Canadian Rivers Day
Victoria Island to Petria Island - Sunday, June 10, 2007
For the third consecutive year, Ottawa Riverkeeper and Canadian Heritage Rivers System will be celebrating Canadian Rivers Day with a guided paddle on the Ottawa River from Victoria Island to Petrie Island as a way of bringing people and the river together, and as a symbol of caring about the river. This year the flotilla will include at least 10 Voyageur canoes.
Meet us on June 10, 2007
On Victoria Island (off Chaudiere Bridge)
Join with us for a spectacular day of fun and adventure! We will be joined again by:
- William Commanda, Algonquin Elder from Kitigan Zibi Reserve in Quebec, internationally renowned spiritual leader, birch bark canoe maker, environmental and peace activist
- Max Finkelstein, renowned canoe author and heritage river connoisseur
- Paul Mason, son and former paddling partner of the late Bill Mason, cartoonist, canoe instructor, author
- Claudia Van Wijk, Canadian women’s whitewater kayaking champion. Along with her husband, she now owns and operates Madawaska Kanu Centre, North America’s first kayak and canoe school
- Members of the Ottawa Riverkeeper, Friends of Petrie Island, the “Y” Canoe Club, Rideau Roundtable, and other local river conservation groups.
- “Singing” voyageur canoes
- Scouts Canada Voyageur & other Regions
- Experts will be there to interpret the geology, ecology and history of the Ottawa River
- Paddling Legends from the Ottawa National Capital Region
Celebrate Rivers Day
Bring your family and friends and paddle the legendary Ottawa River for a distance of approximately 15-20 km. Bring your PFDs, paddle and boat to Victoria Island for a 10AM departure. There will also be Voyageur canoes available so come even if you don’t have one! Visit our website www.chrs.ca and please register for the event. The registration form will also allow you to reserve a spot in a Voyageur canoe and the morning shuttle*, free of charge! Walk-ins are also welcome. Passengers, please still bring your lifejackets and paddles if you have them as we have limited extras. Each Voyageur canoe is fully equipped and meets coast-guard requirements.
Bring your own lunch and water for the day trip. Let’s do our best to make this a waste-free event! Please try to avoid bringing disposable materials such as water bottles and plastic bags. We will have some coffee/tea donated by Bridgehead in the morning and fruit and snacks donated by Sobeys. Bring a coffee mug to enjoy coffee in the morning!
The celebration will start at Victoria Island at 9:00 where Algonquin Elder William Commanda will speak about his vision for the future of the Ottawa River. We will be leaving Victoria Island at 10 a.m. An interpretive booklet will be available to pick up before the paddle. It will discuss our message, safety measures, and the history, cultural significance and ecology of the Ottawa River. We will stop for lunch at Upper Duck Island. A tour of the Petrie Islands themselves is a must. A guided tour of Petrie Island (www.fallingbrook.com/petrieisland) will be offered by the Friends of Petrie for all interested. The celebration will continue on the beach of Petrie Island.
The celebration is free of charge. However, donations to the Ottawa Riverkeeper are encouraged. A tax receipt will be issued for every donation over $20.
Schedule
8:30-9:45 – Registration/Safety check at Victoria Island
8:30 – Bus Shuttle leaves from Petrie Island
9:30 – Welcome and Ceremony – William Commanda
10:00 – Leave Victoria Island
Lunch – Hour lunch at Upper Duck Island
16:00 – Flotilla arrives at Petrie Island
16:00-18:30 – Exhibit at Petrie Island
16:30 – Shuttle leaves from Petrie Island
16:30 – Guided tour of Petrie Island with the Friends of Petrie Island
17:30 – Last shuttle leaves from Petrie Island
For more information
Please contact Delphine Hasle
or contact Jennifer Katan at (613) 934-2505
Volunteer opportunities are available for this event. Please contact Laurel Rosene
Shuttle Bus Information
Shuttle buses from Petrie Island will be available to return drivers to Victoria Island at the end of the day. Departure 4:30PM and 5:30PM.
For early risers, there will also be a bus returning at 8:30AM from Petrie Island. You can unload your canoe at Victoria Island in the morning, drive to Petrie Island, and take the 8:30AM bus back to Victoria Island. This way, your car will be waiting for you when you arrive at Petrie Island. You will have to pay $2 for parking. Please be advised that the Bylaw Officers regularly check for parking permits, even on Sunday evenings.
Petrie Island is accessed from Highway 174 (The Queensway) at Trim Road. If you are in downtown Ottawa, take Highway 417 east until “the split”. Keep left at the split onto 174, which is still a four-lane limited-access highway that leads into Orleans. The first traffic light you will encounter is at Trim Road, at which you should turn left.
River Healing Journey from Ottawa to Montreal!
The River Healing Journey, a citizen-based, non-profit, volunteer paddling and camping project, will travel from Ottawa to Montreal in two Voyageur canoes, guided by experienced outfitters from June 11 to 14. The main objectives of the journey are:
- raise awareness of River issues;
- help promote exploring and enjoying our historic and majestic rivers in human-powered craft;
- to raise money for Ottawa Riverkeeper; and
- provide “ordinary Canadians” an opportunity to travel from Ottawa to Montreal, in a replica “Montreal” voyageur canoe along the historic Ottawa River – the original Trans-Canada highway!
MANY THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Bridgehead Coffeehouse, Sobeys Kanata,
Christie Walther
MacSkimming Outdoor Education and Environmental Centre
& our amazing volunteer organizing committee!
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