2010 in Review

Spring Report:
On February 12, the team held their annual Dragon Toss fundraiser at Memorial Gardens. Organized by Lise and Dave McMillan, the event raised over $500 for the team. Thanks to everyone who worked on the Dragon Toss.

The unusually warm spring resulted in the ice coming off Trout Lake early, so the team launched Jane to begin training for their first event in Peterborough (view). The water is extremely cold, so the safety boat hovered nearby as the team introduced new members to the joy of paddling. Then it snowed (view), however the new cover kept Jane warm.

The team is taking on a new fundraiser – selling pink ‘Go Fast’ racing head covers (view), a headscarf sporting the Breast Cancer symbol of a pink ribbon. The team practiced their winning hat throw (view) in preparation for the racing season. The Go Fast covers will be for sale at festivals and the Farmer’s Market.

The Weed Warriors plot at the Waterfront displayed last fall’s efforts with a ‘pink’ ribbon of tulips (view). The Warriors will replace the tulips with flowering pink petunias as soon as the tulips have had a chance to store some bulb energy for next spring.

Warrior Merchandise:
The popular Warriors of Hope merchandise is now available for viewing on our web in the Photo Gallery Section.

Prices (2010) are: view the merchandise gallery [ more ]

  • Tee Shirts – $
  • Bucket Hats – $20
  • Tote Bags – $20
  • Magic Cloths – $16
  • Pins – $3
  • Grip Gloves – $8
  • Coloured gloves – $6
  • Work gloves – $5
  • Pink ball caps, visors, toques – $10
  • Garbage bags – (large / small) $3
  • ‘Go-Fast’ racing head covers – $10

Watch for our sales tables at local events or call Bonnie at 472-5771.

Training:

  • Dry-land training begins January 14 at West Ferris gym at 6:30 p.m.
  • Warriors Ski Day: Cross country ski day at Nordic Trails on January 23
  • Weekly paddle practices – Tuesday and Thursday evening at 5:45 p.m., CFB dock on Trout Lake – tentative start date is May 11, 2010

Business Items:

  • The Annual General Meeting is February 18 at PHARA at 7:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be Monique Smith, MPP.
  • Safety Policy Review completed and instituted.
  • Team Recruitment drive

Fundraisers:

The Annual Yard Sale held at 1350 Fisher Street (view) was an outstanding success again this year. The Warriors appreciate the support of all the bargain hunters who contributed over $2,000 in support of the team. A special thank you to the yard sale organizers (view) and workers who made the day a success.

On February 12 (view), the team held their annual Dragon Toss fundraiser at Memorial Gardens (view). Organized by Lise and Dave McMillan, the event raised over $500 for the team. The ‘Dragons’ are actually bean bags! (view). Thanks to everyone who worked on the Dragon Toss (view).

During the summer, the Warriors held a sale at the Farmer’s Market (view) in downtown North Bay. It was an excellent opportunity to meet the public and sell some Warriors’ merchandise (see above).

A special event this fall was the fund raiser held at the Davedi Club. Thanks to Tim Salidas and Diana for getting the dinner underway, and to Lynn for looking after the ticket sales. The food was excellent (view) and everyone enjoyed the evening (view) that featured entertainment by some of the areas very talented young people.

Festivals:

IDBF Peterborough June 11-13

The Warriors were one of seventy breast cancer survivor teams attending the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission festival. Survivors Abreast of Peterborough hosted the world-wide event that is held every four years. Teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, England, the United States and Canada joined in the opening parade(view) that travelled down George Street (view) to the park. The Warriors, carrying their super-size Bra (view) joined over 2,000 breast cancer survivors at the park (view) for an opening address and Mayor’s barbeque.

The City of Peterborough did itself proud by providing financial support and showing community spirit by going pink – even to the extent of painting a garbage truck! (view). All participants gathered at the Evinrude Centre for a banquet where the keynote speaker, Dr Don McKenzie, the force behind breast cancer survivors’ dragon boating, gave an inspiring talk. The highlight of the races was the carnation ceremony and the Warriors were fortunate to be selected to join the flotilla as a team (view). The large crowd that lined the shore (view) gasped in awe as a flock of white doves (view) flew over the rafted dragon boats not once but twice.

The Warriors placed 12th overall, a respectable standing in the seventy-team races that were as competitive as one might expect from survivors who have faced the dragon of breast cancer.

