Wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the dozens of participants in this past Sunday’s Sydenham River Canoe and Kayak Race.
The event, held April 28th, drew 70 participants making their way down the river between Mosside Road and the Shetland Conservation Area.
After being plagued with cancellations due to high water levels, the COVID-19 pandemic, and substantial rainfall over the past few years, organizers were pleased with the turn out despite the less-than-ideal conditions.
“We were pleased with the number of paddlers, both competitive and recreational, that came out to take part in the race,” said Melissa Levi, Conservation Education Coordinator with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. “Everyone was prepared for the rainy conditions, and enjoyed getting out on the water.”
The annual event serves as a fundraiser to support conservation education programs within the St. Clair region watershed, bringing in over $3800 this year.
The funds raised will help support the SCRCA’s Education Team connect and engage students throughout the watershed in environmental programming. The top fundraiser award was presented to SCRCA Chair, Pat Brown and SCRCA Board Member, Emery Huszka who collected the greatest number of pledges for the 2024 event.
The race featured eleven different race classes and three different race lengths with six classes recognized by the Ontario Marathon Canoe and Kayak Racing Association (OMCKRA.)
