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Next-generation fleet of locally designed racing boats welcome back paddlers to Vancouver’s iconic Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival

Artists from Chinese, Indigenous, and local communities created artwork to celebrate Dragon Boat BC’s largest capital investment, purchased with the support of Concord Pacific CEO Terry Hui and the Province of B.C., ahead of North America’s flagship festival in June.

VANCOUVER, B.C. (June 9, 2022) — Set to return to its usual June timing following two years of restrictions, cancellations, and postponements, Dragon Boat BC launched the 2022 Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival on Thursday, June 9, by also unveiling a new fleet of 18 dragon boats that will be raced for the first time at this year’s Festival.

To celebrate the Festival’s largest ever capital investment — which is supported by Concord Pacific CEO Terry Hui and the Province of B.C. — nine local artists representing the region’s diversity were commissioned to create artwork for the boats. The unveiling of the 18 new next-generation racing boats is a once-in-a-generation occasion and will be exclusively used for competitions, having arrived just in time to make its debut at the 2022 Festival, which is held from June 24 to 26.

“For more than 30 years, the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival has been an inclusive event on False Creek, and an exciting start to the summer in Vancouver,” said Terry Hui, President and CEO, Concord Pacific Developments Inc. “We are happy to partner with the Province to purchase this new fleet for the local paddling community and the dragon boat community at large. Concord Pacific has partnered with Dragon Boat BC since day one as a founding and now title sponsor of the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival. This year’s artistic melding of Indigenous and Dragon Boat paddling cultures truly embodies the spirit of this waterfront community. Like all Vancouverites across the city, I’m excited to see the return of the full festival to our neighbourhood.”

“After doing our part to keep everyone safe, it is wonderful that we can finally come together to experience the culture and excitement of the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival,” said Brenda Bailey, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek. “Festivals like this play a pivotal role in our community — drawing tourists, supporting local businesses and employing locals — and our government is proud to see it come back stronger than before.”

“People in Vancouver are so excited to see the Dragon Boat Festival return this year,” said Niki Sharma, MLA for Vancouver-Hastings and Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits. “The new boats with designs by local artists are a great showcase of the diverse talent in our community.”

As part of the Festival’s mission to reflect local communities and traditions, Chepximiya Siyam, Debra Sparrow, and Ocean Hyland were each invited to draw from Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh culture to design a boat.

Selected to reflect the Festival’s roots, artists who created unique and distinct artwork around the theme of community, culture, and competition also include: Chairman Ting, Kari Kristensen, Joslyn Reid, Bagua Art Association, Derek Tam, and Carmen Chan.

The boats will be displayed on June 10, and blessed by the International Taoist Church of Canada during an eye-dotting ceremony on June 11 at 2 p.m. — both held at Concord Community Park. The public is invited to see the boats on June 10 and 11 before they are prepared for racing at the Festival.

“This year’s Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival is our invitation to everyone — teams, our community, and city alike — to reconnect with each other,” said Dominic Lai, Development, Marketing, and Operations Director for Dragon Boat BC. “We’re ready to welcome everyone back to kick off summer with us, watch races in our new fleet of boats, and enjoy an exclusively local lineup of activities and shows.”

As the continent’s signature dragon boat festival, the free public event opens with international dragon boat races on False Creek on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 — along with concerts and cultural exhibitions at Concord Pacific Place and Creekside Park. Racer-only events will be held on Friday, June 24.

• During the weekend festivities, the community will be able to:
• Watch races, such as championship grand finals, a breast cancer survivor division to celebrate breast cancer dragon boat paddling’s Vancouver roots, and the Festival’s signature long distance time trial circuit races;
• Enjoy local artists on the 102.7 THE PEAK Main Stage, with headliners The Zolas, and featuring Hotel Mira, Desirée Dawson, Eagle Song Dancers, Mauvey, Coastal Wolf Pack, Children of Takaya, Qing Yun Music Society, and more;
• Explore pavilions featuring Chinese and Indigenous artisans, community groups, and businesses;
• View the original Expo 86 teak dragon boats, courtesy of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

Festival program details and updates are available at www.concorddragonboatfestival.ca, or follow on Facebook at Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, Instagram at @dragonboatbc and Twitter at @dragonboatbc.

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.

Media Contact
Hosea Cheung
Sageus Strategy + Digital
778 389 9395
hosea.c@sageuscollective.com