It requires months of planning and hundreds of volunteer hours, and as it heads into its second half-century, Sea Fair is still going strong.
This year, the Sea Fair Society board of directors is comprised mostly of new volunteers who have been working hard to bring some fresh events into the fold.
“It’s amazing,” said society president Jenny Garden. “There are 17 people who have a major planning role in this year’s event as well as seven people on the board of directors—and most of these are new to Sea Fair. It seems that people and organizations have been popping up everywhere wanting to get involved.”
One such organization includes Powell River Outrigger Canoe Society (PROCS), a non-profit group that promotes paddling and supports outrigger canoe racers to compete throughout the province.
“We recently purchased a new Bradley Lightning 330 canoe,” said Marc Lavertu, PROCS secretary. “This canoe has been used in the World Va’a Sprints in Sacramento 2008, New Caledonia 2010 and Calgary in 2012. It’s a true racing canoe and can turn on a dime.”
PROCS relies mostly on fundraising efforts to support its activities and hosting a canoe race has been a topic of discussion many times. “When the outrigger canoe society contacted me about the possibility of a race during Sea Fair, I was all over it,” said Garden.
Now both organizations are actively promoting the Sea Fair Corporate Challenge Outrigger Canoe Race which will be presented as a community challenge for organizations and businesses. “We feel like this is a great opportunity for companies to put a team together, get active, and have some fun,” said Sue Milligan, CORA (Canadian Outrigger Racing Association) Club representative.
Winners of the race will select a worthy cause to receive the $500 cash prize. Registration fees are $225 per team, and proceeds raised will benefit PROCS and Sea Fair. The event has also attracted some sponsors including Sergio Salina of Investors Group as well as Marine Traders, Sunshine Coast Fuels Ltd. and Koleszar Marine & Power Equipment which have sponsored the grand prize and insurance costs.
“It really is easy to get involved because we are offering practices and all the boats and equipment will be provided” explained Milligan.
The event currently has two teams registered from Powell River Division of Family Practice, one from Pacific Coastal Airlines, one from Powell River Professional Firefighters Charitable Society and one from First Credit Union. Organizers are looking for three more teams to complete the draw. Each team requires five paddlers with a minimum of two men or two women paddlers, and deadline for registration is July 1, or until all spaces are filled. Race day is Saturday, July 26, at Willingdon Beach.
Interested teams are encouraged to register on the Sea Fair website or email [email protected].
