Dragon Boat West

Comments and thoughts about this festival.  I thought it was a great weekend!!  Even though the festival size was cut in half I felt the level of competition was just as strong, if not more than last year. I look forward to next year!!

I also thought it was a fun festival, reminiscent of years past... right down to the bad karaoke, which I strangely enjoyed (chinese version of Material Girl - you can't beat that!!!)

The races ran very well too - kudos to the Edmonton guys for running a good show.

How about those Canoe Club Kids making it into the A final?  Impressive job!!!

It was definitely a great festival.  I agree about the Karaoke, just terrible but yet so good at the same time.

Great job to EDBRC for running a great festival and koodos to the Calgary Canoe Club for taking the Gold in the top division.

Good effort by the teams...some great times. 1:57 for the men's is pretty impressive. 2:05 for the mixed is respectable as well. A lot of teams have made some good grounds considering the shortened season.

EDBRC did a good job running the races. It's unfortunate there were no seats or drums for the Saturday morning for the drummers.

Smart move to shrink the beer gardens this year...not many who were willing to not come in without their families to celabrate after or pay $6.50 at beer.

Much easier to bring your own...

 

The festival organizers did a good job, especially considering the short amount of time they had to get it all together. They have a few things they need to work on, but I'm sure they'll improve on those next year. It was refreshing to see the return of more Chinese cultural stuff, including the oh-so-bad-yet-so-good karaoke!  It was impressive that they were able to run the races more or less on time, even with only one fleet of boats.  The races were exciting and competitive.  I think next year will be even better!  Hopefully, we'll see the return of some of you B.C. teams!   

Yes it was a well run festival and the weather was great.  I know that I missed having some more out of town boats.  Hopefully the word will get out that Calgary still has a festival.
I really liked how the paddlers village was set up this year.  I felt the way they had the Beer Gardens separated from the stage made for a dull time.

I have to agree and say EDBRC did a great  job, a little slow to start but by the end they were rollin'.

Yes very bad kareoke... haha plus the food was blah,  but I enjoyed the endless supply of propell! ( I could be a minority on that one )

I am truely excited to see this festival grow next year... I think it wil be awesome!!!

I am also very enthused by the result of this past weekends races and festival.  For lack of a better description, I felt that the "Feng Shui" of the event was very positive, and it felt to me like the event was getting back to some very good roots.  No egos running around, everyone "paddling" in the same direction, and very prominent participation and support from the Chinese community.  The organizing groups pulled together despite what can sometimes be competing interests and priorities, the EDBRC was awesome and ran a great race, and Kevin Kwan was a great "roving reporter" amongst the teams for the debut of DragonFM 91.5 on the FM dial!

Kudos to so many people...too many to mention, but the big thanks go to the City of Calgary for their encouragement, support and resources dedicated to ensuring the continuation of Dragon Boating in Calgary; Topmade Dragon Boat Club, SisterShip, Calgary Canoe Club, Calgary Chinese Merchants Association for their herculean efforts, Topmade Enterprises, Plastics and Neon Signs, Trico Homes and Marquis Communities for their sponsorship and perhaps most important of all was the presentation of the "Albert Wong Memorial Cup" (Albert Wong, who passed away last year, is without question the father of dragon boating in Calgary) by his widow and 2 daughters.

Please keep posting your feedback, as I am sure that the organizers will be waiting and watching for ways to improve in the years ahead.  OK...bad karaoke can be fun, but improvements in the Paddlers Village, Festival Tent and Beer Gardens, F & B services etc will all be coming with your support.

Please spread the word that the "re-birth" of Dragon Boating in Calgary is in its healthy infancy, and that all paddlers both local and from afar will be welcomed to what should once again become a premiere event in dragon boating in Western Canada in the years to come.   All with a focus on what is best for the dragon boating community AND the community at large!

Paddles up! 

Wow, Founder, you're back!  There were "egos" running around before this year?  What could you possibly be talking about??  And now they have all gone!  What a relief!

Bolero, nice of you to turn such a great weekend into a controversy.  I think the real community-spirited paddlers and supporters will rally behind this refreshing "re-birth" and build the Calgary Races and Festival into what it should and can be.

Nice of your ego to make another appearance.  Do I detect some jealousy or animosity?

