Mattawa River Canoe Race
NBMCA Special Events North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority's
34th Annual Mattawa River Canoe Race
Presented by Pattison Outdoor Advertising
Race: Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pre-race Hike at Eau Claire Gorge
Friday, July 23, 2010 - 9:30 am
Ready for a challenge with a twist of history? Join the NBMCA for what the Ontario Marathon Canoeing Association refers to as "the jewel in OMCRA's racing schedule". For centuries, the Mattawa River was used as a major transportation route by early explorers who had only to follow the well-worn paths of the Huron and Ojibway as they traveled westward. The list of explorers who passed along the Mattawa river route in traditional voyageur canoes is a veritable Who's Who of Canadian exploration.
For the past three decades, canoeing enthusiasts have paddled the historical waterways of the Mattawa River in the hopes of becoming a category champion in the NBMCA's annual Mattawa River Canoe race. Attracting paddlers from across North America, the one-day race traces 64 kilometers of calm lakes, portages, challenging rapids and beautiful provincial parks to end at the mouth of the Mattawa and Ottawa River. The Mattawa River Canoe Race’s overall record for the fastest time was set in 1995 and stands at an impressive 5 hours, 27 minutes and 53 seconds.
Competitive, recreational and voyageur canoe categories ensure that all types of canoeing enthusiasts can participate in the race. In addition, participants in the family category begin at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and paddle only the last 13 km of the race.
After a successful day on the water, the event ends with a well deserved buffet dinner and awards ceremony. All participants will receive a memento capturing the spirit of the race and the North Bay Nugget Amateur Trophy is awarded to the team with the best overall time. Category champions are awarded with locally hand-crafted trophies that are treasured not only for their merit but also for their uniqueness and prizes are awarded to the top three finishers in each category. Paddlers who have participated in the race for five, ten or fifteen years are entered into the Five and Dime Club and receive commemorative pins.
For more information on the event, please contact the NBMCA's Community Relations Coordinator at (705) 474-5420.
Other Activities:
The Mattawa Voyageur Days Summer Festival runs from Thursday, July 22 to Sunday, July 25, 2010. If you are joining us for the race, you may want to take in some of the Festival attractions.
