Paddlers ready to dig in

NBMCA News Release

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The North Bay – Mattawa Conservation Authority is pleased to announce the 31st annual Mattawa River Canoe Race, presented by the Foster Wild Environmental Fund, taking place this Saturday, July 28, 2007. Early Saturday morning, paddlers from across North America will gather at North Bay’s Olmstead Beach to take part in the longest canoe race in Ontario. The race traces the historic route of the voyageurs through lakes, rivers, fast water and several portages to Mattawa Island located 64 kilometers away.

Paddlers can pre-register or register the day of the event at 6:30 am at Olmstead Beach. Categories range from competitive to recreational. For younger canoeing enthusiasts who wish to take part in the event, the NBMCA’s Mattawa River Canoe Race also features a Family Category. This category allows participation by two related individuals (one under 18 years of age) who are eager to paddle the race to begin at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and continue 13 kilometers to Mattawa Island. The entire race concludes with an awards banquet at the Mattawa Community Centre, with prizes awarded in each category.

“With skill sets ranging from competitive to recreational, the Mattawa River Canoe Race has something for everyone,” explains Brian Tayler, General Manager of the North Bay – Mattawa Conservation Authority. “It’s also inspiring to watch. The overall record for the fastest time was set in 1995 and stands at five hours, 27 minutes and 53 seconds, meaning the competitors will need to travel at a constant speed of 12 kilometers an hour to beat the record time.”

The public is invited to watch the start of the race which begins at Olmsted Beach at 7:30 am or cheer on the canoeists at various checkpoints. At 9:00 am, the City of North Bay and Chamber of Commerce will be holding canoe/kayaking demos for the general public at Olmsted Beach. More information about the Mattawa River Canoe Race can be found online at www.nbmca.on.ca.

Public spectator spots:

Olmsted Beach (North Bay)
Canoes begin departing from 7:30 am
Checkpoint #1 (off Pine Lake Road)
Canoes arrive between 10am and 12pm
Checkpoint #3 (at Samuel de Champlain Park) Canoes arrive between 1 and 6pm

Family Category begins at 12:30 pm
Mattawa Island (off Bisset Str. in Mattawa)
Canoes arrive between 1:45 pm until dark

Awards Banquet at the Mattawa Community Centre begins at 6:30 pm.

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) was founded in 1972 by the Province of Ontario and the NBMCA’s 10 member municipalities. A non-profit organization, the NBMCA works closely with the public to ensure the environmental health of the region’s watershed. The NBMCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities who are members of Conservation Ontario.

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