During his second year as a paddler in last year’s Barrie Dragon Boat Festival, Emmanuel Flores and his wife were strolling through the team village between races and they noticed the wide range of food and snack selections at each team's tent.
They had an epiphany.
Having adopted a plant-based lifestyle several years ago, the couple wondered if there would be interest in creating a team of vegan/vegetarian paddlers.
Within minutes of a Facebook post asking that very question, the answer was clear.
Fifty responses were received before Emmanuel returned to the docks to begin the second race of the day and the answer was an overwhelming yes!
The group came together immediately following the conclusion of the 2018 festival and the Mighty Green Dragons were born.
Comprised of fitness instructors, body builders, triathletes, a professional cyclist and other athletic enthusiasts, this diverse team shares several goals.
Those goals include: encouraging healthy lifestyles and promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet, raising funds and awareness for environmental and animal rights organizations such as the Sea Shepard Conservation Society and the Wishing Well Animal Sanctuary, and, perhaps most important, having fun!
Since its inception, the Mighty Green Dragons have enjoyed numerous social gatherings, organized several fundraising events, and have been on the water practising their paddle strokes every Tuesday evening since July 4. In fact, they are having so much fun preparing for this year’s Dragon Boat Festival that they have already committed to the 2020 event.
Developed and hosted by the Barrie Public Library, the festival was initially designed to increase the profile of the library amidst a rapidly growing population.
Seventeen years later, the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival continues to support the library and dozens of other charitable organizations in the region. Helping to raise funds and community awareness for more than 60 charities in Barrie and the surrounding area, the fundraising structure of this festival is truly unique.
Money raised by each dragon-boat team goes to their charity of choice and over $1.85 million has been raised since the festival began in 2003.
Over the coming days, the Mighty Green Dragons and 45 other teams will be practising on the waters of Kempenfelt Bay.
Stop by the Dragon Boat dock at Heritage Park weekday evenings and on weekends and cheer them on as they prepare for the 17th annual Barrie Dragon Boat Festival presented by Tim Hortons.
For more information about this highly anticipated event taking place on Saturday, Aug. 24, visit www.barriedragonboatfestival.ca or call the library at 705-728-1010.
Paddles up!
Prepared by Martha MacEachern, Barrie Dragon Boat Festival communications liaison volunteer, Barrie Public Library.
