The Happy Camper: Connected by Canoe
The Canadian Canoe Museum is going on a canoe trip along Ontario’s Rideau Waterway from May 2 to 11. It’s been called “Connected by Canoe,” and it’s made up of a two-part journey from Kingston to Ottawa.
The first part is the canoe trip, which sees 16 people from various partnerships all sitting side-by-side in a Voyageur canoe, packing with them a strong message about the ongoing importance and possibilities of canoes being used for community building in Canada’s continuing evolution as a nation.
The second part is the ceremonial leg—a pre-conference activity for delegates of the Community Foundations of Canada. They’ll travel in various iconic watercraft—from the West (an 18-passenger Haida dugout-style canoe), from the North (a 16-passenger skin-on-frame Inuit Umiaq) and from Central/Eastern Canada with a Canot du Maitre.
James Raffan of the Canadian Canoe Museum defines it as a “floating conversation” and he hopes the discussions formed along the way—especially with local voices the paddlers will listen to during their journey—will help build an equitable, sustainable and inclusive future for Canada.
Want To Join This Ceremonial Paddle?
Paddlers are welcome to bring their own boats and gear and join the Connected by Canoe gang in the ceremonial paddle. They will leave Dow’s Lake at 8:30 a.m. and will wrap-up the paddle by noon at the Westin Hotel.
Check out the interview I did with James Raffan at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough—the birthplace of the modern day canoe:
