Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival July 23, 24, 25, 2010 Its First Ever

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, taking place July 23, 24, 25, is its first dragon boat carnival ever!

And four of the more than 200 local and international teams, from 12 countries and regions are Canadian dragon boat racing teams from the province of British Columbia.

The newly launched Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival is one of the three Mega Events earmarked by the Hong Kong SAR Government from now until mid-2011, one of the highlights of the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB) annual Summer Spectacular.

The other two Mega Events are the Hong Kong Tennis Classic 2011 World Team Challenge, which will be held January 2011, and Hong Kong’s first ever international women’s golf event, The Hong Kong Women’s Open, from late April to early May, 2011.

Canadian Teams from False Creek :
More than 60 paddlers of four Canadian teams, sponsored by the HSBC Bank Canada and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Toronto, are all from the False Creek Racing Canoe Club, in Vancouver, B.C.

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False Creek Racing Canoe Club Team in Action

The False Creek Racing Canoe Club is one of the best known breeding grounds of Canadian paddlers.  The club’s dragon boat teams have competed in many international events and have won the Hong Kong Championships for five times in previous years.

False Creek Racing Canoe Club Team Photo

These teams will join three categories of races including Mixed, Open, and Women’s International Championship in the first ever Carnival.

Ms Maureen Siu, Director of the HKETO, described Hong Kong as the birthplace of modern dragon boat racing.

“Dragon boating in Canada began at the World Expo in Vancouver in 1986, when the city was given six dragon boats by Hong Kong,” said Ms Siu. “Now dragon boating has become a popular sporting activity in major cities across Canada, and evolved beyond festivals to include community, charity and sport racing in many combinations.”

 “Having four high-calibre Canadian teams joining this event could further promote the Hong Kong-Canada relations,” she added.

Jointly organized by the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association and the HKTB, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival will be held along the East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade this year. The Victoria Harbour will be in carnival form, with fun and many cultural entertainment programs.

Michael Lim, HKTB’s Director of Canada, Central and South America, said,

“The carnival celebrates our traditional Chinese culture with modern elements by enlarging the scale of the Hong Kong international Dragon Boat Races while instilling new programs of different nature to attract even greater participation of visitors and local residents.”

For anyone lucky enough to be traveling to Hong Kong this week, this is one more wonderful event in this fabulous city! Wish I were there!

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For more information, see Hong Kong festival site

Photos this page/ post courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board.

For pictures of Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, see my website Hong Kong section.

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Update June 2, 2011

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association (HKDBA) are organizing the annual Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races (June 17 - 19, 2011) and Canadian teams will be there!

Expo 86 in Vancouver BC was the start of Dragon boating in Canada, when Hong Kong gave the city six dragon boats. Sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, eight Canadian teams, and about 150 paddlers from the False Creek Racing Canoe Club (FCRCC) will take part

The four top teams are the FCRCC Premier Men, Premier Women, Starbucks Waverunners Komodo Dragon and Creakside Masters. The remaining four teams are known as recreational paddlers: Lifescan, Riptide, Dragon Hearts Beat and Starbucks Waverunners Sumatra.

Some groups are experienced international award-winning teams, while for others the Hong Kong competition will be their first on the international circuit. All of Canada wishes our False Creek Racing Canoe Club dragon boat teams good luck!

Google Map Hong Kong:

View Most Popular Attractions in Hong Kong in a larger map

Art Show, Pow Wow, Metis Fiddlers Free Events in Port Credit

Port Credit is set to rock again this weekend with free fun events: The Port Credit Outdoor Art Show at the Credit Village Marina and the Native Pow Wow and Metis Fiddlers and more at Saddington Park.

Nesaart.com ~ Lighthouses ~ Port Credit Outdoor Art Show

Starting with the Port Credit Outdoor Art Show (there's a band, too, with live music): Nebojsa Jovanovic, Burlington Ontario, works primarily in acrylics. The lighthouses caught my eye, and I went in for a closer look. For background on this artist, see his web site.

Wall Art - Port Credit Outdoor Art Show

The artist, Henry Lobo, of The Lobo Paintings, was not at the booth at the time of my visit. But the visitors kept coming, Even the Peel Police foot patrol stopped to have a look.

Small Art 'Stones' - Close Up

The artist, Henry Lobo, paints on granite and slate. These smaller pieces, shown here, can be worn as pins or brooches. I loved how they caught the light of the late afternoon sun.

Art-O-Glass Fused and Leaded Glass Designs

The first show for this artist in custom glass tiles, mementos and gifts. So new, no website yet, but she will be back again for the South Side Shuffle jazz fest in September in Port Credit.

Carlo Allion ~ Mixed Media ~ Encaustic

Dramatic artwork by Carlo Allion, Scugog Island, Ontario, is worth a second look. More information at his web site. He told me the technique in these paintings is 'encaustic', a very old form. I'd first heard of it last summer at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition from artist David Brown (see this post).

Mississaugas of the First Credit Pow Wow Saddington Park

And now for the Pow Wow at Saddington Park this weekend. As I write, the first teepee has been set up, just at sunset. With any luck, I'll catch the Sunrise Ceremony at 5:30 a.m. (click on image to enlarge to get times, etc. then click Back button to return to this page).

