Dragon Boat Barrie
Dragon Boat Barrie is a local non-profit recreational club located in Barrie, Ontario. Following the inaugural Barrie Dragon Boat Festival in 2003, the library’s event continued to gain momentum with more teams and volunteers participating each year. The interest in dragon boat paddling continued to expand. A dedicated core group of dragon boat paddlers laid the foundation to form an official recreational club and the group has since grown to over 100+ members who compete locally, provincially and internationally at various summer and winter events.
Dragon Boat Barrie plays an integral role in supporting the Library in its festival, offering their expertise with local teams for steering, coaching, hosting special events throughout the season and fundraising to support the Library’s Future Branches Campaign!
Learn more about Dragon Boat Barrie and their membership offerings!
Barrie's Ribbons of Hope
Barrie's Ribbons of Hope is local a dragon boat team comprised of 100% Breast Cancer Survivors based in Barrie, Ontario. The mission of Barrie's Ribbons of Hope is to raise awareness of life after breast cancer and to demonstrate that those who experience breast cancer can lead full and active lives. The team actively competes at festivals locally, provincially and internationally and is often seen out on Kempenfelt Bay practices at least twice a week!
After receiving a Trillium Grant in 2007, Barrie's Ribbons of Hope purchased their own dragon boat. Through a partnership with the Barrie Public Library, the “Ribbon’s Boat” marked with pink ribbons, is utilized for practices throughout the season by other local community groups. Members of the Ribbons actively participate in Barrie’s summer season by lending their support in various ways to support the Library as well as co-hosting a very special “Memory Moment” on event day, taking pause to reflect on their journey as survivors and honouring the lives of paddlers who are no longer with us.
Learn more about Barrie’s Ribbons of Hope and their ongoing fundraising and advocacy for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Corporate Recess
The Barrie Public Library is excited to continue working with community partner, Corporate Recess, to facilitate this summer’s practice season. Owner Jeff Aldridge has been a contributor to the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival as a coach, steer, and paddler for over a decade!
Corporate Recess offers a unique team building experience by teaching the sport of dragon boating. They coach and teach dragon boating to help companies, sports teams, students, and community members improve their teamwork, confidence, leadership, and health, while paddling together.
Check out Corporate Recess online for more information about all the opportunities offered by Jeff and his team.