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Hello From Toronto Part 6 The Toronto International Dragonboat Festival 2006
ne of my favourite spots bay to enjoy the excitement of
in Toronto is the Toronto the Dragonboat Race and to bask
Islands, that lovely patch in the serenity of this island
of land right in front of sanctuary.
downtown Toronto, separated by
just a sliver of water. So close, The ride on the ferry affords
yet so far from the city's hustle absolutely the best view of
and bustle. One of the biggest Toronto’s skyline and at $6
events on the Islands is the return it is one of the most
Toronto Dragonboat Festival, a affordable sight-seeing options
family event organized by the in Toronto. All the skyscrapers,
Toronto Chinese Business the CN Tower, the round shell of
Association. In addition to being the Skydome (now called the
a great entertainment event, the Rogers Centre) and the outline of
Dragonboat Festival is also a big the historic Royal York Hotel
fundraiser for the Canadian come into focus when you look
Breast Cancer Foundation, so it’s back at the city. Toronto’s
not just fun, it’s also for a skyline is one of the most
good cause. recognizable images in the world.
So two days ago I headed off down After a fifteen minute ride I set
to the waterfront and took the foot at the ferry dock on Centre
ferry across to Centre Island. At Island and started walking
10 am when I left things were towards the so-called Alan A.
still fairly quiet and the Lamport Regatta Course, a stretch
line-ups hadn’t started yet. of water frequently used for
People with bicycles, strollers, rowing events of different kinds.
coolers on wheels, all equipped People had already set themselves
for a full day on the Island, up all over the lawn, ready for a
were making the trek across the picnic. Onlookers were following
the races. A food court was set rituals and celebrations.
up where various vendors sold
different types of Oriental The races had already started at
delicacies and the Multicultural about 8 am Saturday morning.
Village provided cultural Dragon boat racers were coming
displays, arts and crafts down the water channel, 6 boats
demonstrations, as well as at a time, in the qualifying
various activities for children. heats for the finals. This year
One of the stands had an amazing there were about 6,000 paddlers
assortment of folded paper crafts competing over two days. About
including some beautiful 200 teams participated in more
decorative dragonboats. The lady than 100 races over this past
at the stand told me it takes her weekend and teams came from all
a whole day to craft some of walks of life: banks, community
these masterpieces. groups, colleges, universities
and other educational
A real dragon boat actually is a institutions, hospitals,
long and narrow boat, powered by technology and pharmaceutical
paddlers, and the boat is usually companies and many more.
adorned by decorative Chinese
dragon heads and tails. Usually a I strolled past the grandstand
dragon boat will have a crew of and past Centreville, Toronto
about 22 people, with one drummer Islands’ amusement park, over the
or caller facing the paddlers, bridge to the other side of the
and one steerer at the rear of race course with the intent to
the boat. Dragon boats are connect with some dragon boat
thought to have come into teams. The first team I ran into
existence more than 2500 years was a group of high school
ago in south central China and principals and vice principals
have a long history in Chinese that get together every year to
participate in the race and raise tents set up for the convenience
some funds for breast cancer. of the athletes.
These educators were a very
welcoming and enthusiastic bunch, Finally I found the team,
and started chatting with me. "Dragons Abreast", a group of
Their coach Glen gave me further women ranging in age between 35
background about their training and 75, who had all survived
routine. He explained that around breast cancer. All were dressed
February the whole team goes out in pink t-shirts to draw
to public swimming pools and attention to the cause of breast
starts stationary paddling. Then cancer. I started talking to the
around April they actually get group and found out that some of
into the water near Ontario Place the group’s members have
and train twice a week. Some travelled to various destinations
teams train as many as five or all across the world to promote
even eight times a week. Glen and the cause of breast cancer
his friends indicated that awareness. Some of them have
dragonboating is a supreme stress recently travelled to Capetown,
buster, providing welcome relief South Africa, and this year a
from the pressures of the number of them are participating
classroom. in an international dragonboat
race in Singapore.
One of his team members indicated
that I should definitely catch Dianne, their media coordinator,
one of the most interesting teams explained that they race to
in the race: a team of breast promote awareness among younger
cancer survivors. So I started women to participate in early
hunting in search of this team breast cancer detection programs.
and I walked into the “Athlete’s She added that in the past many
Village” which had a variety of women were told to avoid
strenuous upper body exercise group of courageous women who had
after breast cancer surgery. The overcome so much and are now
paddlers at Dragons Abreast on taking their inspiring message to
the other hand firmly believe audiences across the world.
