Canadian Canoe Museum Special Exhibition

Don't miss the new page on OHCanada Sports dedicated to the sport of sprint paddling and the Canadian Canoe Museum's exhibition. Click here.

In celebration of the upcoming Pan Am Games and the 2016 Olympic Games, the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough have opened a special exhibition on the sport of sprint paddling (canoe/kayak). I was thrilled to play a small part in this exhibit with one of the photos I have taken being used for the title banner.

Here is the original photo I took at the Mazda Canoe Kayak Knockout event in September 2011 (you can read my blog post and see other photos here):

This is the title banner that they created:

Needless to say that I was thrilled to attend the event and see my (edited) photo on display.

The exhibit is incredible. What a collection of canoes and kayaks they have on display dating back to the 1800's. The exhibit focuses on the history of the sport, the boats as well as the athletes.

"While the roots of canoe racing are indeed ancient, there has been a singular momentum over the last 150 years that has lead to the development of a sport known today as Canoe Sprint." 

"Since its beginnings 150 years ago, it has been the participants and athletes who have had the strongest voice in shaping the sport of canoeing".

They explained the significance of Canada with regards to the sport of sprint paddling.

"By the late 19th century a highlight event held at North American canoeing assemblies was the "War Canoe" race." 

"When the American Canoe Association (ACA) did not demonstrate adequate attention in the cultivation of these events, a Canadian faction split off and formed the Canadian Canoe Association. This organization would later become known as CanoeKayak Canada". 

"The rest of the world would come to call these [war canoes] "Canadian canoes".

They also have various boats that have been used by Olympians over the past few decades, most notably as perched on the right of these photos, Mark Oldershaw's canoe and Adam van Koeverden's kayak.

Although this canoe and kayak are the most recognizable to canoe sprint fans today, it was fascinating to see older boats from previous Olympics like the tandem canoe used by John Beedell and Joseph Derochie at the 1960 Rome Olympics or the Delta Model C1 that Larry Cain won two medals racing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (gold in 500m C1 and silver in 1000 C1).

There are biographies throughout the exhibit for many prominent Canadian paddlers.

Para Canoe is also represented.

It's not only canoes and kayaks that are on display at the Canadian Canoe Museum. There is an Adam van Koeverden memorabilia exhibit including three of his Olympic medals.

"Displayed here are a number of items on loan from Adam's family." 

"As this carefully preserved collection of memorabilia suggests, an athlete's family shares equally in all of an athlete's joys and accomplishments."

You can even try your hand at kayaking on the kayak simulator or see if you could keep your balance on the tipping kayak challenge.

This is only a small sample of the items on display at the exhibit. I don't want to give everything away.  It was really worth the drive to Peterborough to see this amazing exhibit. I look forward to returning. There are so many vessels on display and so much to read, that I couldn't absorb it all on opening night especially with the crowd that was present that evening. The exhibit will run until the Rio Olympics in 2016. I highly recommend a visit to the Canadian Canoe Museum before then.

The museum is located at 910 Monaghan Road in Peterborough.

Hours of operation:

Monday to Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.

The Museum is open daily except for December 25 and 26, January 1 and 2. On December 24 the Museum closes at 2:00pm.

Click here to visit their website.

Follow them on:
Twitter @CndnCanoeMuseum.

Facebook /CndnCanoeMuseum.

If you were directed to this post directly, don't miss the new page on OHCanada Sports dedicated to the sport of sprint paddling and the Canadian Canoe Museum's exhibition. Click here.

Doors Open Toronto - Pan Am Edition

"In honour of this summer's Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapam Am Games, the Doors Open Toronto 2015 theme is Sports, Recreation & Leisure."

To see the many places that have incorporated the sports and recreation theme (those with the sneaker icon), click here. To see all the buildings, click here.

The following are venues who were more specifically relating to the Pan Am Games.

BMO Field  (Sunday only) - Pan Am venue

"Back of house areas of BMO Field will be available and open for viewing through a self-guided tour. Visitors will also see the results of a recent construction project that expanded the capacity of BMO Field to 30,000 seats. This expansion was undertaken in anticipation of the upcoming 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games. An exhibit on the history of sports at Exhibition Place will be on display."

Mattamy Athletic Centre - Pan Am venue

The rejuvenated Maple Leaf Gardens is now the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the blend of heritage and innovation that has been reborn on the corner of Church & Carlton. Visitors can take in breathtaking historic rafters that shelter a new NHL sized ice rink, sit in the original blues and view the contents of the unearthed 1931 time capsule. The heritage panels mark the most memorable moments in the history of the building. Visitors can enhance their experience by downloading the Mattamy AC Interactive App on a smart phone or tablet. A behind-the-scenes tour will be offered including the architect of the site at 1 pm. Doors Open Toronto is the best opportunity to celebrate the monumental past of The Gardens and experience its revolutionary transformation.

