 | The longest paddling event in Eastern Ontario will be taking place just north of Cornwall on April 22, 2012.
An annual rite of spring in the region, the Raisin River Canoe Race will see hundreds of paddlers winding their way down the Raisin River, from St. Andrews West to Williamstown. The race annually attracts canoe and kayak enthusiasts from across Ontario and Quebec, with hundreds of spectators lined up along the several kilometre route. | |
St. Andrews West - March 20, 2012 - The longest paddling event in Eastern Ontario will be taking place just north of Cornwall on April 22, 2012.
An annual rite of spring in the region, the Raisin River Canoe Race will see hundreds of paddlers winding their way down the Raisin River, from St. Andrews West to Williamstown. The race annually attracts canoe and kayak enthusiasts from across Ontario and Quebec, with hundreds of spectators lined up along the several kilometre route.
2012 promises to be a special year as the race celebrates its 40th anniversary. The decades-old race has created a legacy all its own and over the years thousands have earned the right to tell their own tall tales of paddling the Raisin and surviving the shoot at the Martintown dam.
To help celebrate the milestone, race organizers are encouraging paddlers and non-paddlers alike to dress up for the occasion in creative costumes. Organizers are also seeking any interesting race photos that have been taken over the years to feature on their website. People are asked to send these electronically to info@rrca.on.ca with a caption and photographer credit.
Everyone is invited to help kick off race day celebrations with the traditional pre-race breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 10416, at the St. Andrew’s Parish Hall from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Registration takes place at St. Andrew’s Catholic School starting at 8:30 am to 10:30 am. The cost to participate in the event is $30 per canoe/kayak and registration forms can be printed in advance by going to the Raisin Region Conservation Authority website at www.RRCA.on.ca . Participants can attach these forms to their payment the morning of the event. The starting gun fires at 10:30 am sharp!
Canoe rentals are available by contacting Trailhead directly at 613-722-4229 or by emailing trailhead@trailhead.ca. Classes include Pro, 17 Foot Open, Men’s Rec, Woman’s Rec, Mixed Rec, Adult/Youth, Student (men’s, women’s and mixed) and Kayak. A trophy will also be awarded to the high school or intermediate school with the most participants.
The finishers’ banquet will be held this year at a new location, the Williamstown Recreation Centre, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm where the medals will be presented at the end of the day. The spaghetti dinner/banquet is open to the public.
About the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA)
The core business of the RRCA is flood control, plan review, habitat management, water quality monitoring and pollution prevention, for an area that includes the Raisin River watershed and its tributaries, Hoople Creek, Riviere Delisle, Riviere au Beaudet, and the headwaters of the Rigaud River. In recent years, outdoor recreation and education have been a major focus of the Authority. The Charlottenburgh Marsh was purchased in order to protect and enhance this coastal wetland, and an education centre was constructed. The RRCA has also developed an extensive nature trail system at Grays Creek Conservation Area in the east end of Cornwall.
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