Barrie Through The Seasons - August 2016
Barrie Through The Seasons - Dragon Boat August 2016
Barrie cares; two words that are a call to action heeded by
many for numerous causes in our city. Local government and corporate sponsors
add donations when budget planning, small businesses support local campaigns
with innovative style and residents regularly reach into their pockets. Each in
our way encourages and supports the creative challenge of contributing.
I saw this at the 14th
annual Dragon Boat races on Saturday August 27. I felt it.
The enthusiasm of Erin Corcoran; Re/Max Chay Realty Inc.
Sales Representative and enthusiastic owner operator of Barrie’s Simcoe County
Shop Local with whom I am collaborating to bring you Barrie through the Seasons
was the impetus for this August review.
Erin is a first time Dragon boat paddler who enjoys lending support
to the C.O.P.E. service dog team.
While learning about the Dragon Boat races I snuggled a
seven week old puppy that is in training to become a service dog for an individual
in need of assistance with mobility challenges. The specialized training costs
over $30,000.00 and takes approximately two years. In the process this pup will
touch the lives of approximately forty people; with his foster family, school
partnerships programs, as a reading buddy in elementary schools, a visitor in senior’s
homes. This will assist the adorable
golden retriever to develop socialization skills before he is paired with his
permanent partner.
Training is expensive, his responsibilities are extensive;
this pup will be more than a companion, he might be a life-saver.
Energy was the word on race day, many teams engaged in warm
up exercises, although some looked as if raising a coffee mug would be more
their style on a Saturday morning, they were here and committed to their team.
Over fifty five teams from Simcoe County and beyond
participated this year, raising over $102,000.00 for their charity of choice.
The Haliburton Highlands sent a crew, to me this exemplifies the spirit of
race, where communities comes together to raise money, network with others and
have fun.
There were moments of strong emotion, enthusiasm and
exhaustion.
Volunteers and visitors assist from the sidelines, assuring
the day runs smoothly. Vendors provide nourishment for body and soul, food
trucks, booths and various forms of hands on complementary therapeutic
modalities were available to sooth sore muscles.
I asked Erin Corcoran about her motivation to become a
Dragon Boat team member for C.O.P.E. (Canine Opportunity, People Empowerment),
and her response was immediate, “because its dogs and it helps both kids and
adults”. Although she has been assisting C.O.P.E. through social media and
fundraising for a few years, this is her first year in the dragon boat as a
paddler.
Erin is inspiring, her enthusiasm is contagious. I asked some of her boat mates what inspired
them.
Erin’s sister-in-law and team mate Arlene Macleod, a Child
and Youth Worker joined “to raise money for a good cause”. While friend Darren Lavigne jokingly claimed
he was “threatened and feared Erin would defriend him on social media if he
refused her request”, but quickly added that his commitment was “to have his
kids see him participate in something for charity, to teach them the
value”. Another team member chimed in with
“they had me at charity”.
Giving matters!
The collaboration between the Barrie Public Library and the
Dragon Boat has been buoyant for 14 years, bringing community together for fun
and fundraising. Katherina Symes,
Community Fundraising and Events Lead for the library shared with me that
planning for the 2017 event has already begun and will include ways to
celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday.
The event has many sponsors, but special credit must be mentioned
for the lead sponsor, Tim Hortons.
A shout out to volunteers is in order too. Katherina Symes
told me over 80 volunteers assisted with the Dragon Boat event. In bright
turquoise t-shirts they were easily visible at Heritage Park on race day, from
the docks to the kid’s zone where many children were actively engaged in
creating quality themed crafts under their watchful eyes.
A crash course in learning the use of appropriate lingo was
provided to me, with 1300 participating paddlers, I quickly discovered that
indeed they paddle, one doesn’t say row. If you are interested in dipping a paddle for
exercise or team building to be ready for next year’s race, check the links below
for more details.
It was an enlightening event to review; while watching the
races or walking the site I felt the high degree of commitment and the rush of
adrenaline and excitement from participants and spectators.
Dragon Boats glide on the water as all paddlers work
together, totally focused as they listen to the rhythm of the drum, dipping
their individual paddles as one to the call. One steers to set direction, end
result, finish line.
The finish line was reached; money was raised, for the
library, for charities, like C.O.P.E.
our community pulled together.
Well done!
Community Awards
Spirit Award Positive
Paddlers
Best Dressed Team Simcoe
Sizzlers
Bruce Saunders Rookie of the Year Haliburton Highlands
Fundraiser of the Year The
Geri-Antics
Challenge Cup
Municipal Challenge Cup
Simcoe Flyers
Whole Body Healing Wellness Challenge Cup Rouge Rumble Fish
CFB Borden Dragon Masters Challenge Cup Blew Bayou
The Charity Challenge Cup Team
A20
The Moore Packaging Corporate Challenge Cup Busch Buccaneers – Paddles of
Fury
Breast Cancer Survivor Challenge Cup Dragons Abreast Toronto
Division Awards
Women’s Division Consolation Final Georgina Damselflyers
Women’s Division Championship Final The Eh! Team
Iron Division Consolation Final Georgian Global Water Warriors
Iron Division Championship Final S.Y.T.Y.C.D.B.R.
Copper Division Consolation Finals Sea Froms
Copper Division Championship Finals Catulpa Conquesidors
Bronze Division Consolation Finals Pirates of the Epilepsea’s
Bronze Division Championship Finals Dragonboat Virgins
Silver Division Consolation Finals Dragon Slayers
Silver Division Championship Finals Team Washout
Gold Division Consolation Finals Simcoe Flyers
Gold Division Championship Finals OmNomNomNomNom
Platinum Division Consolation Finals Dragons from the Six
Platinum Division Championship Finals Whiplash Dragonboat
Barrie Champions Trophy (fastest team from Barrie) Simcoe
Sirens
A chance encounter at the stoplights when I complemented a
child on the brightly coloured dragon craft she proudly clutched in her hands.
The girl turned to her mother and asked “why do people keep saying they like my
dragon?” Her mother smiled at me, I like
to think that without words we experienced a mutual understanding. Her child
represents the next generation; raised in a city that hosts a Dragon Boat race she
experienced the magic of giving and is next in line to raise money for the
cause.
See you in September!
Written by: www.penelopejmorrow.com
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