Dragon Boat BC
1 Athletes Way V5Y 0B1 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Shop our new Heritage Collection inspired by our archives; we've just added online exclusive items! Bring your paddling pride with you wherever you go. Plus, pick up a few gems at reduced prices from our clearance items before they disappear for good! Take $20 off any $100+ order with coupon code PADDLESUP20.

On International Women's Day, we recognize and celebrate the strength of all the women in our communities, each with their own contributions to community, unique stories, and strength. We recommit ourselves today and everyday to building spaces for female voices and those from equity-seeking groups, so that everyone can fully participate in our community.

In Chinese culture, today is the Lantern Festival, marking the arrival of the full moon and also the end of Lunar New Year festivities. The Ceremonial Water Dragon Lantern, cast in bronze by Mary Anne Liu in 1992 features a dragon boat and paddlers during a race. This piece is part of Dragon Boat BC's Legacy Collection, on display as part of "Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit" at BC Sports Hall of Fame. Book your tickets to explore the exhibit now at bcsportshall.com/tickets. Supported by Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver - Cultural Services, Metro Vancouver, The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) and HKETO Toronto.

"Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit" opens February 12 at BC Sports Hall of Fame at BC Place! We invite you to see over 30 years of sport and cultural history up close. Celebrate the Year of the Ox and Family Day with free admission on February 12 and 13 in your household bubble! Go to bcsportshall.com/tickets for pre-timed admission tickets and COVID protocols. Thank you to Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, City of Vancouver - Cultural Services, Oddball Workshop, Vessi, BC Arts Council, The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), HKETO Toronto, Metro Vancouver, and patron partner the Fei and Milton K. Wong Family Foundation for their support.

Happy Year of the Ox! Today is the start of the Lunar New Year in Chinese culture, and also in many other Asian cultures. We are celebrating today with the opening of our new exhibit at the BC Sports Hall of Fame, and also unveiling our updated Society mark (based on our original logo from 30+ years ago). Our formal name is the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, and while you'll continue seeing the Dragon Boat BC mark most of the time, we will introduce the Society mark in select applications to honour our founder's vision for the organization!

"When I step on the boat...I feel so, so well. I'm touching the sky with my hands." - Adriana Bartoli, Abreast in a Boat breast cancer survivor paddler. Be inspired by unique paddling stories in our video series on display at "Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit", opening Friday at BC Sports Hall of Fame. Enjoy FREE admission on Feb 12/13: book tickets now at bcsportshall.com/tickets. Supported by Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, City of Vancouver - Cultural Services, and Vessi.

"When I was a youth on the team, my coach taught me to treat paddling like a job, and it was a life lesson for me...that's what I want to give back to my youth and let them experience as well." - Helen Law, Strathcona Youth Dragons Coach. Have you visited "Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit", at BC Sports Hall of Fame yet? Discover stories like these in our documentary series at the exhibit: book a ticket for Friday and Saturday at bcsportshall.com/tickets. Supported by Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver - Cultural Services, and Metro Vancouver.

At each boat's prow watching over the race sits the drummer. Keeping 20 people in sync, the drummer maintains the boat's rhythm and heartbeat through a traditional Chinese drum. Over the coming period, we invite you to join us on our social media channels as we open up, and showcase photos and other items from our archives! Who knows; you might even spot yourself in some of the photos. See the dragon boat festival in a new light; "Paddles Up: The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit" opens soon at BC Sports Hall of Fame. This project is generously supported by Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, and City of Vancouver - Cultural Services. #paddlesup

DOCK CLOSE/FEB 10: Projected closure to end of day Sat Feb 13 due to 0/sub 0 weather. All reservations from Feb 10-13 are cancelled. Adjustments (extension or normal operations) will be announced here and Alerts. Office: normal operations. More info: dragonzone.ca/alerts

COVID has paused parades and gatherings, but we're working to share the Lunar New Year spirit. We've sent 1,500+ red envelopes so far to senior homes and community organizations. Have we missed a worthwhile cause that you know of, or is there a community project or initiative that could use some red envelopes? Message us with details, and we'll review your request! Or, pick up a pack online at shop.dragonboatbc.ca, and select curbside pickup to make sure you get them in time for Friday!

