[Guest]

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

 

Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

194 Guests, 0 Users

[Monk]

This arrived in my e-mail today...I post it for others to respond to as they see fit

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Dear Paddlers, Participants & Supporters;

In a move that came as a complete surprise to our organization, the City of Calgary has revoked the Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation (ADBRF) License of Occupation, our User Group Status, and has requested that we remove our assets from the North Glenmore Park. As this is our 17th year of operation, we are appealing this decision with the Calgary Aldermen and are requesting an audit of the process used to reach this decision. We were in long term (4 years) negotiations in reference to our License of Occupation and we feel that the decision was biased. This is based on the fact that some special interest groups and other participants involved in dragon boat festivals had influence on the outcome; this includes officials with the City of Calgary Parks and Recreation.

The ADBRF has recently been made aware that the City of Calgary will be hosting discussions for the purpose of hosting a smaller dragon boat event. This was never presented to the ADBRF as an option, and to our knowledge we will not be included in those discussions.

The ADBRF remains a strong foundation with event plans for the 2008 racing season and is working to further dragon boating in Western Canada. We find it disappointing that due to the actions of the City of Calgary, we are unable to provide practice sessions utilizing the foundations boats to our paddlers at the Glenmore Reservoir.

We are looking for the support of the Dragon Boat Community to contact the Alderman of ward # 11, Brian Pincott, and request that the ADBRF still have the ability to run the practice season with the ADBRF boats. Please send us a cc. of your support.

Brian Pincott
Alderman Offices
P.O. Box 2100, Stn. M,
Calgary, Alberta T2P 2M5

Or email: Brian Pincott Ward # 11
[email protected]

Sincerely
The Directors of Alberta Dragon Boat Race Foundation

Cc: Alderman Offices
Mayor Dave Bronconnier

[rightarm]

yeah i got that too... what a shame. i hope there is some justifiable reason, though i struggle to think of what that might be

[wanker]

We're trying to figure this out right now. 

We need to find out more details before starting a full blown letter writing, telephone dialing, door knocking campaign.  No sense in just writing letters that make us look like another special interest group trying to get our way against other special interest groups.  Apparently there will be a meeting held sometime in March to discuss the issue - we're awaiting further details.

[PrairiePaddleChick]

Officials slay dragon boats

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2008/02/27/4879578-sun.html

[sweet heat]

wow I had no idea things were so bad.  Can someone explain to me and others like me in simple terms what happened or is happening??  that would b great!

[Displaced Vancouverite]

From what I understand (and I've only been in Calgary for under a year, so feel free to correct me) there has always been a major conflict between the city, the Canoe Club and the Alberta Dragonboat organization. There are some very "strange" conflicts that have been occuring over the years.

For those of you who have been to the Calgary Race, you are familiar with a building at the race site - This facility is not for dragonboaters, this building is used exclusivley by the Calgary Canoe Club (Calgary's FCRCC), which provides facilities for OC's, Rowing and Kayaks. Dragonboaters here are treated as a seperate entity, and are currently working out of a small Shipping container. The facilities here are even less than what you would find at DragonZone.

Remember, the Glenmore Resevoir where the Dragonboats are kept is technically the city water supply. That being said, there has been a maximum limit of 6 dragonboats on the water at any given time, with special exception given to the Calgary Festival. It's rumoured that some city officals don't like the idea of having this type of boat on the water, and from the article in the Calgary Sun, it sounds like they are worried about environmental impact. It's also been stated by some paddlers out here that things are getting very political in terms of who runs the festival and how the races are held.

It's unfortunate that this is taking place here, and there really isn't anything nearby that we can relocate to. Let's all hope this turns out for the best...

[PrairiePaddleChick]

I suspect the environmental impact could refer to all the people that are parking their cars on the grass.  Having a lot of people congregating in one area does cause an environmental impact.  Or the lack of washrooms in the area, other then the Canoe Club building. 

[BernMan]

When I've been there for races there were portapotties. So the washroom issue may not be all that big. But as for other comments that have been brought up earlier does seem legitimate. I am unsure what we here in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver can do to persuade the City of Calgary but if someone has any ideas how then let us know! I know I enjoy the venue and it seems pretty consistent as far as racing venue is concerned with excellent lane markers and no water conditions (well except for wind maybe) such as currents is concerned. I hope it continues!

[PrairiePaddleChick]

I was thinking about when the practices are run on the evenings and weekends, not only the festival, for the parking and washroom issues.  There are no facilities other then the shipping container and the Canoe Club washrooms.  Practices run from late May to mid-September.

[Special K]

Maybe it's time to start on online petition that can be sumitted.

[PrairiePaddleChick]

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=0ba471d1-5965-4ba2-94a5-5a75af7ec4a5

[magicpaddler]

Hey there Special K you made the news last night.

They had old footage from 05 with Pac Reach.  You Paddleboy, Rob etc all in the beer gardens.   You a Star baby.

[Special K]

Pac Reach paddlers in the beer garden? Were we drinking??? How was my hair???

 

[magicpaddler]

Yup.

I think it was right before all the shirt swaping that year

[Founder]

A NEW ERA IN DRAGON BOATING FOR CALGARY!  APPLAUDING THE CITY OF CALGARY'S ACTIONS...

I think that there has been a lot of mis-information going on with respect to the City's move to unseat the ADBRF as the organizers of Calgary's Dragon Boat Races.

This move is seen by many of the stakeholders as a very positive step in the evolution of dragon boating in Calgary, as the ADBRF had ceased to represent many of the key stakeholders in a community-spirited way, and as identified by the city, mis-management of community safety issues and lack of insightful stewardship were rife. Governance of the organization had also been called under question on many occasions dating back to 2003, with several long-standing directors of the organization unilaterally voted off of the board by the current leadership (or that of the time), denying the organization of any sense of checks and balances with respect to issues such as potential conflict of interest, mis-use of assets, community benefit etc.

I would suggest that questions need to be asked of the ADBRF about the integrity of their board governance (most organizations would welcome scrutiny of this to protect their good name and objectives), use of assets for non-arms length "for profit" ventures, transparency of finances, inclusion of key stakeholders in the molding of the event etc.

I can very confidently state that in addition to the City of Calgary, many key stakeholders including some of the longest standing dragon boat clubs, the Chinese Community, the business community and the original founders of the event are ecstatic about the move by the city to protect the community interest and to usher in a new community-spirited era of Dragon Boating within the city of Calgary and region.

The news media has potentially portrayed the City as the bad guy, when in fact they should be lauded for their protection of community interests.  Oddly much of the coverage has been one-sided - controversy is news, a positive outcome from the controversy less so.  Rest assured, the paddlers and any potentially affected charities will benefit from the changes in the long
run.

"Paddles Up" as they say....and let's look forward to a bright and exciting future of the event and sport within the city of Calgary!