Tla’amin First Nation, how can we thank you for your incredible communities warmth and hospitality. From the most incredible view for our tent city, to the meals made with love, to the warm houses opened to us, the Pulling Together Canoe families were blessed and cared for. We thank all the planning committee members, Drew Blaney and his helpers, Constable Chis Bakker from Powell River RCMP (Indigenous Police Services), PTCS board members, Emanuela Sheena, VPD Constable Gord Stokes, West Vancouver PD Constable Jeff Wood, and “Navy Rob” PO1 Longley ( Naval Reserve- HMCS Discovery). The kitchen staff, janitorial and other community helpers were our unsung hero’s, as this was one location, one community that supported our 300 participants for 10 days.
We had some firsts for 2019, Royal Canadian Navy has a Canoe! A wonderful blessing for their crew and awakening for its first year.
Our PTCS trailer has decals, featuring some past journeys, including a photo of Lester Picker, an award winning photographer with publications that include National Geographic, Time, Forbes, and awarded Best Travel Photographer in 2011. http://www.lesterpickerphoto.com. thanks Lester for this incredible photograph from our PTCJ 2011 in the Okanagan.
Vancouver Police Museum and Heart of the City Festival representatives were on journey, to connect and begin archiving the stories of Pulling Together Canoe Journeys, to be featured in 2020 celebrating our 20th year of Pulling Together Canoe Journeys, at the festival (Oct 2019) and in the Vancouver Police Museum (TBD 2020).
http://www.heartofthecityfestival.com
https://vancouverpolicemuseum.ca
Along with our long time Corporate sponsor CN Rail, the PTCS also have been supported this year by the generous support of Seaspan and Stantec.
https://www.seaspan.com/community-giving
https://www.stantec.com
The PTCS thanks our corporate partners, for their support, but also appreciate their employees for “pulling in our canoes”.
We also had a PTCS communications specialist team, Kelly Sinoski and Chris Keam, from Archer Media Services. The work of Kelly resulted in numerous print, radio and news articles throughout BC about our journey, featuring many of our Canoe families.
New Articles
Williams Lake: https://www.wltribune.com/community/pulling-together-brings-police-departments-and-first-nations-communities-on-board/
Vancouver Sun: https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/more-than-300-paddlers-take-journey-of-healing-and-reconciliation
Maple Ridge News: https://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/katzie-paddled-together-in-honour-of-a-fallen-family-member/
Pulling Together Canoe Families, welcome “The Maiden” Sailboat August 3rd, 2019.
Aug 3rd, 2019. Lonsdale, St Roch Pier, North Vancouver, Pulling Together Canoe families, including Vancouver Police Department, West Vancouver Police Department, Squamish Canoe Family, Royal Canadian Navy, Collingwood Neighbourhood House and possibly a couple more canoes will escort a special sailboat “The Maiden” into Vancouver. A welcoming protocol and lunch will be a part of the event. Canoes will launch from HMCS Discovery at 1200 Stanley Park at 1000 hours. Canoes and pullers are required to arrive for 0800 hours at Discovery, PTCS representative will be at the gate to assist in entry * please bring ID. Canoes should be returning to HMSC Discovery at approx 1530 hours (3 30 pm).
The legend of Maiden begins with a Tracy Edwards, a 23-year old school drop-out with a dream; a dream to skipper the first all-female crew in the world’s toughest ocean challenge, the Whitbread Round the World Race.
It was the vision, values and courage of one man, HM King Hussein I or Jordan who brought in a sponsor and made the story of Maiden possible.
At 1100hrs on 2nd September 1989 Maiden squared up on the start line of the Whitbread and as the gun shot resounded around the Solent, she set off amongst the 22-strong fleet and sailed into the history books. A gruelling 9 months lay ahead and it soon became clear that Maiden was going to be a force to be reckoned with and the team to beat.
They won two of the hardest legs and came second overall in their class; the best result for a British boat since 1977 and unbeaten to this day.
Fast forward to 2019….
http://www.themaidenfactor.org
With the generous support of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, King Hussein’s daughter, in April 2017 Maiden was shipped to Southampton and began an extensive refit and The Maiden Factor project was born.
Maiden inspired a generation and how she has a new mission; to raise awareness and funding for charities running programmes that will enable girls to get an education. 130 million girls around the world are currently denied an education; studies show that given 12 years of education and girls can change their futures, their communities and the world. Maiden will leave from the Southampton Boat Show in September on her three-year world tour, once again ‘making waves’.
