This year, the 'Dragons' were blessed with almost perfect weather conditions at Shadow Lake in Waterford ... this only helped to heighten the energy for 17 Dragon Boat teams (almost 400 paddlers) brought to the Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday 20 June (practice day) & Sunday 21 June (race day) 2026.Sponsored once again by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) and the Cancer Resource Support Program (CSRP), this annual, community event is a major fundraiser for both charitable organizations. Well-over 30 volunteers were onsite including Rotary Sunrisers, CSRP members, donors, family, friends and students.
On Race Day, the heats started at 9am and finished up around 3pm. The spirits ran high throughout the park with many moving to the great music provided and the cheering as race times and winners were announced. Everyone was kept nourished with the local food vendors onsite and entertained with music all day long. Again this year, we arranged for formal team pictures to be taken behind the wooden dragon boat and paddles made by our friends from Abel Enterprises. Again his year, a highlight of the day was the Cancer Ceremony to remember all those currently battling breast cancer, those in remission and those who have died.
Go to the 'Read more ...' tab for more on this story, the participating teams, notes of our appreciation, our connection to the CSRP and more.
Until next year - Paddles Up! (or maybe down for a wee rest) - Hic Sunt Dracones!
Go to the ‘Read more …’ tab for more on our Big Day Against Cancer
General.
It was a community event - by the community and for the community. Many spectators came by and parked a chair by the water to watch the races. Others out for a walk or bike-ride through the park were surprised by the event and some lingered a little longer than planned to stop for lunch. Perhaps the most significant take away from this event is that all the monies raised are intended to remain in our community. The RCNS & the CSRP have great plans to ensure those funds are spent wisely and within our local community. Once again, we can only thank everyone connected to this terrific event for the success we were able to achieve.
For a complete reckoning of the event along with participant, race results and photos, please visit our Invasion of the Dragons website.
As teams raced and progressed throughout the day, they were slotted into 3 final divisions where 3 boats raced for bragging rights in each division. The first-place team of each division were awarded medals to remember their victory by. This was the sort of event where everyone won; not least of which was our own Norfolk community. Nonetheless, it was a race and there were 3 divisional winners (click here to see detailed results). In the end, the Schaeffler Canada ‘Bearing Arms’ team from Stratford prevailed as first among equals, A Div Champion. They become the team to be slayed next year! As teams raced and progressed throughout the day, they were slotted into 3 final divisions where 3 boats raced for bragging rights in each division. The first-place team of each division were awarded medals to remember their victory by. This was the sort of event where everyone won; not least of which was our own Norfolk community. Nonetheless, it was a race and there were 3 divisional winners (click here to see detailed results). In the end, the Schaeffler Canada ‘Bearing Arms’ team from Stratford prevailed as first among equals, A Div Champion. They become the team to be slayed next year!
Appreciation Notes for Those Who Made this Event a Success.
This event took 6 months to bring to another successful conclusion. A huge thank you to everyone who helped to organize and execute this day - it wouldn’t have been possible without you! As the saying goes; 'many hands make light work'. So as to recognize so much appreciated help; individual contributions are listed as follows;
- RCNS Core Planning Group - Gail Catherwood (lead), Carol Mummery (registrations), Andy Kooistra (lot operations), Cathy Harrop (social media) & Joanne Kiefer (volunteer coord);
- RCNS Member Volunteers - Gail Bouw, Dave Bradshaw, Jim & Marjorie Dawson, Keith Jones, Wolf Lindeman, Paul Macko, Mary Mercato, Tina Millea, Carolyn Muir, Linda Muir, Jill Ormsby, Jim Peters, Louise Schebesch, Pam Shantz, Jim Simpson, John Wallace, Andrew Watt & Wes Wilson; and the
- Friends of the RCNS - We were grateful for Keith Catherwood, Heather & Scott Furtney, Chris Howe, Martin Kiefer, Andrea Ongena along with a good number of students and locals who contributed their time.
The RCNS would also like to express our sincere gratitude to;
Four major event sponsors (MHN Lawyers LLP, Caradoc Townsend Mutual Insurance Company, the Wanda & Scott Memorial Golf Tournament & the Audrey S Hellyer Charitable Foundation with Josh Heller), and - other sponsors including Morrison Insurance for their funding support and Timmermans Ranch for the contribution of a viewing stand and a dragon-boat team!;
- Good Redden Klosler for sponsoring the medals presented to members of all teams that won their division;
- Norfolk-Simcoe Electric who sponsored the ‘Ship of Jewels’ boat;
- Alkame Dragon Boat Services (Convener Rachel Downes & her Support Team of 11) for another great year; and
- the many other community groups that supported us, contributed in smaller ways or just plain attended so as to encourage us along.
Our printed ’thank you’ hardly seems equal to the task.
Connection to Cancer Support & Resource Program (CSRP).
Our Club has a very close relationship of mutual support with the CSRP as evidenced by the successful conduct of this event. The CSRP is dedicated to assisting those touched by cancer to take charge of their choices and offer a variety of emotional support services.
A break was taken during the festivities to remember all those currently battling breast cancer, those in remission and those who have died. Carnations were given to all survivors who waved them while sitting in a boat on the water while the song 'I've Been This Way before' (selected by Carol Mummery and sung by Kate Hudson) played. The ceremony is an integral part of the day. What a great cause we help to support.