Get Involved

Yes. Contact our membership associate and she can arrange this for you.

Paddles and PFDs are supplied to each member upon joining the team. Some members buy their own paddles. Paddling gloves are useful, especially on cooler days in spring and fall. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you aren’t afraid of getting a little wet.

We don’t usually take junior paddlers (under 19) as full members, though we do allow them on the boat as guest paddlers. There is no maximum age — we welcome all adult paddlers who would like to give dragon boating a try.

There’s a membership fee of $100 and a uniform deposit of $25, payable upon joining the team. Other expenses can come up if you take part in dragon boat festivals, but participation is entirely optional. The team subsidizes some festivals; others are paid for by the paddlers themselves.

We accept all fitness levels. But be warned! Much to your surprise, you may end up becoming a “super athlete”.

Provided your disability does not create a safety issue for the boat or other team members, there’s no reason you can’t take an active part in paddling.

Team members are encouraged to maintain their fitness in the off season. The team has a weekly fitness session on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The training season runs from late February to early November. The boat is taken out of the water in late fall, and we’re back paddling in early spring, weather permitting.

We don’t paddle when conditions are likely to be hazardous — for instance during a small craft wind warning or an electrical storm. The decision not to paddle is made jointly by our coach and team captain.

Not a problem! We just ask that you tell the team captain ahead of time, since rearranging the roster and bench order at the last minute can be a nuisance. We prefer at least twelve paddlers in the boat for a practice.

A decision is made early in the year by a show of interest from members. We often attend five or six festivals. We’re also active in the community at events such as Relay for Life, the Terry Fox Run and Tour de Rock. Your participation in any race or event is entirely up to you.

We simply ask that you take part in some way during our fundraisers, and that you uphold the policies and code of conduct set out in our Paddler’s Handbook.

Permission needs to be granted by the captain and waivers must be signed. Paddlers must be 10 years old or older, and children must have waivers signed by their parents.