn't aware the event was going ahead and it is still working with the city to be the group that hosts the event.
The foundation is also working to stage a race at Lake Minnewanka near Banff this summer.
Ald. Brian Pincott said this year's race will have a larger cultural component, weaving in the sport's Chinese heritage.
Danny Ng, with the Calgary Chinese Merchants Association, which hosts the annual street festival in August, said this event is a good fit.
"The opportunity came up to include more of a community (component)," he said, adding they haven't determined what that will look like.
Last summer's race had 115 teams.
