With clear skies and glassy waters before them, a contingent of 16 youth and adults took to the Rainy River in canoes yesterday morning for a four-day trek in support of the UNFC’s Urban Multicultural Aboriginal Youth Centre, Li’l Eagles program, and the OPP Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.
Eight canoes—carrying two people each—left the McIrvine Road boat launch here around 7:30 a.m.
and are expected to arrive in Rainy River by noon on Thursday.
R.J. Comeau, a Health and Wellness Youth Intervention worker and head organizer of this year’s “canoe-a-thon,” said he was keeping his fingers crossed the weather would hold out.
“I didn’t check it out [the forecast].
I’d rather not make the others nervous,” remarked Comeau, who is involved with the “canoe-athon” for the third year.
The group paddled for about 12 hours yesterday, with a couple of breaks thrown in, to make it to Emo for the night. They will be paddling for another few hours today to reach Barwick, and then a few more hours tomorrow to get to Stratton.
If all goes to plan, they should arrive in Rainy River by noon Thursday.
Other members of the expedition include UNFC board member Doug Fairbanks, Dan Bone, Erin McMahon, Tyler Starling, Christopher Starling, Brad Lowes, Brock Parisien, B.J. Wilson, James Grozelle, Jenna Malyk, John Seymour, Len Bird, Chelsey Armstrong, Levi Kwandibens, and Jen Cawston.
Unfortunately, a few people who originally were slated to participate, such as UNFC president Wilma Yerxa-Bird, had to bow out due to hectic schedules and business commitments, said Comeau.
Comeau noted while the UMAYC was hoping to top $3,000 (last year’s total), the numbers look to be in the $1,500 range so far, although some money still may be coming in.
This is the third “canoe-a-thon.”^Last year saw eight canoes in the water while the inaugural fundraiser only had two.
Anyone wishing to pledge money to the cause still can call the UNFC’s UMAYC at 274-0561.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
