History
The Sault Dragon Boat Festival began in 1999. Teams of 20 people, plus a drummer who keeps the beat of the stroke and a steersperson, will paddle Dragon Boats down the St. Mary’s river in a series of fun and friendly races. Dragon boats are very stable, and the races only two or three minutes, making it a perfect event for everyone.
Information regarding the Festival
The Sault Family YMCA and the Sault Search and Rescue have partnered to host the 2009 Sault Ste. Marie Dragon Boat Festival. Funds raised will help the YMCA provide better programs and facilities, greater accessibility and financial assistance to include as many people as possible. In addition, funds raised will help the Search and Rescue with life saving equipment costs and equipment repairs.
The Sault Ste. Marie Family YMCA is a charitable organization that builds strong kids, strong families and a strong community by encouraging healthy lifestyles, character development, personal growth and service to others. Our mandate is to build strong kids, strong families and a strong community. The Sault Family YMCA has been there to help people in need for over 109 years.
The Sault Family YMCA provides a broad range of fitness, recreation and leisure programs for children, youth, adults, seniors and individuals with special needs. The Sault Family YMCA also provides employment assistance services, licensed and unlicensed child care services, nutrition and recreation programs for low-income parents and a variety of aquatic programs in our onsite pools and offsite waterfront facility. As a charity, our key focus is on raising the funds needed to ensure that economically disadvantaged children and families have access to our fitness, recreation and leisure programs and services.
We build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.
Sault Search and Rescue (SSAR) was founded in 1958; it is the largest of all volunteer Search and Rescue Organizations in Canada. SSAR primarily services the 22,000 square miles known as the Algoma district. SSAR is tasked by the Ontario Provincial Police, Police Services of Sault Ste. Marie, Canadian Coast Guard, RCC Trenton, and the RCMP to perform search and rescue land, marine and air duties. SSAR is affiliated with Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, Canadians Coast Guard Auxiliary, North American Search Dog Association, Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association, and with Search and Rescue Volunteer Association Canada.
SSAR is called out an average of 80 times per year to help locate and rescue missing aircrafts, boats, fishermen, hikers, berry pickers, or children who have wandered off. SSAR is made up of many groups: search teams, underwater dive teams, private pilots, field cooks, mechanics, mountain rescue squads, radio communication specialists, search coordinators, and administrators. Trained SSAR ground search and K-9 volunteers assist with lost person searches. The Technical Response Team trains weekly for high angle, confined space, river and gorge, and First Aid, and “packaging for transport”. Marine rescue volunteers assist with navigation and vessel operation. Air rescue volunteers are private pilots donating time and aircrafts to search for downed and overdue pilots.
A Tradition of Public Service for Over 40 Years