Summer Edition 5 - Banook Canoe Club News¶

Week of August 9

Upcoming dates:¶

August 12 -

• U10 Regatta #2
  • This will be the second and final regatta for our youngest racers - come down to cheer them on! #gobanookgo

August 13

• Banook Fun Day
  • wear red and white/ Banook gear and show your spirit! Stay tuned for more info on Fun Day! Once finalized, the schedule will be shared on Facebook and Instagram.

August 18-19-20

• U12/ U14 Champs
  • The funnest 3 days on Lake Banook all summer are almost here! Our U12s and U14s wil race in heats and finals… will Banook athletes take home any medals? 🥇🥈🥉
  • Dig out your new or vintage Banook swag (or grab some red and white clothes) and get ready to cheer #gobanookgo

August 23-27

• Closing Week
  • Spend the last week of programming hanging out with your summer friends
  • This week will be a fun week with many different activities planned for all age groups

August 27

• Last Day
  • This will be the final day of paddling programs, swimming/lifeguard supervision and Member Activity Camp/ Childcare

August 23-29

• Canadian National Championships/ National Team Trials
  • 11 of our high performance paddlers, as well as our Head Coach are heading to Ottawa for our first National level competitions since August 2019… wow - first time in 2 years (everything was cancelled last year and earlier this year due to COVID19).
  • This event will be a combination of the Canadian National Championships and National Team trials where some of our athletes will be racing to become National Champions as well as to be selected to Team Canada for competitions in Europe this fall
  • Cheer them on from home and make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram - our volunteers are also heading to Ottawa and will be posting updates. Make sure to send our Banook athletes your messages of support #gobanookgo

Water Testing¶

We have been advised that the beach at Birch Cove (on Lake Banook) is closed to swimming due to high bacteria levels. Although Birch Cove is on Lake Banook, it is further up the lake and in a sheltered spot on the lake. Because of this, and because of the water flow into the canal just beyond the club, usually the Banook beach area is not affected in the same manner.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have sent a water sample from the Banook beach for testing and we are awaiting the results - we will post an update as soon as we receive the results. We are continuing our swimming lessons and allowing swimming at our beach. We do advise that in the interim, until our test comes back that swimming is at the member's own risk. Please chat with our Head Lifeguard, Lucas if you have any questions.

Masters, U12 and U14 Regattas¶

There was LOTS of action on Lake Banook this past weekend! What an amazing weekend of racing.. Masters, U12 and U14 regattas - wow! So much fun!

Thank you to our coaches, parents, volunteers, staff and the officials who all work so hard to make these events special. And great job to our athletes - we love watching you race! (Head on over to our Facebook page to see lots of pics courtesy of our volunteer Communications Director on the Board. Huge thank you to Aaron for all the extra volunteer time he is putting in to give us amazing photo coverage of race days).

Member Try-a-Boat¶

We haven’t had much success with our Thursday evening Member Try-a-Boat sessions. Our plan is to run these on Thursday evenings, in good weather. So far, due to poor weather and other events, we have only been able to run one of these sessions this summer. We are missing these awesome evenings so we’re planning to host one this week 6:45-7:45 pm (we see the forecast is calling for cloudy with showers, so keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram where we will communicate for sure, once we see the weather of the day)!

Upcoming Regattas - Reminders¶

Banook is allowed spectators as long as we are following our COVID plan.

Please note: No Banook athletes, coaches or spectators are permitted at Oakwood Park by the ADCKC racing centre. Banook is required to stay on-site at our own club (except paddlers when they are on the lake for racing).

Rules for spectators:¶

1. Everyone must check with the Gate Attendant, upon arrival.
2. Sanitize hands upon entry and whenever you see a hand sanitizer station.
3. Spectators should remain on grass area for the day - do not congregate on the upper deck
4. Spectators will be permitted on the upper deck to watch races
5. Masks should be worn on the upper deck when distancing is not possible
6. When observing races on the upper deck, please maintain 6 feet distance
7. Only competitors will be permitted on the dock level - this area will be roped off from spectators
8. The changing rooms will be reserved for paddler/ coach use only
9. Washrooms in the hall will be available for spectators
10. In the event of inclement weather, spectators are NOT permitted in the hall - they will be expected to watch the races outside. The only reason to enter the hall will be to use the washrooms
11. Masks are MANDATORY at all times in the building (including going to the washroom) and at all times when 6 feet/2 metre distancing is not possible

Non-Member Regatta Spectators¶

We are very excited that we are continuing to allow non-member spectators to attend this regatta. We will be monitoring our maximum capacity for our outdoor area and we will record all names/ phone numbers for contact tracing purposes.

