Canoeists taking to the water to celebrate Sask centennial

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More than100 paddles will be striking the water on June 20 in celebration of Saskatchewan's 100th anniversary as a province and the role of the canoe in the province's history.

People from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Scotland have come together to form 31 teams that will race in 25-foot voyageur canoes along Saskatchewan's historic Voyageur Highway-a route that stretches right across the province. Each team must consist of at least six paddlers and can have up to 12 canoeists per canoe. They will participate in a 1,018 kilometre unaided wilderness canoe stage race and pageant across all of northern Saskatchewan, travelling the lakes and rivers that make up the Churchill and Sturgeon River systems.

The Saskatchewan Centennial Canoe Quest will begin in Prince Albert on June 18 and 19 with opening ceremonies and sprint races. The official race will begin on June 20, with the canoeists scheduled to leave Clearwater River Dene Nation at 6 a.m. The race will finish in Cumberland House on July 5.

According to Sharalyn Reitlo, co-ordinator of Canoe Quest, the main objectives of the event are to provide tourism opportunities to the host communities along the route of the race and to promote a healthy, active lifestyle within the northern communities. The event is also about celebrating the history of the province and teaching that history to the younger generations.

"Participation from the youth is greatly important to everybody," Reitlo said. "We didn't want to leave them out at all."

Although the minimum age limit to participate in this race is 18, Reitlo said that a lot of the communities have involved local youth in the planning level and in other important areas of the race.

"The youth are going to see and hopefully be inspired by the paddlers," Reitlo said. "It's a part of their tradition and history and it's been done in the North forever and it can be done at a very young age to a very old age."

There will be scheduled stops and celebrations along the route in the 13 host communities-Michel Village, La Loche, Dillon, Buffalo Narrows, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Patuanak, Pinehouse, Grandmothers Bay, Stanley Mission, Pelican Narrows, Denare Beach, Sturgeon Landing and Cumberland House. Cumberland House will host the closing ceremonies, during which the winners of the Canoe Quest will be announced

Each of the teams participating has paid a $1,000 entry fee to take part in the event.The total prize package for the race is worth $56,000. First place winners will take home an embroidered leather jacket and the top three winners will receive a graphite racing paddle. The fourth place prize will be a 115 litre dry bag, while the fifth place team will be given a 35 litre dry bag and sixth place will get a Tatonka stove. Each of the teams that finish will also receive a cash prize.

According to Reitlo, the decision as to whether to have more of these quests will be made following this event.

"It was developed as a centennial one time only event," Rietlo said. "There has been a lot of talk to have this as an annual event."

The public is encouraged to come out to any of the host communities to participate in the activities.

"All of Saskatchewan's history needs to be brought to the attention of our younger people, so that they can experience it for themselves," Reitlo said. "And most of all to inspire them to participate in any activities within their community and especially canoeing."

For more information about Canoe Quest, visit the event Web site at www.saskatchewancentennialcanoequest.info.