Dragon boat racing officially arrived in Canada in 1986 when Vancouver's Chinese Cultural Society brought six authentic dragon boats over from China to help celebrate Expo 86, the world's fair. Dozens of volunteer teams were formed to race the boats in the ancient Chinese tradition.
By that fall, hundreds of people had caught dragon fever. Racing enthusiasts banded together and by the summer of 1989, Canada's first self-standing dragon boat festival opened in Vancouver, and it has been running ever since. This year's dates are June 16-18.
Anita Webster is one of the festival's organizers. She says there are many reasons why dragon boat racing teams were formed. "Because this sport depends on teamwork and not superstars, it often appeals to people who do not excel individually at other sports. For example, we get a lot of junior paddlers who may have not made their high school teams but once they are aboard a dragon boat they get a chance to shine."
Webster says many teams have been formed to promote health issues. "Our races have included sight challenged crews, organ transplant recipients, dialysis patients and mental health survivors."
The Vancouver festival has been attracting more than 90,000 people and more than 180 dragon boat teams from across the lower mainland and around the globe. This is good news for dragon boating and for tourism.
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