I for one will only be too happy to volunteer, support and assist from the sidelines while a new community-spirited organization re-forms itself.  One with integrity, ethics, lack of conflict of interest and other traits that make an organization accountable to its constituents...and much unlike the last 4 years of a past, now dis-enfranchised group...good riddance I say.

RG (and by the way, which "ego" are you in real life!?)

Ooops..sorry Bolero, I may have mis-read your facetious approach as an intentional detraction from this years races, but after having read your original post, I think an apology may be in order.

Long day.....in the depths of another large community event that is pulling 14 hour shifts...

Apologies where apologies may be due...

Apology accepted!  I really did enjoy the festival, and I thought the organizers did a great job!  I'm very happy!  I'm glad you are proud of them too.  And if you are one of them, good for you!  I just like to tease you, and you take the bait so easily!  Maybe you should take a break and lighten up! 

The karaoke was awesome (not kidding as a karaoke enthusiast). 

Good on the race officials tracking down the A-final team captains to explain the results, whether it affected them or not.  Starter was good and consistent from race to race.  No other problems that I'm aware of regarding officiating.

However I'm going to have to open a high yield savings account, get a landscaping job on the side, and have a garage sale in order to prepare for $6.50 beers next year.

{edit - spelling}

What I'd like to see for next year is one organizing body organize and run the festival, while another (unrelated) run the practices.  From what I'm hearing the Calgary festival was run fairly well, so it would make sense to have the Calgary Community Dragonboat organizing body handle that side of things, while the Calgary Canoe Club (CCC) could run the practices.  Just makes sense.

Who owns the boats??  Why would you need a separate group just for practices?? Was there something wrong with how it was handled this year??  I think it went pretty smoothly considering everything that went down this year.

Someone will have to correct me if I'm wrong here, but from my understanding the boats are owned by the City of Calgary, but currently being rented out to Dragonboat teams by the new Calgary Community Dragonboat organization (not sure what their official name is so my apologies).  My suggestion of having a separate body run the practices stems from the way it was set up this year.  I was informed that you were not allowed to practice unless you were registered to compete in the Calgary Festival.  Fine and dandy, but what about those teams that represent Calgary at festivals outside this fine city, like Vancouver and/or Toronto?  Or groups that want to stay in shape, but not compete in any particular festival?  It forces them to pay over funds that they could have used elsewhere.  I have nothing against the new organizing body, in fact I think new blood is probably a good thing.  The issue I have is that everything has been given to a single party to run things and not spread out amongst the various interest groups on the reservoir.  I'm kind of surprised that the City of Calgary went with this solution given that in business this practice wouldn't be acceptable.  So that's why I'm suggesting that either the Calgary Community Dragonboat Festival organization continue with the festival and let the Calgary Canoe Club run the practices, or vice versa.

As for smoothly, we've seen our first sign of a hick-up when practices after the Calgary festival were halted to only resume this Sunday.  Yes only a week, but given our short summers this week accounts for potentially three practices, so why?  Some teams still need to practice as there are still some big festivals coming up (e.g. Great White North, Kelowna).  If a separate body was running the practices this would probably not happen.  Again, it just makes sense.

I think that ultimately the "Dragon Boating community" should be running Dragon Boating in Calgary.  I suspect that we will see a new organization emerge from this years festival, with good governance and thoughtful representation from the various stakeholders and affected parties or communities.

Given the final result and spirit of teamwork witnessed over the weekend, the formation of a new entity to steward Dragon Boating on the Glenmore Reservoir should be imminent.

As for 1 week off, I think that given the effort, volunteer hours and dedication of the team that pulled together to run this years races and festival, that a week of dry land or poolside training is apropos.

Good luck to everyone in their out of town ventures, and as Ambassadors for CCDBF 2009!

Ahhhh, I see. It's great that you support the Dragon Boating Community here in Calgary Founder.  Now of course I'm assuming that you're referring to the CCDBF as this new organization, right?  So in order to follow good governance and thoughtful representation from the various stakeholders and affected parties or communities, the CCDBF follows a true democratic election process to elect all its officials from the top down with equal voting rights across the Dragon Boating Community?  If this is the case, please tell me when this occurred as the rest of the Dragon Boating Community in Calgary isn't aware of when this happened and how we could have gotten involved.  I also assume that elections occur yearly, right?  Or are you referring to a new organization that is taking over things that will have representatives from the Calgary Dragon Boating Community on board, again following a true democratic process.  I guess I'm a little confused here.  Please enlighten us as I'm sure a number of teams in Calgary are in the dark like I am on this whole matter.