DOCK OPEN/FEB 16: Closure and Alert notices cancelled as weather warms up. Status will revert to normal hours of operation with COVID protocols in effect on Tuesday Feb 16 at 11:00 AM. Office: normal operations. More info: http://dragonzone.ca/alerts

In normal years, we would be watching the Chinatown parade today. While we can't gather together at this time, we're delighted to virtually continue Year of the Ox celebrations with Hon Hsing Athletic Club of Vancouver through this video filmed inside their historic studios on East Pender. We wish everyone a happy and healthy year of the Golden Ox. , This video is produced as part of "Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival ...Exhibit," now open Fridays and Saturdays at BC Sports Hall of Fame. Thank you to Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver - Cultural Services, Vessi, Oddball Workshop, The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), HKETO Toronto, Metro Vancouver, and patron partner Fei and Milton K. Wong Family Foundation for their support of the exhibit. See more

We're closing the books on 2020, but opening up our (photo) books, and sharing 30+ years of memories over the next few weeks! While the technology behind paddling has evolved, the spirit of dragon boat racing hasn't changed much since it arrived in Vancouver at Expo 86. Can you spot the differences between the photos? Steer yourself to "Paddles Up: The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit," opening soon at BC Sports Hall of Fame to explore the convergence of history, culture, and sport. This project is generously supported by Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, and City of Vancouver - Cultural Services. #paddlesup

DOCK ALERT/FEB 9: Projected hours of 11:00 AM-5:00 PM due to 0/sub 0 weather. Alert will be changed to closure at 5:00 PM, and forecasted to be in effect until end of day on Feb 13. All reservations from Feb 10-13 will be cancelled. More info: dragonzone.ca/alerts

On January 28 1986, the dragon boats gifted by Hong Kong to Vancouver arrived in advance of Expo 86, marking the sport's beginnings in North America. See one of the original boats on display at BC Sports Hall of Fame in the BC Place concourse as part of "Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit." Stay tuned for special admission offers for the Family Day and Lunar New Year weekend, plus virtual tour options! The exhibit is supported by Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, and City of Vancouver - Cultural Services.

We're adding one more gift for you under the tree this holiday season; we're pleased to announce "Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit" will open at BC Sports Hall of Fame in late January. The exhibit looks at the dragon boat festival's impact in Vancouver through craft, artefacts, and sport. Hear the stories from paddlers of all backgrounds, and see items dating back to Expo 86. While we can't wait for COVID to pass and to reunite on the wate...r, we're honoured to keep the Festival's spirit going through this innovative project. We can't wait to welcome you to the exhibit and announce more details soon! Thank you to Concord Pacific - Canada, Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia, City of Vancouver - Local Government, and BC Arts Council for their support of this project and our operational pivot through the past few months.

Please note our dock operational hours over the holiday season. We will be open throughout the holidays except on Christmas Day, but remember to book your slots by the end of day today for any slots on the 24/26th, and by December 30 for any slots on the 31st/1st. We also have a special surprise for the community that we'll be unwrapping and announcing to you tomorrow; any guesses what is coming?

Date added for our Intro to OC-1 on November 8! Learn the basics of paddling OC-1 with our instructor in this 4 week course. COVID precautions include small course sizes and social distancing; stay safe and active while learning the foundations of this individual boat sport. Visit dragonzone.ca/outrigger for more info, or click below to register.

Despite the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival cancellation's this year, we‘re continuing the Festival’s charity program by donating the proceeds from our locally-made fabric masks to the Milton K. Wong Legacy Project, Villa Cathay Care Home, UNYA - Urban Native Youth Association, and Vancouver Black Advocacy and Therapy Association. In addition, Oddball Workshop is also donating a portion of mask sales to Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Visit paddlevancouver.ca/collections/d...ragonboatbc to pick one up, support the community, and help keep your friends and family safe! Concord Pacific - Canada/Concord Social Olivia Chan, Kevin Tabora, Angus Kwan, Rui Ando, Cherrie Ng, Samatha Lam, Karen Lai, Jennifer Thi

Our docks have now reopened for kayak and OC-1 daily from 11:00 AM-9:00 PM daily! Enjoy a socially-distanced paddle and see Vancouver from the water this summer. Reserve boats online now at register.dragonboatbc.ca. To see our latest operations updates and COVID guidelines, please visit dragonzone.ca/alerts. Thank you Concord Pacific - Canada/Concord Social for their generous donation of masks to help keep our visitors and staff safe as part of our reopening!

