Members of Angels Abreast training on Nanaimo's waterfront. (Submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

just keep paddling

Local dragon boaters help save Nanaimo event from sinking

Jul 12, 2024 | 4:13 PM

NANAIMO — A group of mid Island dragon boaters navigated the choppy waters of keeping a beloved major paddling event afloat.

Angels Abreast, which was instrumental in launching the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival in 2003, played a key role all these years later in preserving the re-branded 2024 Nanaimo Dragon Boat Regatta.

Longtime Angels Abreast member Roseleagh Lalande, 71, said an outpouring of corporate and community support answered the call to keep the event alive in Nanaimo.

“It was absolutely amazing the support from the Nanaimo Hospitality Association, Tourism Nanaimo, the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association; its been just absolutely incredible,” Lalande told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Angels Abreast is hosting a dinner at Maffeo Sutton Park on Friday, July 12 with more than 100 people expected to attend. (Submitted photo)

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Non-profit organization VI Paddling are operating a one-day Nanaimo Dragon Boat Regatta on Saturday, July 13 at Maffeo Sutton Park after Fairway Gorge Paddling Club announced in late March it would not oversee the event this year due to financial reasons.

Thirty-four teams of 20 are registered to compete on a shortened 200 metre course during the single day, as opposed to entire weekend event.

Racing starts at 9 a.m. with the last one scheduled for 4:20 p.m., according to VI Paddling.

On-shore activities include live entertainment, local vendors and food trucks.

Lalande said while events of this magnitude aren’t cheap to pull off, there appears to be a will from many people to forge on for years ahead in Nanaimo.

“Hopefully it’s financially viable, I cannot see it dying in Nanaimo, not with the support of paddlers, teams, businesses — I think it’s all good.”

Bonita Price is a fellow breast cancer survivor, and while the 81-year-old no longer participates in races, she says being an Angels Abreast member is an integral part of her life.

“It is a support group, it is camaraderie, it is exercise and everybody’s in there supporting one another the best way they can dragon boating,” Price said.

Save On Foods donated 300 carnations to be purchased by donation after a breast cancer survivor’s race Saturday at 11:20 a.m., with all funds going toward cancer care initiatives at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Price noted.

She spoke at length at the contributions dragon boat pioneer Dr. Don McKenzie made to the movement, saying the UBC physician combatted a myth up until the mid 1990’s that dragon-boating adversely impacted the health of breast cancer survivors.

“In fact it physically and psychologically benefitted them much more than doing nothing.” Price said.

A memorial bench at Stones Marina near Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub honouring lost Angels Abreast members. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes