Members of the Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club look over the charred remains of their two heritage Voyageur canoes, destroyed by fire in late November. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS

Fundraiser launched to replace destroyed canoes

Dec 5, 2022 | 4:32 PM

NANAIMO — It’s back to square one for local paddlers after a devastating fire.

A suspected homeless encampment was pinpointed as the cause behind a Nov. 24 fire at Loudon Park which destroyed two recently restored Voyageur canoes, used by the club in their community outreach programs.

Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club commodore Ashley Rowe said their insurance claim to recover the cost of the canoes was denied.

“In the policy, under the warranty, it did say they needed to be stored in the locked cage area under lock and chain. The reason they weren’t stored like that was because of the inadequate space we have in there for properly storing them.”

The club is now actively fundraising through a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough to get two new boats back on the water.

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Rowe said a large number of community and club members expressed a desire to help out.

In addition to being vessels used in some races, the canoes were often the first boats new members paddled in, owing to their stability and ease of use.

Seniors and school-aged children would routinely use the boats as part of community outreach programs run by the club.

The future of those programs looks a little different since the fire.

“We do have that third Voyageur canoe that was not damaged in the fire. That boat we do hope to have on the water in the spring after some TLC,” Rowe said.

Rowe added they’re hopeful to have three boats in the water come the spring, which would allow for races and events to be held for new paddlers.

Initially stored outside the chain link fence enclosure, the third vessel is properly secured, however, Rowe noted that even being behind a fence doesn’t make its safety certain.

“We moved the third canoe back into the cage Wednesday night and we did notice there had been some cuts made to the chain link fence of the cage. If that structure is not being secure for the boats, that’s also a concern we have.”

Damage was reported to the City of Nanaimo for tracking and repair.

A dragon boat currently docked at Berwick on the Lake is also available, but a logistical challenge to use regularly with a motorized boat needed to tow it up Long Lake.

A third canoe stored nearby the fire sustained only superficial damage. It has since been secured inside a chain fence enclosure. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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