This weekend would have marked the 32nd edition of our flagship event, the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival. Keeping the safety of our community and paddlers top of mind, the 2020 Festival had been postponed and then cancelled in the Spring. The Festival formally started in 1989 for the Chinese and local community to share their cultures in an intercultural dialogue. The roots of that mission have guided our evolution over the decades. Today, we look to our future, and to... ensure what we do is reflective of our mission and our community. We are inspired by our founders who looked to share thousands of years of Chinese culture, stories of trans-Pacific migration, and the narratives of those in Chinatown. We recognize our privilege to be on the traditional lands and waters of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. We recognize the Black community's history in Hogan's Alley neighbouring our Festival's location. We stand with LGBTQ2+ individuals that have been an important part of many teams throughout the years. Dragon Boat BC hears the strong and passionate voices demanding change. We share those sentiments. In every cloud, there is a silver lining; the pandemic is an opportunity for us to hit pause and evaluate how we can do better. Moving forward, we will invest more attention and focus on helping build platforms for marginalized voices to be heard, and help create opportunities for everyone to more fully participate in our community. As we grow our programs and events, we look forward to helping put in work to build a community where everyone can belong. We gratefully acknowledge all of our partners and stakeholders who have helped us navigate these turbulent waters. We especially thank Festival founding and title partner Concord Pacific - Canada for supporting our work since our first day of operations.

Black lives matter. The past week has again underscored that the struggle for justice and equity in our communities must continue. As an organization founded to combat racism via intercultural dialogue rooted in sport and culture, Dragon Boat BC recognizes that our current work builds off of a foundation created by Black and POC ancestors. While most of the focus has been on US events, we also recognize local systemic problems. We have developed plans to help in our communit...y within our capacity and scope. Some actions will need to wait for when we are able to safely stage events again, but others aim to immediately address the disproportionate impact COVID continues to have on vulnerable communities. We commit to these points to help build a just community where everyone can belong: -Continue working with our partners to convert the textiles we have to make face masks to support SRO residents and other vulnerable individuals in the Downtown Eastside. This also helps us be as minimally impactful to the environment as possible. -Partial proceeds from our fundraising face masks will go to groups supporting BIPOC communities and other essential front-line community services in the Downtown Eastside. We had planned for proceeds from these masks to help us mitigate COVID's financial repercussions, but we recognize the immediate need for support to be diverted to critical community organizations and initiatives. -Direct dialogue is critical in helping others understand the impacts of exclusionary and oppressive policies. We will provide platforms for Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQ2+, and other marginalized communities to tell their narratives and stories. This work will occur through our event cultural programming and provide space for communities to be present, once it is safe for events to be held. -Recreation and sport helps build healthy communities, but marginalized communities historically have been excluded from these programs. We will look to expand our accessible team recreation programs for individuals of different physical abilities and competitive levels for members of these communities to help them enjoy the region's waterscape. These programs will be introduced when we are able to return to our full operations. -We commit to an ongoing process of working with marginalized communities including Indigenous communities who historically and continue to have a presence on the lands and waters we operate from, the Black community and the historic Hogan's Alley, and Chinese communities who have and continue to be based in Chinatown. -We will encourage our paddlers, staff, volunteers, and partners to help in promoting equity and justice within their capacity. These ideas will guide our work in the weeks, months, and years ahead. We recognize that we are limited in what we can do, but we commit to helping build a community where everyone can belong.

Dragon Boat BC notes with sadness Jackie Webber's passing yesterday. Jackie was the Club Development Coordinator and a Race Director for our friends at False Creek Racing Canoe Club. Prior to her work at FCRCC, she had also worked at Dragon Boat BC as part of Dragon Zone Paddling Club's staff. Her work in the community was foundational in developing teams, clubs, and events in the region. Countless individuals and groups benefited from her deep expertise, sense of humour, and... joy for the sport. We note particularly her work with One West in the early 2010s, Eye of the Dragon leading up to the 2014 Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, and with visually-impaired teams at Dragon Zone. Jackie's impact will continue to be felt in our community for years to come. We send our deepest condolences to her family, friends, paddlers, and colleagues.

