Calgary’s Dragon Boat Race competition returns to North Glenmore Park

The annual Calgary Dragon Boat Race and Festival has taken over North Glenmore Park.

Come down to see us Aug 5-7, 2022 at the Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival, presented by Sinopec! #yycdbs #paddlesuoyyx #sinopec #calgarydragonboatfestival #yycevents https://t.co/n86fGeY0B9

— yycDragonBoatSociety (@yycDBS) July 16, 2022

The competition showcases a range of skill levels.

“We’ve got club teams that have been in existence since dragon boating has been in Calgary, so that’s like 31 years,” said Danny Ng, co-chair of the Calgary Dragon Boat Society,

“Some of these [are] club teams then there’s corporate teams that are like a social club base,” said Ng.

“I think we won so I’m feeling pretty good about it, but you never know until the times come in,” said Terri Ross, president of the Sistership Dragon Boat Association.

The Sistership Dragon Boat Association has just finished a race and all the women on the boat have had breast cancer.

“So, finding this group and realizing that we can be empowered and continue to live on and feel strong and still beautiful, I find this super empowering,” said Ross.

Racers in a club of breast cancer survivors have also experienced the loss of some women to breast cancer.

Ross says she still thinks about the people they have lost, ladies she paddled with and now misses.

“But we know that they paddled right up until the end, and they had such a wonderful experience with us so it’s a bittersweet moment for all of us,” said Ross.

Dragon boat racing and festivities are coming to a close on Sunday, and if you are heading to the park for the final day of the event consider parking at Mount Royal University and taking the free shuttle bus as parking is limited.

Good luck to everyone during the final day at the Calgary Dragon Boat Festival @yycDBS. I was so pleased to meet with organizers, volunteers, and racers this morning. Paddles up! pic.twitter.com/GP5hZZPIqr

— Jason Luan (@jasonluan88) August 7, 2022