that the exercise involved in
dragonboating actually has The official opening ceremony was
significant health benefits, both going to be held at noon so I
physical and psychological. raced back into the main festival
area. A group of politicians and
One of the team members, a lady dignitaries was assembled on the
by the name of Pam, had recently stage and after a number of
participated in an initiative speeches and welcoming remarks by
called UpKili: an event where 30 the President of the Toronto
breast cancer survivors and their Chinese Business Association, the
friends climbed Mount Kilimanjaro ribbon cutting ceremony was held.
to raise funds for Breast Cancer A performance of the Lion Dance
Research. In total more than and the Eye-Dotting Ceremony of
US$120,000 was raised. Pam told the Lions provided an authentic
me that she ended up having an Chinese cultural flavour to this
accident during the climb and had event. This was followed up by
to be rescued and taken down by a the Waist Drum Dance, organized
team of sherpas. Nevertheless and performed by the Chinese
this was one of the most exciting Professional Women Association of
events in her life time, being Canada.
part of this unique initiative
for this great cause. And despite I then strolled the grounds and
her injury she ended up taking by this time the food court was
part in a safari even after the quite busy. Every special event
climb was finished. I was really has its special characters and
happy to have connected with this just after the opening ceremony I
saw this group of people coming. I ran into two bagpipers
strolling determinedly across the from the Ontario Provincial
lawn, obviously a dragon boat Police Commissioner’s Own “Pipes
team that had just finished their and Drums”, a group of uniformed
race. Their leader was pulling an and civilian volunteers, who make
imitation version of a appearances as ambassadors for
multi-functional dragon boat that the O.P.P. all throughout
was spewing smoke, blowing soap Ontario. These two gentlemen were
bubbles and blaring Michael just enjoying a pizza when I came
Jackson dance tunes through the up to them and asked them about
built-in stereo system. The group their upcoming performance. They
was marching at a pretty fast said they would be performing at
clip and I had a hard time trying about 1 pm, “somewhere in the
to keep up with them and taking shade”. Both of them were dressed
pictures at the same time. up in full Scottish regalia, kilt
Finally they settled in the shade and all, wearing the colours of
by the water and I asked one of the Ontario tartan.
the team members what this was
all about. He explained that his Of course I also had to ask them
team was called "Kindred Spirits" the key question that is burning
and that they represented the on everybody’s lips when they
Kinsmen in Bolton. They had encounter a Scottish bagpiper.
indeed finished their last race The officer kindly responded and
of the day and were now ready to said that the answer totally
relax and celebrate, and their depends on the question:
special miniature dragon boat was
a symbol of their determination - If the question is “What is
to have a great party. worn under the kilt?”, the answer
is “nothing is worn under the
The colourful characters kept kilt, everything is in great
working order”. I had to get back to the
mainland, so I started
- If the question is “What are rollerblading in the other
you wearing under the kilt?”, the direction, eastwards towards
appropriate answer is “socks and Ward’s Island. Along the way I
shoes”. found numerous spots with canals,
inlets and sailboats set against
That meant my curiosity remained the backdrop of the city, indeed
unsatisfied, but I got a chuckle some of the best places to take
out of the answers which no doubt in Toronto’s skyline in perfect
must have been given dozens of serenity. Ward’s Island itself
times before to deflect nosy houses a community of permanent
queries. I only had about another residents, many of them artists.
hour on the island before I had
to head back to the city, so I I ran into one of these talented
put on my inline skates and folks, who was fabric painting on
started gliding southwards t-shirts in the middle of the
through the gardens on Toronto lawn. Christopher Pinheiro is a
Island which feature a fountain, Trinidadian-born
several flower beds and multi-disciplinarian artist. His
reflecting ponds. South of there description on the Toronto
are locker rooms, the Island Islands website lists him as
Bicycle Rental building as well “actor, dancer, model,
as the Island Pier. West of this masquerader, soup-chef and
area is Manitou Beach, a sandy textstylist”. We had a brief chat
haven for avid sun worshippers. about his fabric art as he was
Further west from there is just painting a red maple leaf
Hanlan’s Point, Toronto’s only which would later be adorned by
clothing optional beach. yellow and blue sections.
Christopher is obviously an
important member of the Toronto the way out to Front Street. I
Islands artist community. guess everyone wanted to catch a
piece of the Toronto Islands on
At 2:15 I caught the ferry back this gorgeous day…
to the mainland from Wards Island
together with probably another 20 For the entire article including
or 30 travellers. Arrival on the photos please visit
other side was a different story: the ferry docks and the public size="-2">http://www.travelandtra
area outside the ferry buildings nsitions.com/stories_photos/drago
were completely full with nboats2006.htm
hundreds of people, lining up all
About the Author:
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com), a popular web portal for unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. Check out our brand new section featuring FREE ebooks about travel.
Read more articles by: Susanne Pacher
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