‘Great to be back’: Thousands take in Lethbridge’s dragon boat festival
Henderson Lake was a busy place to be this past weekend, with thousands of spectators, volunteers and athletes coming together for the ATB Financial Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival.
“It's great to be back full swing in the festival like we had been for almost 20 years prior to COVID,” said Jennifer Yanish, a team member of Abreast of Bridge.
The festival was celebrating its 20th anniversary since launching in 2002.
The weekend was filled with cheers, excitement and a few sore muscles as 48 teams, made up of more than 800 athletes took part in the races.
Organizers said they were thrilled with the turnout.
“We didn't know what the hesitancy was going to be or what the tolerance level would be coming off of COVID but people are just hungry for an opportunity to come together and to celebrate and to have some fun and we're seeing the result of that today,” said Diane Randell, chair of the planning committee.
After being cancelled for two years because of the pandemic, Randell says the demand was high from the dragon boat community to get back on the water.
“I think people were wanting to do something and be out on the water again and we create some different categories of races, racers and teams, recreational teams and competitive teams and people just starting to transition into doing this so we anticipate next year being even much bigger,” Randell said.
Twenty six bands and dance troupes took the stage, with food trucks, local vendors and kid’s activities set up around the lake.
ROSE CEREMONY
Also, making a comeback this year, was an in-person rose ceremony for women who are breast cancer survivors.
Survivors stood together for a ceremony on Saturday, including Yanish who said along with the support, racing is a key sport to keeping healthy.
“When you go through an experience like that some people tend to think you can't active, you have to watch what you do, you might hurt yourself, but over the years we've learned that participating in paddling and upper body exercises is so important for people who have had breast cancer surgeries,” Yanish said.
Yanish said the support shown by the community throughout the years has been touching for those dealing with cancer.
“It’s just great to be on the water with those who have gone through similar experiences and continue to fight after diagnoses and treatment to remain healthy,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.