Dragon Boat BC announces the cancellation of all of its races and mass events this year as a result of COVID-19 in accordance with BC's Restart Plan and guidance from public health officials. This is the first year since 1986 and Expo 86 that there will be no dragon boat races in Vancouver. Please visit dragonboatbc.ca/media for individual statements for each of our individual races including next steps, adjustments to our programs, and partial reopening plans for our paddling facility.

In these times, we all need a little kindness in our lives. Help #makewaves in your local community with our friends from Vessi Footwear; they're giving out 10 microgrants of $100 each in Canada and the US daily for you to make a difference. Go to vessifootwear.ca/makewaves to apply now.

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge Selena Wong's passing yesterday morning. Selena was a long-time paddler, coach, volunteer, and fixture in our paddling community. Her boundless energy and positive outlook will be deeply missed by those who had the opportunity to know her. We will remember her deep passion towards supporting the sport's growth, giving back to the community, and building connections with paddlers from across the world. As a community leader, she was a critical part of Dragon Zone Twisted Hips. She brought together what would become Dragon Zone's first club team, took care of her paddling family and pushed them to reach their potential as their coach, and helped build a culture of kindness. We send our deepest condolences to her family, friends, teammates, and colleagues during these difficult times.

The Society was founded over 30 years ago to combat tensions in our community that threatened our civic fabric, by bringing people together through sport and culture. During COVID-19, we are seeing similar tensions re-emerge through hatred and violence. This week, we learned of a case in East Vancouver where an elderly person in a shop was physically and verbally assaulted; we send our best wishes to him and his family, and hope for his speedy recovery. The anxiety and fear ...we are experiencing is natural, but despite these unprecedented times we still are all in the same boat. Only by working together will we emerge from this crisis stronger than when we entered it. We stand in solidarity with individuals and communities challenging racism and violence, now and always, and continue our commitment to creating spaces where everyone can belong. See more

We don’t know exactly what‘s next or how long things will last. But as a community, we’ll come out stronger if we all work together. As they say, the sun will come out tomorrow. This picture was taken in past times when the docks were filled with activity. We look forward to returning to those days again in the future. Stay safe, make some noise at 7:00 PM for our first responders and medical professionals, and #flattenthecurve this long weekend. For our most recent updates ...and statements, please check online at dragonboatbc.ca/media. For assistance, please email [email protected]. Staff are working as hard as they can to answer your questions, or get information to answer your question. More updates will be coming soon as well; thank you for your patience and understanding! Picture credit to Eternal Dragon

As we adjust to new realities during these difficult and evolving times, it's important to try and take a moment for yourself whenever you can. We hope this helpful reminder brings a bit of light into your day, wherever you are. To all teams; please know that we are working hard behind the scenes to issue guidance as soon as we can. We have been actively responding to teams over phone the past day (although calls may appear as restricted numbers) and will continue to do so to answer inquiries that came in this past week. Due to our office shutdown and move out, we have experienced a backlog of inquiries and we appreciate your patience.

The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society is announcing the postponement of the Dragon Zone Youth Regatta and Oddball 2,000 Challenge to a future date in 2020. Please visit dragonboatbc.ca/media for the full statement and details on next steps. This is a difficult decision, but the right one to do in our opinion. The safety and security of all participants is deeply important to all of the event's organizers. We are working with government agencies and key stak...eholders on next steps for our other events and programs, and expect to be able to issue guidance later on in this week. Thank you for your support during these difficult times. Instructions on next steps have been emailed out to registered team administrators, captains, and managers.