Now as for the justification for the week off, please .... there have been a number of teams and individuals on various teams putting in long hours without breaks over a number of years.  And we're volunteers too.  Please no crutches.

Thank you for your good wishes.  I'm sure these out of town teams appreciate it.  As for being Ambassadors for the CCDBF 2009, I'm thinking you should probably have asked us before making such an association.

Viking, you seem to be one of those who chooses to criticize, without any engagement...

It is always nice to criticize from the sidelines, isn't it!  I think ample opportunity to volunteer and to become familiar with the other dedicated, community spirited volunteers associated with the emerging group of individuals and organizations trying to put in place a new, well governed organization was offered on many occasions.

Any new governance model will NOT be taken lightly and will involve CentrePoint (Centre for Non-Profit Management) and a full endorsement by the City and independent experts of the by-laws and checks and balances required for an ethical, well-balanced, community-spirited organization with integrity to ensure a viable long term solution with broad-based representation.  Voting?  Yes, absolutely an option.  Specific seats designated to various key stakeholders, absolutely under consideration.

The possibility of being hijacked by individuals more bent on self-interest than community benefit?  Absolutely not.  Been there,  done that, as the saying goes.

I assume you also stepped forward to volunteer to assist with management of the boats to ensure they were available for practice for that ever-so-critical week, right?

Get on board this boat or not.  That is of course your right and choice, and of course your comments will always be appreciated.  Your engagement and "giving back" to a community that you obviously have high expectations for will always be rewarded...but alas, the sideline comments are always so much easier if that is your chosen path of contribution...

Paddles up!

Viking Paddler, what are you talking about?  I saw a bunch of dragon boats on the water this week, your team included...  Or maybe you didn't make that practice...

Just so that I am clear where your morale compass is, Founder, would you consider somebody skimming a percentage of a donation to a not-for-profit dragon boat organization to be "more bent on self-interest than community benefit"?

RIGHT! A good offence is a good defence, right Founder?  You obviously don't know me very well with the comments you've made.  Do we really want to go down the path of throwing insults as you are so choosing?  Shame on you!  And to think you talk this beautiful talk of ethics and integrity, yet you were the first to throw insult.  Hmmmm, not very sporty of you.  Hard to take your words for face value given this direction you've decided to take, and not the first time from what I've read on this site.

You criticize me for not getting involved, so once again I will ask when were these opportunities to become involved offered up to the Calgary Dragon boating community?  I didn't see anything.  I would be more than willing to be involved in a NEW organization that fairly and equitably represents the Dragon boating community here in Calgary with democratic elections of its officials with open and transparent operations.  For Dragon boating to survive in Calgary a group just can't appoint themselves as representatives of the Dragon boating community and expect teams to follow.  If that is the expectation then it sounds more like a dictatorship than a true representation of everyone involved.

And when you say specific seats designated to various stakeholders are under consideration, it sure doesn't sound to me that this is an open organization.  What do you mean by specific seats (and why only specific seats), and what do you mean by various stakeholders, and why is it only under consideration?  Hmmmm  Seems a bit restrictive to me.  Sounds like there's a bit of a control issue here.  Do you not trust the Dragon boat community here in Calgary with doing a good job of growing this sport?  I think we could do a good job.

I'm sorry, I find it funny that the two people criticizing Founder and the new organization are both past members of ADBRF, which was unceremoniously kicked off the reservoir, as I recall.  And both from the same team too.  Coincidence?  Or sour grapes?

Are you kidding me Vet Paddler?  Where are you getting your facts?  I've never been involved with the ADBRF and never plan to be, and I never took a stance supporting one over the other,  so please, before you go around spreading rumors please get your facts straight.

Excuse me?  When did I criticize Founder, or the new organization?
I can only speak for myself, but I like to know what I am getting into before blindly throwing my support to a group that I am not familiar with. 
Some people have suggested that Calgary paddlers were not asking enough questions of the previous DB regime.  Surely this new group, allegedly representing the best interests of paddlers in Calgary, is not averse to being asked a few questions?
And to imply that the Calgary Race Club has any allegiance with the ADBRF shows an appalling lack of knowledge of the relationships at Glenmore Reservoir.  It makes me wonder if you really are a "Vet Paddler", or just another "paddling politician" trying to further you own cause.

