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Next-generation canoeist. PHOTO: PROJECT C.A.N.O.E.


The Authentic Canadian Experience —


A CEDAR and CANVAS CANOE


1-866-910-1551 www.nominingue.com [ news ]


Canoe Races I


Connecting multicultural urban youth with Canadian wilderness


n a land that has been explored, endured, exploited and enjoyed by way of canoe since prehistoric times, it’s natural to make the link


between canoes and Canadians. But with one in five residents having been born outside of Canada


and 95 per cent of immigrants settling in urban areas, many new Ca- nadians lack both the tradition and opportunity to make wilderness paddling a part of their lives. As the shifts toward urbanization and multiculturalism continue, the face of canoeing is appearing less rep- resentative of the general population. Organizations across the country are working to broaden the pad-


dling community to include new and urban Canadians. In 2006, Ontario’s Quetico Foundation launched the Ridley Wilderness Youth Program. Trustee Jim Douglas explains the reality, “Unfortunately, the makeup of visitors to [provincial parks] is not reflective of the multicultural face of Canada.” Te program’s goal is simple: Take urban youth out of the city and


put them on the water. “Te vision is to get new Canadian youth to experience and connect with the Canadian wilderness,” says Leslie Mclean, a Toronto high school teacher who led a group on a trip into Quetico Provincial Park with the Ridley program. Project C.A.N.O.E. is a non-profit that has been leading youth ca-


noe trips in Ontario’s Temagami region for the past 36 years. Tough their mandate is to help at-risk youth who face various challenges— not to save canoeing as we know it—executive director Pegi Dover says everything they do is influenced by the fact that more and more Canadian kids are from families without a canoeing tradition. Dover said their board was searching for ways to create a staff that was less ethnically distinct from the kids that go on the trips. Some advocates believe the future of canoeing lies in programs


that introduce the sport to a wider swath of Canada’s changing population, and that the long-term stewardship of our wilderness depends on finding ways to engage urban youth in activities such as canoe tripping. “Te Ridley trip shows them Canada is more than just dense cities


and urban sprawl,” says Mclean. “Tey would never have a chance to see this aspect of the country otherwise.” » AMY STUART


www.canoerootsmag.com 17


Building and repairing canoes for over 35 years


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