Voyageurs Rendezvous Canoe Race

The Voyageurs Rendezvous Canoe Race is one of the most prestigious events of its kind in North America. It's a race that has been held annually since the early 1800s and is a rite of passage for the Canadian voyageur community. This article explores what it's like to be a voyageur and what the race is all about.

Historical context

The Voyageur Rendezvous is a celebration of a legendary canoeing tradition. Its historical context focuses on the role of French Canadians in the fur trade.

In the 18th and 19th century, the majority of voyageurs were French Canadians. Their jobs included canoeing, general labor, and carrying trade goods to rendezvous posts. Those who survived the long paddling trips were known as hivernants.

Voyageurs worked as canoe paddlers or general laborers for fur trading firms. They also negotiated trade deals with Native Americans.

They carried large packs of trade goods, sometimes up to 90 pounds. The canoes were made from white cedar frameworks and covered with birch bark. Several men were on the boat at a time, adding weight to the trip.

They could paddle for as long as 14 to 18 hours a day. At night, they ate cornmeal and pemmican. Some ate meat or fish during the day.

Life as a voyageur

A voyageur is a man who travels by canoe. In the middle ages, a voyageur could be found in Brittany, Normandy, and France.

Voyageurs were hired from seigneuries near the Saint Lawrence River to help the fur trade. They carried trade goods from the inland headquarters to the rendezvous posts. These men worked at least 15 hours a day for six to eight weeks.

Their routine varied with the conditions of the river. They usually set out early, avoiding rapids. Upon reaching the rendezvous, they unloaded the trade goods. Sometimes they would transfer the trade goods to a smaller canoe.

They had to travel six to eight weeks to reach Lake Superior. On the way, they would have to carry a minimum of 180 pounds of trade goods.

The race

The 2017 Voyageurs' Rendezvous Canoe Race celebrates Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. It is a canoe marathon that will be held from July 1 to 23, covering over 1,600 kilometres of waterways in northern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. In addition to a number of events, the race will also overnight in over 20 towns in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

For the past 50 years, the Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant has been held as part of the Canada Centennial celebrations. This race covered over 5,283 km of the fur trade route. A total of ten teams represented ten provinces and finished in Montreal for Expo '67.

The Centennial Voyageurs race was an exciting event that recreated the excitement of brigades of old. Each team of six paddlers would switch sides every ten strokes.

A rite of passage

A rite of passage in the Voyageurs Rendezvous Canoe was a ceremony in a replica Voyageur Canoe built by Rob Mellan. It was an occasion that honored the historic voyageurs' work in the North American fur trade.

Voyageurs were canoe paddlers who carried trade goods and furs from Montreal to the western shores of Lake Superior. They worked for fur trading firms and plied heavily-laden freight canoes down the St. Lawrence River and the Ottawa and Mattawa rivers to Georgian Bay.

Voyageurs were considered famous for their endurance and strength. Most were French-Canadian or English. During the peak of the North American fur trade, voyageurs transported cargo across lakes, rivers, and portages. Their paddling speed was 45 strokes per minute. This equaled about 6.5 miles per hour.

Postage stamp

The Voyageurs Memorial is an event held every July to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. This year's competition is scheduled to launch on July 1, and will be held at Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. It is a long-standing tradition replete with anecdotes and a good excuse to have a few too many drinks.

The contest entrants aren't the only ones in town. A host of amateur and professional radio enthusiasts will descend on the area for the annual convention and exhibits. The event will also feature an impressively large number of canoes and kayaks in various stages of preparation. Not to mention an eminently pleasant crew of enthusiastic enthusiasts who are more than willing to help a newbie with their kinks.

The aforementioned contest is preceded by the annual Voyageurs Memorial Day a la carte party, which will be held at the Rocky Mountain House hotel from July 2 to June 3. The fun starts early with the aforementioned pre-race bash, and follows with the main event, a post-race celebration that culminates in a celebratory banquet at the hotel's banquet hall.