WOW!! it's getting pretty heated here.
I'd just like to say no matter how many new groups step up for dragon boating in Calgary, not everyone is going to be happy.  But considering the situation in Calgary this past year, I think these groups did a great job.  Without them there would have been no practice or festival.  Sure we can say, now, that they should have done this or that, but we need to look to the future now.  Now that the season is coming to a close everybody who has something to say or contribute should come forward.  That is the only way to improve.  Otherwise this may only be the beginning of another end.

Love it.  Let the fur fly!  How is that working for you...?

Awesome job to this year's organizers and to Edmonton for a nicely run race. As intended, everything was scaled back but the quality was not. Everything was there as expected. I was not able to experience as much of the festival as I would like as I was involved with 3 teams.

The athlete's village was great. Enough space for all and for the most part well controlled. The tents on the perimeter was a bit of a security risk but not much you could do without a complete fence. Entertainment was also good. I only caught the kids dancing (Thai??) and could hear the karaoke while stretching. Port-a-pot's were nicely spaced - not much congestion and another set was close by. Parking is always a bear but the parking police were quite reasonable with the various requests (drop offs, etc).  Great idea with the PA system.

Great job!! Looking forward to next year (more teams and more to see & do). Perhaps a mandatory shot of "Jack" for all who karaoke. For a first festival, really well run and enjoyable to participate.

One suggestion is to get the race registration, practice schedule and fees out as soon as possible so that all teams (clubs, corporate and charity) can get organized quicker. Perhaps we'll see the return of the specialty races (beer cup, oil sands cup), or even some new ones like a barrel/slalom.

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As for CCDBF questions from Viking Paddler, I also have similar questions. As an organizing body, there needs to be transparency and accessibility. I've been involved with dragon boating in Calgary for about 10 years. Most of these years have been from a corporate level and only recently with a club and first year with CRC. I can say that I've not been privy to the goings on with the ADBRF but can comment on the fact that there has been a lack of communication from them to the rest of the db community in the last 5 years. There is no central location from which we could find out when meetings are taking place/planned or results of votes or even motions.

If the CCDBF is suppose to represent the paddling community than the paddling community needs to be informed of their activities and given a chance to take part. This is my only concern. I as a paddler and corporate team manager really am grateful to the CCDBF for all of their hard work in putting a great festival (boats, practices, etc. .) - right on Sweet Heat! But if that is the only time we hear about the going's on with CCDBF is around the festival or close to festival time than they do not represent me! I have not had my chance to voice my concerns/opinions nor do I know how/who decisions are made on my behalf or in my name.

A good example is how the CCDBF came to be formed. Granted, time was short, those that were involved had the experience and resources to contribute significantly to the project, but we only heard rumors that such an organization existed/forming.

I hope those involved with the CCDBF learn from the past and look at their roles as ambassadors and leaders of the db community seriously. To put aside all affiliations and any self-interest and work toward making db everyone can enjoy.

Well put, Hammi.  I would agree with you completely!

As usual, Founder, you haven't really answered Viking Paddler's question, but have written one of your highly rhetorical, yet entertaining speeches about community spiritedness.  (Perhaps you are planning to get into politics?)  Most organizations have such things a newsletters, and annual general meetings that all can attend so as to stay informed and have opportunities to meet those great people in charge, or who want to be in charge, maybe vote, and become more involved themselves.  Do you know if this new CCDBF will be doing anything like that?  Perhaps you do not know - which would be okay - you just need to say so.  If you really want to encourage people to get involved, perhaps you should give them ideas, and direction instead of criticizing them for not yet being so involved, and for asking questions.  This may come as a surprise to you, but not everyone who questions you are former or current members of ABDRF who out to get you, and the new organizers.  I don't know what those people did to you, but you seem to be having a hard time leaving it behind.

Man: All this stuff coming out of Alberta makes paddling in smelly old False Creek seem easy... give it a rest guys.

I always say what goes around, comes around, and it did, so I for one am happy to look forward.  As far as I am
concerned, the ADBRF is a moribund operation with respect to Calgary.

You need to know that the CCDBF was organized with the blessing of the City with what really was an "ad hoc" committee, with no real power but a ton of responsbility to ensure races and a festival happened in 2008.

