Date set for annual Raisin River Canoe Race

This year's Raisin River Canoe Race will be held on April 17.

PHOTO CREDIT - Robert Lefebvre/www.icelevel.com

St. Andrews - Mar. 1, 2011 - The date has been set for one of the area's most popular spring events.

The Raisin River Canoe Race - an annual rite of spring for many in S, D and G - will be taking place on April 17, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority has announced.

The 39th edition of the event will follow a familiar course, with the race starting at St. Andrew's School and finishing in Williamstown - with an entertaining shoot through the Martintown dam along the way.

Registration will take place on the day of the race and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew’s School.

The cost is $30.00 per canoe/kayak, and there are a variety of different classes for those interested in taking part in the race.

On race day, the Knights of Columbus will be offering a breakfast to participants and to the general public, at the St. Andrews Parish Hall. Breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m., and the cost is $5 per adult or $3 for children 12 and under.

An awards banquet will follow the race at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Williamstown. Food and refreshments will be served, and trophies and place medals will be distributed to all winners around 5 p.m. For entertainment, a video of the day’s race is played for everyone's enjoyment.

Registration forms, race rules and other information can be found on the RRCA's website.