June 26 – New Liskeard
The Warriors attended the New Liskeard Dragonboat Festival for the second year (view) this year and although there were fewer teams than in 2009, the competition was lively. Spectators watched as the Warriors (view) did their warm up exercises ( see the Photo Gallery for more examples of warm-up exercises) prior to the afternoon races. There was one scary moment when a couple of members of one of the teams intentionally swamped their boat  (view) causing the support boats to rush to the scene to ascertain if everyone was safe. Such horseplay is irresponsible and is discouraged since someone might be caught unawares and trapped under the dragon boat.

July 17 – North Bay
With only twelve teams competing this year at the North Bay Rotary Dragon Boat Festival, the Warriors were slotted against some formidable odds. Undeterred by size or brawn, (view), the Warriors worked hard against a headwind to win two trophies (view). Competition in the Breast Cancer Survivors race came from their friends from Peterborough, Survivors Abreast. The Warriors prevailed, but joined hands with the other team in the carnation ceremony (view). By some stroke of good fortune (for the bankers) the Warriors did not race against one of their major sponsors, ScotiaBank , but did pose for photos with the team (view).

After the races, Warrior Bonnie and her husband Lou hosted the two teams for a barbeque at their home on Trout Lake (view). All the participating teams deemed the Eleventh Annual festival a great success.

August 14, Wellington
The Dragon Boat races at Wellington provided a new experience for the Warriors. Arriving at the race site, the waves crashing into the shore made the team gasp (view), but the races were not on Lake Ontario, but in a channel between West Lake and the big water. The channel was only wide enough for two boats so the races, 200 metres, were in fact Drag races (view). There were 5 Breast Cancer teams at the festival and once again, the carnation ceremony was a novel and moving experience for the local attendees (view). The team struggled a little with their starts in the 200 metre sprints and it was not until the third race that the Warriors won the Drag race (view). Congratulations to the Wellington Lions club for an excellent festival – their medals are especially attractive.

September 11, 2010, 6th Annual Golf Tournament
The Warriors hosted their 6th annual golf tournament at Clear Spring Golf Course on a bright fall day – perfect weather for golf and fun. The 4-person scramble format (with the option of buying Mulligans) led to some excellent scores and the presentation of the Warriors’ Trophy (view). Awarding the donated prizes were two efficient Warriors, (view) giving time for the players to enter the raffle and 50/50draws before a delicious steak dinner. Signs for the Hole Sponsors were again donated by Seymour Graphics who also made special Hole-in-One and Long Drive signs (view). Team Walton struggled for pars with Dragonheart missing putt after putt (view). Several teams have already signed up for next year’s tournament.

Fall Review:
The Weed Warriors were busy all summer, pulling weeds, trimming the ground cover, and encouraging the petunias (view) that eventually grew to their full potential. The signature flowerbed is now resting, waiting for spring when the tulips will once again signal the warmer weather.

This fall the Nipissing University men’s hockey team, the Lakers, supported breast cancer awareness by running a Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Dressed in their pink jerseys (view) the Lakers played an exhibition game against London. Our team captain, Sherry, had the honour of dropping the ceremonial puck (view) to open the Lakers’ season.

On October 1, A&S Towing delivered Jane to her winter storage quarters at Bursey’s. Dave and Bill wrapped the boat (view) to keep her ready for next spring.

The next community event was the CIBC-sponsored Run For the Cure. Led by Warrior Lynn who gathered the most pledges of any participant (view), the Warriors raised the most money of any women’s team (view) in the event.

December 2010 Events
The Warriors had a busy December this year, beginning with their annual Christmas party. The party is an opportunity for the team to sit together at a dinner table instead of on the dragonboat seats, raise some money for the Santa Fund and review their past year of paddling. This year the team raised $542.00 which they donated to the North Bay Santa Fund (view) at Twiggs Cafe. Mary, Karen and Chris attended and enjoyed an early, early morning coffee.

A few days after the party, the team moved its equipment and materials storage to a new site on Bond Street. The new Team Captain, Chris MacMillan, organized a crew to ‘purge’ the items in storage (view) and the team gear is now organized once again.

At the Board meeting in December, the Bank of Nova Scotia again presented a cheque to team (view) that will ensure a busy season in 2011.