A review process is being considered which I am sure will involve a survey of all team managers/captains, and an opportunity to provide meaningful input, but we do not know what this all looks like yet.

Ultimately with the assistance of professionals in non-profit management, the hope is to form a new, well-represented,
well-governed organization that can steward dragon boating and the annual festival in Calgary.  This will not likely take the form of a true democratic organization at the outset, but I have always said that it would be in the best interests of dragon boating in Calgary for the community, perhaps with the assistance of the annual race/festival organizers, to have an option to buy a "Calgary Dragon Boat Paddlers Association" membership along with a mandatory annual race ID card along with race registration.  With this in place, perhaps a seat or 2 on the new organization could have democratically appointed representatives to express the views and protect the interests of the paddlers.

Of course other interest groups should also be represented including the Chinese Community, Lakeview or surrounding residents, and possibly "Clubs", the City and maybe even some experienced board members at large.  With the proper by-laws and governance, we can avoid any one person or group of people from running the races for personal gain or with a singular vision.

By the way, count me out for politics...and in fact count me out for any direct role in whatever the new organization is, but do count me in as an advisor, supporter, volunteer or whatever else I can contribute to ensure that dragon boating has a future in Calgary!

And madap is right, let's get on with building a great event in Calgary that we can all be proud of and work together (as the organizers did this year) instead of at cross-purposes!

Founder, I think it's great that you have all these ideas, and some of them actually seem reasonable... but for a guy that has a lot to say and has a lot of opinions, you don't want to get involved??  you'll volunteer??  I think we may have just gotten to a partial root of the problem, there are too many people out there who are all talk and no action.

Sweet Heat, well said.  I have applied talk and action and all we have from you is talk.  To me, volunteering IS action, but perhaps you have a different view and interpretation...which you are entitled to.

I do not want or need a vote or a seat on any organization that is formed and hope that we will have a new generation of leaders step forward from the Dragon Boating Community and the Community-at-large who believe
in the sport, the races, the festival and the cultural roots of the event for the benefit of ALL of the citizens of Calgary.

Tall order?  Perhaps.  Achievable?  There are many that think so.

Can you be one of them?  Get on the boat Sweet Heat.....and anyone else who wishes to help to build a better event..one that Calgary deserves for the paddlers, spectators et al!

By the way, how about some constructive comments and suggestions for improvement instead of just idle chatter...and by the way, if you are interested in volunteering I can give you the contacts necessary to get involved early for 2009!

All of you in Calgary - we applaud you for your passion and personal desire to create a wonderful Calgary Event.   :clap:
All the points have been valid and have merit.

However, by airing your DIRTY laundry out in the open, people don't want to come to Calgary because we (some of us) think all you do is "complain", "gripe" and only focus on the negatives about your own festival. There are too many people with too many ego's out there! How do all of you survive in a city?

Please call a meeting and have all your DIRTY laundry unfold behind closed doors. Don't air this out on the forum, it only hurts your own festival. If you want to grow your festival, then grow it - don't complain on an open forum :upsidehead:

Like the last string of comments. Enough is enough. It's time to kill this thread.  :wall:

I think most of us are aware of the issues in Calgary and we don't even live there, regardless who is right or wrong     :werd:


It's time to go  :drink:  BRING OUT THE BEER BONG

Oh come on!  We're just having some fun!  The Calgary festival was great, and will continue to be great!  You should come to it!  Mostly, we just get a kick out of Founder and his speeches!  (Hmmm....maybe I should speak for myself!)  I wouldn't use the comments on this forum as your sole source of info about Calgary's festival.  But you are right, it's time "kill this thread"!  Hope we see you in Calgary nest year!

Boom!  Let's kill this thread and get on with it.

I promise to buy the first round at the CCDBF 2009 for uhavetobeserious's beer bong if they promise to come!

Proof will be in the pudding...I do like to have the last word but will defer to Bolero, who is shorter
and sweeter, but who I suspect will wish to have the parting shot!!!

Have at it, Bolero (or Sweet Heat or anyone elsie that wishes to have a parting word) and
"see you at the races" as they say!!

Was that shorter than most of my "speeches"?  I know you will miss me though.....won't you?
(Don't hurt my feeling now....)

Paddle hard, have fun and bring your smiles and good times to YYC!  This is party town,
but with a heart and sense of history no less.

Signing off,

Founder