Rob Stevens
Wooden Canoes are in the Blood
Saturday, June 26th, 2010 is National Canoe Day.
In 2007, the canoe was named one of the Seven Wonders of Canada via a CBC Radio feature in which over 1 million votes were cast. In celebration of this, the Canadian Canoe Museum founded National Canoe Day with the aim of increasing participation in paddlesports in Canada, engaging new paddlers and reaching across generational and cultural divides to introduce the canoe to those who haven't had the opportunity to experience this great national heritage. In the intervening years, National Canoe Day has grown to become a truly countrywide event, with participants paddling across the country, from the midnight sun of the north to the urban rivers of the south. National Canoe Day was also celebrated internationally by groups in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Now entering its fourth year as a national day of celebration of one of the country's most-beloved icons, preparations for National Canoe Day are in full swing. The aim of the day is to encourage both expert canoeists and 'canewbies' to get out onto the water, to give canoeing a try, or to revive a forgotten passion for this fun, healthy, and environmentally low-impact pastime. Participants are encouraged to get creative: "You don't have to own a canoe or even get on the water to participate," says coordinator Candace Shaw "there are events across the country where you'll be able to try your hand at paddling, but making canoe-themed crafts with your kids or creating a canoe-themed window display are also great ways to celebrate." Over the
past three years, National Canoe Day events have been as varied as community potlucks and main street portages, at venues across the country. In 2009, over 25 events celebrated National Canoe Day; in 2010, that number is expected to double.
http://www.nationalcanoeday.net/
In 2007, the canoe was named one of the Seven Wonders of Canada via a CBC Radio feature in which over 1 million votes were cast. In celebration of this, the Canadian Canoe Museum founded National Canoe Day with the aim of increasing participation in paddlesports in Canada, engaging new paddlers and reaching across generational and cultural divides to introduce the canoe to those who haven't had the opportunity to experience this great national heritage. In the intervening years, National Canoe Day has grown to become a truly countrywide event, with participants paddling across the country, from the midnight sun of the north to the urban rivers of the south. National Canoe Day was also celebrated internationally by groups in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Now entering its fourth year as a national day of celebration of one of the country's most-beloved icons, preparations for National Canoe Day are in full swing. The aim of the day is to encourage both expert canoeists and 'canewbies' to get out onto the water, to give canoeing a try, or to revive a forgotten passion for this fun, healthy, and environmentally low-impact pastime. Participants are encouraged to get creative: "You don't have to own a canoe or even get on the water to participate," says coordinator Candace Shaw "there are events across the country where you'll be able to try your hand at paddling, but making canoe-themed crafts with your kids or creating a canoe-themed window display are also great ways to celebrate." Over the
past three years, National Canoe Day events have been as varied as community potlucks and main street portages, at venues across the country. In 2009, over 25 events celebrated National Canoe Day; in 2010, that number is expected to double.
http://www.nationalcanoeday.net/
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