In London, on June 26th 2008 we marked the beginning of big things to come canoe related. The first annual National Canoe Day celebrations pushed through some nasty weather and even a faulty dam resulting in event relocation. When it came down to it, the rain was gone just minutes before we began and the evening was beautiful. Everyone that came out to appreciate the wonder that is the canoe had a great time, socializing with other canoe lovers, enjoying the barbeque treats, and listening to music from The Hawk. Our local business representatives from Davey Tree won the best decorate canoe (as you will see a photo below). The celebrations proved to be a great night with some great people and the big plans for next year have already began!  
 
 
Simon Tanner (London Canoe Club), Tim Miller (Nova Craft Canoe) with his wife, and Barry Callow (The Philip Aziz Association of Art)

 
Some fellow canoe lovers paddling through the evening
 
Jesse and Ron from Davey Tree Expert (Local Business)
Calista Povelofskie (Nova Craft Canoe) and Liz Trinnear (103.9 The Hawk) enjoying the Hawk on the Water Canoe






 

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In May, 2007, in a national poll conducted by CBC Radio and TV, the canoe was voted one of the seven wonders of Canada (along with The Igloo, Niagara Falls, Old Quebec City, Pier 21, Prairie Skies and the Rocky Mountains ).

Last year, The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, hosted a party at the historic Peterborough Lift Lock to celebrate. Paddlers of all kinds came to share a canoe ride through the Lift Lock and cheer as Peterborough Mayor, Paul Ayotte, declared The Canoe a Wonder of Canada. There was music from the Curve Lake Drummers, cake, ice cream and participants were given a “My Canoe is a Wonder” sticker to mark the occasion.

Other people across Canada who caught wind of this celebration, from as far away as Inuvik, emailed the Canoe Museum to say that they’d be joining in with spontaneous events of their own to celebrate the canoe as a wonder of Canada. This outpouring of genuine affection for the canoe was heart warming and brought the Canadians who participated just a little bit closer together.

Since then, the staff and volunteers at The Canadian Canoe Museum have been thinking that this was far to much fun not to make this an annual event and invite Canadians across the country to join in on the celebration. And so was born the idea to create National Canoe Day.

Last year’s party in Peterborough was held on the evening of the Thursday before Canada Day. It turned out to be great timing. Summer was just around the corner. It was during Celebrate Canada!, the eleven-day national party leading up to Canada Day, which includes National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24th, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27th and, of course, Canada Day on July 1st. We’re thinking that National Canoe Day on June 26th would fit right into those celebrations.

So, if you’re anywhere near Peterborough on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 please join the National Canoe Day celebration at the Lift Lock. We’ll be trying to jam the Lift Lock with as many canoes as we can. There will be a declaration or two by local dignitaries and, of course, music, fellowship, cake and lots of other paddling Canadians with whom to celebrate the canoe as a wonder of Canada.

But, this year we’re hoping the idea will expand even more. If you’re anywhere else in Canada, take your canoe to lunch, paddle with a friend, paddle with lots of friends, sing canoe songs, read canoe stories, fill your canoe with ice and cold drinks and have a party, make a canoe video, have a paddle picnic or a canoe-be-que, portage up main street, save gas and paddle to work, have a canoeathon to raise money for a worthy cause (like The Canadian Canoe Museum), paddle to parliament or your provincial or territorial legislature, whatever ... just do it in a canoe on National Canoe day,
Thursday, June 26th (or at least some where during the 11 days of Celebrate Canada!).

Then email us with details, plans, stories, pictures and we’ll collect it all and share it our our website. Send us your details and we’ll send you back this year’s My Canoe is a Wonder sticker. Write to wonder@nationalcanoeday.net with your plans. Spread the word. For more information call 1-888-34-CANOE or check out our website www.canoemuseum.net.

Help create National Canoe Day, an annual citizen-driven celebration of the wondrous canoe.

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