Toronto Track and Field Centre (Saturday only) - Pan Am practice venue

This unique sanctioned indoor and outdoor Toronto Track and Field Facility services thousands of athletes each week providing training from grassroots to Olympic level athletes. The facility provides a vast area of training space for specialized track and field sporting events including pole vault, high jump, long/triple jump, hurdles, shot put, discus, hammer, javelin, steeplechase, sprinting and running events. Running competitions frequently take place in the centre and make use of the 200m indoor oval track, 60m straight track, 100m straight and 400m outdoor oval track. The facility hosts over 100 track meets every year including Provincial, University and National Championships sending out Canadian Athletes into competition across Canada and the world. This site will be the Practise Facility for Athletics during the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

Free 30-minute tours of this unique one-of-a-kind sporting facility will be offered Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. Guests can remain in the second floor Viewing Gallery to continue to view athletes training. Visitors can exercise at the facility at a fee.

Downsview Park Sports Centre - National Squash Academy - National team training centre

"The National Squash Academy (NSA) will be offering free squash clinics to those who sign up. Guests are also welcome to walk around and view the facility that offers the world's first all-glass doubles squash court. It is also home to some of the many world renowned squash professionals who train out of the NSA. The NSA works in partnership with Urban Squash Toronto, giving students from the Jane and Finch area the opportunity to play squash and study in the Urban Squash classroom." 

University of Toronto - Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport - Olympian and Pan Am athlete appearances

"Visitors will explore the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport to see some of its incredible architectural features. Visitors will see athletes using the cutting-edge equipment in the strength and conditioning centre and the speed and power centre. In the fitness studio, instructors will showcase the dynamic classes offered to students and members. Athletes will show off their skills in the Kimel Family Field House. U of T staff will provide information about the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education’s renowned academic programs.

Varsity Blues women’s hockey alum, coach and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Vicky Sunohara will make appearance on Saturday between 2:00 and 3:30 pm.

Varsity Blues swimming alum and 2015 Pan Am competitor Zack Chetrat will make an appearance on Sunday."

Cannon Design - Venue design

"Cannon Design provides visitors with a sneak preview of three venues designed for this summer's 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in July. Welcoming the world's greatest athletes as Canada hosts the international event, the Cisco Velodrome in Milton, CIBC Athletics Stadium at York University and the CIBC Soccer Stadium in Hamilton are powerful and distinct in their designs. Those on site will be able to explore the context and creative vision behind each of these world-class venues designed to serve both sport and community needs. The venues will provide athletes and spectators alike with a memorable experience while showcasing Canadian sport excellence. Included in the self-guided Architects' Studio Tour presented by the Toronto Society of Architects. Visit Special Programs for details."

DTAH - Pan Am / Parapan Am Athletes' Village design

"Visitors to DTAH will experience the history of a beautifully renovated modern building that sits in the Rosedale Valley ravine and get a glimpse inside the working environment in a leading urban design, building and landscape architecture firm. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about John B. Parkin Associates, the architects who won the building design competition in the early 1950s and how they contributed to the design of significant buildings such as Toronto City Hall (1965^ with Viljo Revell) and the Toronto-Dominion Centre (1969^ with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe). Visitors can also learn about how DTAH continues to shape the city, through projects such as the Lower Don Trail Master Plan and the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Athletes' Village. Included in the self-guided Architects' Studio Tour presented by the Toronto Society of Architects. Visit Special Programs for details."

"DTAH is a key consultant in the Planning, Design and Compliance (PDC) team of HOK | Montgomery Sisam | DTAH | Quadrangle Architects, who collaborated to develop output specifications and preliminary design documents for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes’ Village."

HOK Architects Corporation & HOK, Inc. (Sunday only) - Pan Am / Parapan Am Athletes' Village design (although not specifically mentioned in the description)

"Visitors will get insight into the everyday work life of one of the world's leading architectural, planning, strategy, and interior design firms. They will have the opportunity to tour HOK's newly designed studio, ask in-house subject matter experts questions about the design process, as well as view some sports and recreation projects from around the world designed by HOK's new Sports & Entertainment division. The 22nd Floor has registered for LEED Certification. Included in the self-guided Architects' Studio Tour presented by the Toronto Society of Architects. Visit Special Programs for details." 