In the spirit of unity, Dragon Zone Paddling Club and False Creek Racing Canoe Club are announcing the following measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, effective immediately: Dragon Zone Paddling Club Practices, boat use, and dock access suspended immediately. Scheduled reopening date on Tuesday March 31. Please visit www.dragonzone.ca/alerts for further information. Team orientations and coach boat orientations postponed until club reopening.... False Creek Racing Canoe Club Practices and boat use at all facilities suspended immediately. Scheduled reopening date on Tuesday March 31. March Madness OC-6 races postponed to future date to be determined. Please visit www.fcrcc.com for further information. At this point, we are not aware of any members of the paddling community who have tested positive for the virus. At this point, other events are not affected. For further statements and additional information from each organization, please visit the following websites and contact the following details: Dragon Zone Paddling Club www.dragonzone.ca/alerts and www.dragonboatbc.ca/media Email: [email protected], 604 688 2382 False Creek Racing Canoe Club www.fcrcc.com Email: [email protected], 604 684 7223 The wellbeing of our community is very important to our organizations. We thank the paddling community for its support during this time, and apologize for the inconvenience. We look forward to seeing everyone on the water soon.

The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society is continuing to plan for the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, Steveston Dragon Boat Festival, Vessi 500 Championship, Oddball 2,000 Challenge, and Dragon Zone Youth Regatta on their original dates. We continue to actively evaluate the situation as we get closer to the event. Please click through for our full statement.

The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society is deeply aware of the current situation regarding COVID-19, and will be issuing a formal statement tonight to provide guidance on our events and programs. The statement will be posted on our Facebook pages, and also posted on dragonboatbc.ca/media. The safety and wellbeing of the paddling community during and after this situation is of paramount importance to the Society. We are committed to providing timely updates and... accurate information to all of our stakeholders. We appreciate the support of the entire paddling community during this time. We advise individuals looking for more information on COVID-19 to consult the Ministry of Health's website, and for all individuals to follow best practices in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 including staying at home if they exhibit symptoms and practicing regular hand washing.

Our world would be vastly different without female leaders and the social change they champion every day. On International Women's Day, we salute women of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures who serve as positive role models and continue to fight for equality!

REGISTRATION ALERT FOR THE Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival: This year's event is already 75% full! Don't miss out on the continent's flagship dragon boat festival in 2020. Plus, race in the expanded Open division, or the new Corporate Cup. Register now at register.dragonboatbc.ca! Thank you to Concord Pacific - Canada for their continued support as title and founding sponsor of the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival.

Register your team for the ultimate test at the new Oddball 2,000 Challenge sponsored by Oddball Workshop on May 10! The only 2k dedicated regatta in Vancouver is now open for registration for Mixed, Women, and Open teams. Are you up for the challenge? Register now at dragonzone.ca/oddballchallenge.

Hone your steering skills during our dragon boat steering clinics next month. Level 1 clinics help novice or new steerspeople learn important steering basics with veteran steers Jenny Jupp. Limited spots remaining for March 8 and April 5! Sign up at register.dragonboatbc.ca.

We're hiring! We've just posted a job for a full time Dragon Zone Paddling Club Coordinator out of our Olympic Village offices in Vancouver. You'll be helping to optimize program delivery, help maintain the club's operational readiness, and ensure that every visitor has a positive experience. Sound like you? Visit www.dragonboatbc.ca/work for information and to apply today!

Dragon Boat BC wishes you and your families all the best in the year of the golden rat (that starts today)! We hope this auspicious year brings you fortune, joy, and prosperity. Visit us this weekend in Vancouver's Chinatown at International Village to ring in the new year and win prizes from Concord Pacific - Canada and Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival. Go to dragonzone.ca/community for more info.

Break In Update: We have inventoried the missing items, which include computers, backups, our office safe, staff personal effects/belongings, gifts from other paddling communities around the world from over the years, and red envelopes for our Lunar New Year celebrations this weekend. Things like this happen from time to time; unfortunately, it just happened to impact us this time. Thank you to the Vancouver Park Board/Creekside Community Centre Community Centre, Vancouver P...olice Department, and everyone that helped us bring the office back to regular operations or that has offered support. Some people have asked about helping chip in to offset the stolen items. There is no pressure, but if you would like to contribute towards replacing the stolen items or helping offset costs, there is a link below to a GoFundMe. However, we think the biggest show of support we could get would be to see everyone in Chinatown this weekend to ring in the Year of the Rat. We think a bit of bad luck shouldn't spoil the celebrations. Visit dragonzone.ca/community for info on our celebrations over the next few weekends.