Saskatoon Dragon Boat Festival 2009
At the Saskatoon Dragon Boat Festival 2009 all generations of our city gathered Friday and Saturday and sunk their paddles into the river, to throw a splash of color, taste, fun, humor, and community at some otherwise daunting and dark health challenges, with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan as the charity of choice. In a galvanized effort to raise resources and awareness Rotary Park was flourishing with inviting bright colors, great tastes, laughter, and heart-warming fellowship. Once again we were proud and fortunate to take part in a festival that was not only tons of fun but also a profound community-building event.
It certainly sounded, smelled, and looked like a welcoming open festival. Rotary Park was bursting with the bright colors of gigantic inflatable bouncers for the children. Along with the scent of theater-style popcorn and barbecue, one was surrounded by the laughter of teams intermingling and sporting their bright t-shirts and jerseys with playful team names such as Busting with Energy, Broad Strokes, or Breast Friends. The river's edge was lined with cheers and clapping in echo of the determined drumming and often humorous chants of Dragon Boats racing up and down the river. Children with painted faces and intricate balloon animals had a blast alongside their parents cheering. If you stopped to take in the hilarious CPR skit by Mr. Bean on a prominent big screen you were then even invited over the speakers to a mass training CPR lesson for up to 100. As Saturday afternoon wrapped up, the crowds eventually kicked back in the shade of the beer gardens for a boisterous drumming competition.
The festival, however, resonated beyond the pleasure of our senses and into the hearts of the teams through the ongoing inspiration and support they receive from their camaraderie in the world's fastest growing water sport. Lorraine Samborsky, of "Busting with Energy", shared with me sincerely that, beyond raising money for Breast Cancer, her team of twenty-six women facing a diagnosis of cancer has for eleven years been a rallying point of support, compassion, and inspiration for each other as they face, not only Cancer, but other struggles of life that often seem daunting and unbearable to face alone.
From the passerby taking in the fun of the festivity with all senses, to the deep brother and sisterhood of those picking up a paddle there was something for everybody and hearts were definitely touched. It was a bright fun sporting event and fundraising festival that Saskatoon could once again be proud to host and take part in.
The 2009 Dragon boat festival was organized by the Rotary Club of Saskatoon Nutana and sponsored by SaskPower.
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