| Dragons on the Water | |
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The North Saskatchewan River was filled with dragons from August 17 to 19. Dragon boats, that is. The Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival had dragon boat teams from Edmonton and beyond racing their vessels at Louise McKinney Park.
Fellow Edmontonian Paul Gil invited me to the festivities. I was certainly glad I went! This was a chance to experience a little bit of Asian culture first hand. Dragon boats are flat water racing canoes, the largest of their kind, ranging in length from 12 to 27 meters. The boats used for this event were Hong Kong style: 48 feet long, 48 inches wide and 17 inches deep. The boats are made of fibreglass and can weigh up to 5000 lbs when fully loaded. At the head of the boat is a drummer who maintains a steady beat on a large, round drum. The rowers row to the speed of the beat. Also at the front of the boat is a large, carved dragon head. Spectators filled the park and came from all walks of life and cultures. Many came to cheer on their favorite teams. One team in particular that stood out was Breast Friends, a team of women easily identified by their bright pink shirts. These women have all been diagnosed with breast cancer and take part in the races to show that life can go on after a breast cancer diagnosis. Click on the link below to view some photos from the races!Next page > Photos from the Festival >
