By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
BEACHBURG — A world-class event is being held in Beachburg from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5.
A group of volunteers have been working hard to ensure the non-competitive part of the International Canoe Federation World Freestyle Kayaking Championship goes off without a hitch.
Paula Troutman and her committee of about 12 have been working hard the past months to ensure a world-class event is hosted for the kayaking event.
Ms. Troutman said as soon as Joe Kowalski, owner of Wilderness Tours near Foresters Falls, told her the event was to be hosted by his company, the work began.
She was one of the first contacts because Ms. Troutman has been to world kayaking events before to cheer on her son Nick Troutman, who is also competing at this event.
“We want to make a nice show,” she said. “I’ve seen what the Swiss, Americans and Germans have done. I’m a Valley Girl and I wanted to showcase the area, but it was going to be on a shoestring budget.”
The core committee members working alongside Ms. Troutman are Tanya and Dave Kennedy, Brenda and Kevin Grady, Jeff McLaughlin, Bruce Regier, Hugh Martin, Jessica Grant, Megan Lee, Paige Lee, Chantal (Brideau) Rosien and newcomer Jeanelle Romain.
Ms. Troutman added, there are many, many volunteers throughout the community who are helping with various projects.
She noted Mr. Kowalski and Matt McGuire, both of Wilderness Tours, have been working diligently as well on the event.
Wilderness Tours is hosting the close to 250 athletes as well as the closing ceremonies.
Ms. Troutman said the beautification of Beachburg is happening, with the Beachburg Horticultural Society hosting a competition. As well, banners are hung on various poles in Beachburg, a dilapidated building received a facelift with large signs advertising the agenda and various contests people can participate in during the event.
On Sunday, Aug. 30, the Parade of Athletes and Opening Ceremonies will be held starting at 1 p.m.
Those in the parade and the athletes from the close to 45 countries will line-up near Simple Things and go up the main street before turning onto Caroline Street to enter the arena grounds.
There, the athletes will form an honour guard for the spectators to walk between them to their seats.
There is seating for at least 500 people, Ms. Troutman said.
Once everyone is in their seats, the dignitaries and athletes will parade in.
Once the speeches are completed, there will be opportunity to enjoy a barbecue, which is a fundraiser for the Beachburg Agricultural Society, and meet the athletes, she said.
There are two events the spectators can participate in for the parade and opening ceremonies, Ms. Troutman said.
There is the Trikes, Bikes and Wagons decorating competition. She said this is open to anyone who wants to get into the spirit of O’Canada.
The winner will be judged on the whole outfit, from the bike/trike or wagon to what the person is wearing, she said.
The other contest is the Best Dressed Spectator, also in the spirit of O’Canada.
Ms. Troutman said she can’t stress enough how important it is for the spectators to get onto the bleachers as soon as possible so the event can begin.
The opening ceremonies include the athletes parading in, performances on stage and the lighting of the flame, Ms. Troutman said.
There will be 100 homing pigeons released, and a gun salute by military officers from Garrison Petawawa. The local fire department will also do a water shoot, she said.
Throughout the week, there will be various information booths, displays and activities at the river where the event is being held. Ms. Troutman noted there is a large area for these things to be set up. The booths and activities include how to make maple syrup, a trapper with pelts, a heritage display, hockey display, stand up paddle and kayak demonstrations and an outdoor adventurist.
On Monday, Aug. 31, the squirt boat races will happen. However, to view these races, there will be boat shuttles as they won’t be at The Garb, where the other races will be held.
To get to McCoy’s Chute, where the Squirt boat event will be held, watch for the signs along Grants Settlement Road, but it is near Powers Road.
For the other kayaking events, they will all be held at The Garb rapid.
To get to The Garb, Ms. Troutman said parking will be at the Whitewater Brewery, which is at the end of Fletcher Road. There is a $5 parking fee, which is going to the organization in charge of parking as a fundraiser.
“Then you take the trail through the bush,” she said. “It’s a pretty walk. You can’t get lost.”
For those who have difficulty walking, there will be service vehicles, she said.
It will be natural sitting, which means rocks — there are no chairs to sit on, she said.
“Bring a pillow if you think you’ll need it.”
Lunch will be available at a small fee, she said.
On the final day, Saturday, Sept. 5, there will be two special events taking place where spectators can participate.
The two events will take place between the Senior Women’s championship event and the Senior Men’s championship.
The first is a yellow ducky race fundraiser. Purchase a rubber duck between now and Saturday, Sept. 5 and watch it go through the rapids. The first duck to make it through the rapids is the winner. This race will take place after the Canadian Red Neck Race.
The Canadian Red Neck Race will see home-made water crafts going through the rapids and at some point there will be a rope high above the rapids with a bag of money in it. The person who grabs the money wins the race.
Ms. Troutman said there is a $5 entry fee, and all the fees will be the total winnings.
“The bag will be high enough it won’t be easily reached,” she said. “People will have to be creative.”
There will be safety boaters for those going through the rapids and people in rafts gathering up the remains that will be floating to the end of the rapids.
Friday evening there will be a Losers Party at Wilderness Tours after dinner.
The closing ceremonies will take place at Wilderness Tours on Saturday, Sept. 5. There will be a dinner that is open to the public and then the closing ceremonies at dusk.
Ms. Troutman is hoping to make it a spectacular event with sparklers, entertainment and a fire dancer.
There will be a podium ceremony which will include presenting floral, medallion, trophy and Canadian keepsakes to the top three competitors in each of the eight categories.
The medallions are coming from Switzerland, she said.
The trophies are a design she designed and TD Productions, owned by Steve Blok in Beachburg, are creating. While it’s hard to explain the trophy without seeing it, Ms. Troutman said there’s a maple base with a small round ball. The ball is sitting inside a circle, which represents the wave and then there’s a wider half circle, which represents the kayaker doing a trick.
The Canadian keepsakes were donated by Marks Work Wearhouse. The gold medallists will each receive a red/black plaid lumber jacket; the silver medallists will each receive a picnic blanket and the bronze medallists will each receive a Windriver blanket.
The keepsakes will have stitching on them so the medallists will always know where they received the keepsake, she said.
Ms. Troutman said this event would not be possible without sponsorships and donations, both financial and in-kind. She noted while the event co-ordinators did apply for funding, there was none granted.
She said some of the sponsors are Warrior Gear in Haley Station, Sport Chek, Giant Tiger, Molson Canadian, Beachburg arbourist Billy Harris, Shaw’s Lumber and Schauer’s Home Hardware in Cobden.
A full list of sponsors will be on display at the river throughout the event, she said.
“So much of this event would not be possible without these people and companies,” Ms. Troutman said. “The support from the business community and even just the people, has been overwhelming.”
Ms. Troutman said this is the week people will have opportunity to see world class kayaking. It’s an opportunity for the community to show the world just how supportive it is of events held in its own back yard.