Saddington Park Port Credit ~  Pow Wow Venue

This afternoon, the cars and trucks arrived to start setting up for this weekend's event at Saddington Park (related blog Saddington park pictures) I must confess to being a little verklempt as I realized that this location, the mouth of the Credit River, was first settled by the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. Heritage Mississauga, Credit River Metis Council, City of Mississauga  and Region of Peel are partners in this year's event to mark Port Credit 175 anniversary.

These events are free, and they are not the only ones this weekend: There's the Farmer's Market (Lakeshore and Elmwood, Saturdays 7a.m. to 1p.m.) and live music Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Port Credit Village Square (Hurontario and Lakeshore Road). This weekend, Soulshine will perform from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Friday nights, the Rotary  movies at Memorial Park.

Burrito Boys Mexican Take Out Port Credit

I stopped at the Art Show on my way to pick up dinner at the Burrito Boys on Stavebank Road, just north of Lakeshore Road, on the east side of the Credit River. This place has been open about 4 years now, and is always busy. Good burritos! They found a niche and filled it!

Cookie Girls Coffee Shop Stavebank Road Port Credit

Waiting for the burritos on a very hot and humid afternoon, I stepped outside to get the cool breeze. That was when I noticed this vision in pink. A new coffee shop is now open in Port Credit. How cute is this! I stepped inside to a newly removated cafe. Opened just two weeks ago, said the owners. So new, the sign isn't up yet, but the name is the Cookie Girls. Next door to the Burrito Boys.( Get it?)

But the burritos were ready, so I'll go back for a coffee and snack, and enjoy the girlie pinks!

The Pow Wow promises to be lively, with loudspeakers going all day. I have a front row seat, so I'll be up early. See you there!

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Update: Saturday July 17, 2010 3 p.m.

Torrential rains didn't dampen the celebrations at the Pow Wow! Here's a short video of the rainstorm:

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Canada Day Mississauga Port Credit 175 Parade July 1 2010

July 1 2011 Here's the video of the parade on Canada Day one year later:

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July 1 2010: Canada Day in Port Credit (Mississauga, Ontario) is a double celebration: Canada marks 143 years, and Port Credit marks 175! Yay, Us!!

Port Credit celebrated with a parade, a pancake breakfast, Heritage Mississauga displays, and lots of Canada Flags in a sea of red and white. And tonight there will be fireworks! (For all Mississauga fireworks, see http://snapshot-travel-blog.blogspot.com/2010/06/mississauga-canada-day-fireworks-events.html.

Here are some pictures of the Canada Day Events from earlier today.

Port Credit Canada Day Parade Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Representatives from various levels of government, and Port Credit committees started off the parade with a ribbon cutting ceremony. [Disclosure: I was one of five parade judges, and so these pictures were taken 'on the fly'.]

Therapy Dogs Lead the Way ~ Mississauga Canada Day Parade

St John Ambulance therapy dogs were among the first to parade down Lakeshore Road at Stavebank.

First Place ~ Port Credit Parade ~ Canada Day 2010

The giant birthday cake was an invitation to the cutting (and eating) of the Port Credit Canada Day birthday cake at the end of the parade. It also took first place ~ large floats.

Second Place Float  PCYC ~  Port Credit Yacht Club ~ Team Courage

Team Courage float for the Port Credit Yacht Club won second place. Floats were judged on Canadian content, originality and overall impression.

Third Place ~ Food Bank ~ Port Credit 175 Parade

Colorfully decorated in red and white streamers, these grocery carts garnered third place: What is more Canadian than Food Banks? The sobering impact of a shopping cart -- homeless or Land of Plenty.

Toronto Signals Band ~ Canada Day 2010 Parade Mississauga

One of the marching bands in the Canada Day parade was the Toronto Signals Band. The band has been in continuous operation since 1926 and is the duty band for 709 Toronto Communications Regiment at Fort York Armory.

Antique Fire Truck Port Credit Ontario

This old fire truck was one of many classic cars and trucks that joined the  parade, and the Shriners mini motorcycles, as always, were a crowd-pleaser.

Pancake Breakfast Port Credit Memorial Park

A pioneer style breakfast of sausages, beans and pancakes started the day right for early parade watchers and the many volunteers who arrived before 8 a.m. to set up for the festivities.

Heritage Mississauga Display ~ Early Port Credit Photos

Heritage Mississauga sets up displays at many Mississauga events, and it's always worth a look. They do a wonderful job of acquiring and preserving photos of early Mississauga villages and communities..

So far, Canada Day in Mississauga, and especially here in Port Credit, has been a lot of fun! And it's still going on, with live music, vendors, buskers and more. The fun goes on until the fireworks are finished lighting the night sky over Memorial Park, so come on down!

Hundreds of volunteers on a number of community groups have been working (and continue to work) to celebrate Port Credit's 175 birthday! Here are some of the great groups hosting events in the 'Village on the Lake':

• Paint the Town Red
• PC175
• Port Credit BIA
• Mississauga Waterfront Festival
• Port Credit Buskerfest
• South Side Shuffle

If I've missed mentioning some of the community and business groups who have put their heart and soul into our 2010 events, I'll amend the list as soon as I can.

Now to get back to the Canada Day fun at Memorial Park!
See previous post for fireworks times and locations. In Port Credit, they are supposed to start at 10:15 p.m. but I'll get there early.