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Dragon Zone Paddling Club program and membership adjustments: May 2020 Update

VANCOUVER, BC – May 15, 2020 – 12:30 PM – Dragon Boat BC’s paddling club, Dragon Zone Paddling Club has announced a flexible transfer policy and membership extensions for interruptions due to COVID-19. In addition, preparations are underway for a tentative partial reopening of the Club’s docks and single-person boat use, beginning June 1, 2020.

“The last two months have seen our communities significantly changed because of COVID-19. We are aware that many paddlers are anxious about what comes next, and our transfer policy and membership extensions aim to address some of these anxieties,” explains Alexis Gall, General Manager, Dragon Boat BC. 

“We have also taken the opportunity to fast-track plans for changes to our membership models to take COVID-19 disruptions into account, simplify operations to improve the paddler experience, and make program delivery more efficient.”

 As part of this plan and in response to COVID-19, the following measures will be taken:

Individual Programs

• Individual program registrants may withdraw from their 2020 program, and transfer to the same/equivalent program in 2021 with the understanding that exact dates in 2021 will not be announced until early 2021. Refund requests of 85% of the paid registration fee will be accepted until June 1, 2020. Previous refund requests will automatically be increased to 85%.
• Steering clinic registrants may withdraw from their 2020 program, and transfer to the same/equivalent program in 2021 with the understanding that exact dates in 2021 will not be announced until early 2021.  Refund requests of 85% of the paid registration fee will be accepted until June 1, 2020. Previous refund requests will automatically be increased to 85%.

Membership and Training Programs

• Dragon boat practices missed due to COVID-19 closures from March 16 onwards will be transferred for the same team to use by September 30, 2021. 

Credits are projected to be applied in a way that allows teams to continue their season where it was paused. Precise plans will be adjusted accordingly as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop and the reopening date for dragon boat team practices becomes more clear. 

Beginning in October 2020, a new dragon boat team practice model will be implemented that more closely matches paddling seasons, offering sessions running October-September, March-June, March-September, or October-February. 

• OC-1 membership expiries will be lengthened by 11 weeks if your membership was valid during the entire closure period from March 16 to June 1. If your membership expired during the closure period, it will be lengthened to make up for the difference between March 16 and whenever your original expiry date was.

Beginning in October 2020, a new membership model will be implemented that offers memberships running from October-September or March-September. 

A special OC-1 “top-up” pass will be offered to existing members for the period between their new membership expiry date until the end of September 2021.

• Creekside Kayak memberships will be lengthened by 11 weeks if your membership was valid during the entire closure period from March 16 to June 1. If your membership expired during the closure period, it will be lengthened to make up for the difference between March 16 and whenever your original expiry date was.

Beginning in October 2020, a new membership model will be implemented that offers memberships running from October-September, March-June, or March-September. 

A special Creekside Kayaks “top-up” pass will be offered to existing members for the period between their new membership expiry date until the end of September 2021.

These changes will streamline the over-27 different variables currently used. Moving forward, all memberships and training programs will fall into the following variables:

Categories

• Adult
• All Access (Senior/U24/Post-Secondary/Accessibility)
• Junior

Length

• October-September (Year-Round)
• March-June (Spring)
• March-September (Spring/Summer)
• October-February (Fall/Winter)

Frequency

• 1, 2, or 3 times/week (scheduled sessions)
• 1/day (reservation or first come first served)

In the weeks and months leading up to the unveiling of these new structures, staff will unveil additional details and additional opportunities for input and community consultation.

Individuals with questions are advised to contact the Club at info@dragonboatbc.ca.

Tentative and Projected Reopening on June 1, 2020

As part of the Club’s tentative partial reopening on June 1, measures to ensure the safety of paddlers, staff, and volunteers will be implemented. This includes initially limiting operations to only single-person boats, changing hours of operation, requiring masks and social distancing, and ongoing enhanced sanitation measures. At this time, the Society’s main offices, and interior facilities inside Creekside Community Centre remain closed. Further details of the Club’s safety plan and requirements can be viewed at this statement here.

The Club recognizes and thanks the first responders and essential workers who have served the community and helped protect our community against the brunt of COVID-19. During the closure period, the Club has partnered with community organizations to offer support, help coordinate action, and provide assistance within its capacity.

The Club notes the importance of continuing the fight against COVID-19 as British Columbia begins to reopen. For links to information on mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19, emergency government funding measures, and ways to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, please visit dragonboatbc.ca/covid19. 

About the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society

Community, culture and competition, all in one boat. The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society (dba Dragon Boat BC) is the non-profit operator of North America’s flagship dragon boat festival – the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, and runs Dragon Zone Paddling Club – Canada’s largest paddling club. Through their All Access and youth programs, supported by the Milton K. Wong Legacy Project, the Society makes sport accessible regardless of barriers to participation.

Media Contact
Dragon Boat BC Main Office
Email: info@dragonboatbc.ca
Please note that the office remains closed, and is only able to take questions via email.

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