City of Toronto Archives (Saturday only)

"Visitors to the City of Toronto Archives will be treated to a jam-packed day of local history and behind-the-scenes exploration. Guests can get an up-close view of some of the most remarkable and unique documents in the collection and view artworks based on archival images that have been created by students from the TDSB especially for the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. A collection of Toronto boxing-related photographs donated to the Archives in 2014 will allow guests to step into the ring with photographer and retired boxer, Pete Doherty. Conservation staff will be on hand in the conservation lab explaining how documents are preserved for future generations. A photographic exhibit, Made in Toronto, Food & Drink Manufacturing in our City, which explores more than a century of food manufacturing in Toronto, will be on display. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions."

Archives of Ontario (Saturday only)

"Visitors are welcome to participate in guided tours of the Archives of Ontario's Reading Room, Exhibit Gallery, cutting-edge Vaults and Preservation Lab. The Reading Room Montage Wall features 375 images documenting 200 years of Ontario's history. Two sports-related exhibits will be on display featuring Ontario's Sporting Past travelling exhibit and the records of Ontario Olympian, Jacqueline (Jackie) MacDonald. 

Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Lakeshore Campus, The Fashion Institute (Saturday only)

Visitors to Humber's Fashion Institute will dive into the past. Originally the old Almont Hotel, the building is now home to the Fashion Management degree and The Fashion Management & Promotions postgraduate certificate program. This year's exhibit will feature a collection of fashion from the past 100 years, including a select number of vintage athletic wear, women's swimsuits, golf attire and tennis ensembles in a tribute to the upcoming Pan Am games. This exhibit will be sure to cause a splash!

Market Gallery (Saturday only)

In addition to viewing the exhibit on the history of summer waterfront sports in Toronto, presentations on the history of the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood and behind-the-scenes tour will be offered.

Are you excited about the Pan Am Games?

I am very biased but I can't wait for the Pan Am Games! I don't want the time to go faster so that they're here sooner, because just like Christmas, sometimes the anticipation is just as exciting as the day.

The Toronto Star contacted me recently looking for superfans of the Pan Am Games. The writer had been looking for people who were excited and she admitted that she found the task challenging. Having been interviewed during the Sochi Olympics and now the Pan Am Games, I did think - am I the only one out there? I'm hoping that because I have a website/blog, perhaps I am easier to find.

Although there are some negative comments out there, I think that there are a lot of people excited about the Pan Am Games.

The Opening Ceremony and many events are almost if not completely sold out.

The Pan Am Committee received double the applications for the volunteer positions they had available.

I applied to be a torch bearer and did not get chosen, so there are obviously many more people interested in the relay than there were spots.

For me, the Pan Am Games is more than the two and a half weeks of competition. It is about building a legacy in the GTA and venues for future athletes to enjoy whether they are recreational, competitive or become Olympic athletes.

It's an opportunity to see events in a way that is potentially once in a lifetime.

Some of our athletes will be competing internationally at home in front of friends and family for the first time.


I got goose bumps earlier listening to Alexandre Despatie talk about the legacy of the Games even before he said that "he gets goose bumps just talking about it".



I have been to events in the GTA where our athletes were competing (like the Toronto Track and Field International that is shown in the video with high jumper Derek Drouin, Kate van Buskirk, Damian Warner and Jessica Zelinka - got my tickets to see those four compete at the Pan Am Games).

Here are my photos from that meet. I get a kick seeing the same scenes on the video.

   

Most of the events I went to were mostly Canadian athletes (canoe kayak, track cycling, diving, swimming). It's easy to cheer for Canada at those meets. You're cheering for almost everyone.

I can't wait for the Pan Am Games when we really get to cheer Go Canada Go!! I can't wait to hear O Canada when our athletes win gold (I already have a few tickets where that will be a strong possibility).

I can't wait to see our athletes do the best that they can, whether that is a podium finish, a personal best or the best that they could do on that day. I also can't wait to see the world's best even if they're not from Canada.

This is our chance to see world class athletes perform in 36 sports. I can't wait.

But don't take my word for it.

Here's an article with Olympic multi-medallist Adam van Koeverden:
http://www.ohcanadasports.ca/media-articles/2015/5/15/post-city-toronto-post-interview-not-excited-about-the-pan-am-games-you-should-be

Here's an article with Olympian Julia Wilkinson:
http://www.ohcanadasports.ca/athlete-posts/2015/5/15/julia-wilkinson-pan-am-games-will-be-huge-for-canada

And for more Pan Am content, click here to see OHCanada Sports' special Pan Am page.