There will be a guest sign in sheet at the gate. Each paddler who is racing will be permitted to sign in 2 guests (non-members). We will require the guest name and phone number for contact tracing purposes. Also, each member paddler is expected to advise their guests of the spectator rules outlined above. We reserve the right to deny non-member (or any) spectators if we exceed our outdoor maximum capacity. PLEASE NOTE: Other members and paddlers who are not racing are not permitted to sign in non-member guests.

Try out the Dragon Boat¶

We have a few more upcoming sessions to try out the Dragon Boat sessions for members as follows:

Wednesdays - 12-1pm - August 11, 18

Sundays - 3-4pm - August 15, 29

COVID19 - Masks¶

We realize everyone has COVID fatigue and everyone is tired of the restrictions. However, we are still in Phase 4 and we are obligated to follow the provincial mandates. If businesses and organizations do not follow public health measures, they can be fined $7,500. As a not-for-profit sport organization, this would be devastating.

So we remind everyone that masks are required inside the club building or when distancing is not possible (except for Activity Camp which is following the day camp guidance). Please remind your children about this requirement, too. (If you forget your mask, we have them available at the gate).

COVID19 - Distancing¶

We are also still following COVID19 distancing protocols – everyone please remember the requirements of 6 feet/2 metre distancing – especially on the grass, inside the Banook building, and on the deck – parents also please remind your children.

Social Media¶

We are active on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You should follow us/ like our pages to receive even more communication, to see lots of amazing photos as well as to keep up with late-breaking Banook news.

Snack Shack¶

The season is winding down, so try to use up your tabs in the next couple of weeks. The Snack Shack is open 11-1 each day (weather permitting).

• To add money to a tab, please send an eTransfer to [email protected].
• In the comments section of the eTransfer form, please include the child's name and age group (e.g. U10, U12, etc.).

Please note: There has been a significant increase in trash being left on the grass, the deck, and the dock area - please remind your family to place all garbage and recyclables in the bins located around the club.

50/50 Draw¶

This is an amazing fundraiser for Banook… Plus? The jackpot is almost $17,000 and the winner gets half. Wowza! Click this link to support Banook and for your chance to win! (Banook receives half of what we raise, so please donate - less than 2 weeks til the big draw).

https://rafflebox.ca/raffle/nsyp/1

(Must be a resident of NS to buy tickets and win). Please share this with your friends and family.

Banook Swag¶

Looking for some Banook gear?

• Order here: https://banookcanoeclub.entripyshops.com/

Please note, this website does not include CKC approved Banook racing singlets for regattas - these are available in the office for purchase.

Welcome new Board Member¶

We are thrilled to welcome Amanda Sparkes as our newest member of the Banook Board of Directors. Amanda has joined us as a Director-at-Large and we have put her to work already - assisting with our Bylaws Subcommittee. Amanda’s whole family are members of Banook and we are grateful she has joined our Board!.

Board Vacancies¶

The current Board is busily planning our upcoming AGM in September - keep an eye on this newsletter for dates/ further info.

Every year at the AGM, we elect our Board of Directors. Every year, all positions are available, so please consider joining the Board. Further info about current open positions will be published soon!.

If you have any questions, or if you are interested, please send an email to Kim Gaudet, Commodore at [email protected].

National Sport Trust Fund – Nova Scotia Chapter¶

We continue to fundraise through Sport Nova Scotia under the National Sport Trust Fund. This fundraising allows us to raise money for paddling, training, and club equipment. We are always in need of purchasing/replacing our equipment. Please consider donating to this fund.

All eligible donations of $20 or more through the National Sport Trust Fund to this fundraising effort will receive a charitable tax receipt. The National Sport Donor Form can be found at the following link. NSTF Donor Form

The donor must submit the Donor Form, along with funds payable to the National Sport Trust Fund by cheque, money order, or cash. The mailing address is found on the form. If dropping off cash to the Sport Nova Scotia office, please make an appointment with provincial fund manager Nick McBride ([email protected])