Posted By ANDREA HOUSTON , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER

For Steve Vance, the canoe is a cherished part of Peterborough's history, and it's a reason to celebrate the iconic Canadian symbol every day, rain or shine.

Vance was in one of about 30 canoes that joined a flotilla paddling to locks 21 and 22 from Beavermead Park on Saturday for National Canoe Day.

"It's a great time. I love canoeing and kayaking, so having a national day is great," said Vance, 28, who has been canoeing most of his life.

"Peterborough is the home of the canoe, especially with all the lakes and rivers."

While Peterborough is birthplace to the modern-day canoe, it's also the birthplace of National Canoe Day, which is in its fourth year.

Organized by the Canadian Canoe Museum, about 200 people took part in several activities, including a barbecue, live music, artisan vendors, children's games and free canoe rides at Beavermead.

Murat Vardar, who was showing off his handmade artistic paddles, took up the art of making decorative paddles after taking a course at the Canoe Museum.

Vardar, who cuts and designs the paddles on his Toronto condo's balcony, has a reverence for canoes, and is constantly trying to create "the perfect paddle."

"I just think it's so important to promote canoes, Peterborough and the canoe museum," he said. "This is a wonderful event. National Canoe Day is such a unique way to get perspective on Peterborough's waterway."

Canadian Canoe Museum staff member Candace Shaw said more than 40 National Canoe Day events held coast to coast were registered on the museum's website.

"The idea is to remind people that canoeing is for everyone," she said. "It is the Canadian pastime. "Our country was founded by canoeists."

Norwood High School teacher Mark Mann, who was launching a 16.5-foot prospector model western red cedar canoe into the water, said students built the canoe over a two-year period.

About seven students each year participated in the after-school project, he said.

The canoe is now being raffled off. All the money raised will go toward funding student programs at the high school.

Raffle tickets are available at Wildrock Outfitters on Charlotte St.

NOTES:The canoe is how Canada's founding people, First Nations, Métis and Inuit, travelled by water. It's also an important aspect of English and French traditions in Canada, the Canoe Museum says. The year after the canoe was named a top wonder, the museum created National Canoe Day.