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May 25, 2021

Statement on BC Restart Plan and Guidance for Dragon Boat Return to Play

For Immediate Release

Vancouver, BC – Dragon Zone Paddling Club welcomes the guidance in BC’s Restart Plan, and advises the paddling community that the first trigger in the Club’s dragon boat return to play plan has been activated. Dragon boat training is scheduled to resume beginning the week of June 28, 2021 under COVID protocols. This resumption will be guided by the Club’s dragon boat return to play plan; highlights of the plan are below.

The Club’s dragon boat return to play plan relies on three triggers: clear government guidance authorizing a return to play; approval from relevant stakeholders; and a sustainable trajectory backed by a strong vaccination or treatment program. The Club expects all triggers to be clear by June 28, but cautions that changes in the COVID trajectory may delay this overall plan.

This week, staff will begin contacting previously registered teams to update their team rosters and ensure their administration contacts are correct in advance of the team onboarding process. Next week, details will be released to allow previously registered teams to either use their time credit or sign up for a summer dragon boat season running until September 30, 2021.

Approximately 2 weeks prior to June 28, the Club will run onboarding meetings to assist team administrators to filing required documents for their team. Virtual options will be offered; depending on COVID protocols, in-person sessions may be held as well. A virtual or hybrid town hall may also be held to help answer questions from teams and paddlers.

Prior to the resumption of paddling activity, the Club will run steering clinics, and send out resources for teams to review and complete to ensure they are abiding by best practices and safe sport/paddling standards. We will also work with vendors to help paddlers purchase their own PFDs and paddles through our online store to reduce shared equipment.

For the foreseeable future, the Club will continue to deploy strict COVID control measures to mitigate potential exposure risks. Highlights of the measures are located in the appendix below. The Club’s return to play and COVID control measures will be regularly reviewed and published for updates.

The Dragon Boat Return to Play plan represents phase 2 in the Club’s COVID operational plan. Since June 1, 2020, the Club has been safely operating with strict COVID protocols during the Club’s phase 1 plan, with small boat operations carrying on every day except in cases of extreme weather.

Teams are asked to direct questions they may have to info@dragonboatbc.ca, but wait for additional information to be released over the coming days if possible as the Club gets more information and approvals from its partners and stakeholders.

The Club will be regularly updating at dragonboatbc.ca/covid19 and dragonzone.ca/alerts with new information to our COVID and operating protocols.

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Enhanced Sanitation Measures: Dragon Zone Paddling Club Phase 2 Operations

Sanitation

• Paddlers are encouraged to use their own paddles and PFDs during this time. Boats, club paddles, and PFDs will be disinfected between users.
• High touch and shared surfaces will be sanitized regularly with a QUAT disinfectant.
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the facility.
• One way traffic on the docks will be enforced, and specified team meeting places will be controlled once allowed under protocols.
• Sheds are off-limits to all paddlers.

General Entry Requirements

• Team rosters will be put in place with a maximum number of people per roster. Paddlers must be on a roster to be allowed to paddle. Additional restrictions will be in effect depending on government guidance.
• All paddling slots are by appointment only. Paddlers may not congregate on the docks pre or post practices.
• Anyone exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, are ill, or have returned to BC from outside the province or country in the last 14 days will not be allowed on the docks.
• Masks will be required while on the docks, and may not be removed until boats are on the water.
• 2 metres of physical distancing between training bubbles is required while in line for check in, on the docks, and when leaving the docks.

Facility Operational Changes

• There is limited access to the community centre and washrooms at this time.
• No bag storage is available on the docks or in the community centre.
• Dock access will be set according to a schedule, to be adjusted depending on daylight and demand. The dock will be closed outside of these times.

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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 organizer 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. The Society also produces a series of races, cultural programming, and community initiatives centred around the traditional Chinese sport of dragon boat. Through its All Access and youth programs, supported by the Milton K. Wong Legacy Project, the Society makes paddling experiences accessible regardless of any barriers to participation.

Visit dragonboatbc.ca for more information, or like Dragon Boat BC on Facebook and Instagram.

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Media Contact

Please direct all inquiries via email only to the Dragon Boat BC Main Office at info@dragonboatbc.ca.

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