Good Day Paddlers!
We are even more pleased to report that our 2017 CVBS Canoe Journeys and Brigades for this summer are developing very well, and growing!
Here are our Brigade by Brigade updates:
Sunshine Coast Canoe Journey - June 13 to 18
We are still waiting here for spring to hit, but we have had a few good paddling days in now including an orca sighting off Gibsons, along with the usual seals, sea lions, ducks etc chasing the herring....
Our registration is now formally closed. We have nine canoes and most of the unattached paddlers have found crews. There's a possibility however that we'll accept one or two more canoes.
We will have three major events, in Egmont, Sechelt and Gibsons. In Egmont we hope to have a totem raising to kick us off. Failing that we will be gathering for stories and acculturation on Sechelt territory. In Sechelt town we have arranged a Night in the Sechelt Band Longhouse with traditional food and stories. In Gibsons our arrival coincides with the Jazz Festival and we are arranging a buffet meal with upbeat music in the new Gibsons Public Market overlooking Gibsons Harbour.
On Fathers Day in Ambleside we expect to be greeted by the Chief of Police, our local MP, and the Lt. Gov. We are still working on the other details....
Cheers, Jerry
Athabasca River Canoe Brigade - June 22 to 28
1. We are at 16 canoes registered, and all crew leaders have been requested to finalize their crews and registrations by April 30th by our registrar. At this time, all unattached paddlers are assigned to teams and connected to a crew leader.
2. To foster voyageur canoeing skills...we are offering a Canoe Course: For those interested in improving their skill set, a weekend camping and Voyageur Canoeing basics course at Shining Bank Lake will be held May 27/28, 2017. This Lake is 24 km N of Peers along Hwy. 32, 7 km West. Cost is $30/person. Please confirm with Rick at rickzro@gmail.com by April 16, if you wish to attend.
3. We have developed an hour by hour schedule for the on water and on land activities of the brigade. The schedule covers crew change times, which meals are brigade-organizer provided, location of community events including landing ceremonies, and where great public viewing opportunities exist coming downstream. Now working on finalizing landing ceremony scripts and launch event activities. (schedule will be posted on website later in April after final revisions/review is complete).
4. Some great community events are lined up, including the participation of:
-- Laura Vinson in Whitecourt She celebrates her native routes and started her career as a country star, had several hits including number one hit "Sweet Mountain ".
-- an energetic closing event in Ft. Assiniboine which could attract up to 1000 folks and involves Alberta's Lieutenant Governor (Pronounced LEFT-ten-ant), the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell; and a world class fiddler--Calvin Volrath based in St. Paul who was 1985 North American Fiddling champion.
5. We have begun to pray for amazing weather. The abundant snowpack in the Northern Rocky Mountains this year will ensure the river flows well (less hard paddling required!!!) for the 333 km paddle over 6 days down the scenic, mighty Athabasca!!
Fort Edmonton Canoe Brigade - June 29 to July 3
At present the Fort Edmonton Canoe Brigade has nine BIG canoes registered (about 100 paddlers) for the four days, and one or two more "waiting-in-the-wings." We can handle considerably more enteries... we are not limited by campgrounds... just available BIG canoes... if you have a BIG canoe and crew... sign on registration closes in May for the BIG canoe event.
We have just recently opened the two small craft events: our Canada Day Paddle from Devon to Fort Edmonton, and the our Metis Crossing Camp-out and Paddle on July 2 & 3. These are shorter paddles and opportunties for tandem and solo canoe and kayak paddlers to join us.
Most of our planning and bookings (campgrounds, catering, park access, security, pipers, black powder crew) are completed and the major remaining chores are more marketing, registration, finding volunteers, and figuring out how to handle traffic, parking, safety boat... the details.
This brigade is coming together very nicely!
Mark
Sault Ste Marie Canoe Brigade - June 29 to July 4
We are up to 4 canoes ...and we will try to add more canoes as registrations dictate...our limit would be 6 canoes.
22 paddlers registered to date
Planning continues for events in communities along the route
We have sent FYI's to law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border
We developed sea state criteria to govern "on' and "off" the water decisions...we want to stay on the good side of the Lake Superior and Lake Huron water spirits
We have set several dates prior to the Brigade for our crews to practice.
The momentum is building!
Mark Crofts
The Four Winds - Ottawa Canoe Brigades - all landing in Ottawa on Canada Day
Max sent me so much stuff, and so much is happening for these four brigades that are to arrive in Ottawa on Canada Day, I've had to send the update as a separate newsletter. It will be out shortly.
Wolastog - St John River Canoe Brigade
- 11 crews in with approx 120 paddlers (we have a limit of 12 crews)
- have amended the brigade name to St. John River Wolastoq Brigade to include the Maliseet name for the river.
- The Honourable Jocelyne Roy Vienneau, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, has graciously agreed to serve as Honorary Patron for our Brigade.
- St. John River Society is now a partner with us, providing funding for public events along our route
- McCain’s is a sponsor, helping us with events along the route
- work continues on event planning at the various stops
- developing a detailed itinerary for participants listing route, events, local services and other attractions along the route, sponsor acknowledgement, emergency numbers, etc.
Mike & Brian
Confederation - PEI Canoe Brigade - July 23 to 27
Mike and Brian have stimulated a short brigade to, and on Prince Edward Island. Weather permitting the brigade will paddle across the Northumberland Strait (beside/under Confederation Bridge), and then spend two days paddling into, and out of Charlottetown. Plans are being finalized, and it is expected that many on the St. John River Brigade will continue on for these four days.
2017 Participants Please Remember:
- all brigade details including registration links start from http://voyageurbrigade.org
- all of these brigades require that participants have a 2017 CVBS Membership, and you will have to pass your membership receipt # onto the brigade committee directly, or through your Crew Leader/Captain. This is how we ensure everyone has completed a waiver, pay for our insurance, and some of the common swag that all the brigades will have for participants.
We have some new support pages for brigade paddlers:
Sooo... round up your paddling friends, find a big canoe (and in some cases there are small boat options) and get registered with one or more of our brigades for this summer and our Canada 150 celebrations.
We are looking forward to a fine summer of paddling!
Mark
Chair, 2017 Canadian Voyageur Brigades
|
