First the East, now the West:  Following previous 2009 events to promote The Canadian Canoe Museum in Halifax, Peterborough, Lakefield, Toronto, Guelph and London, James Raffan, Executive Director, is taking his “National Treasure: Canoes, Canada and the Wonders of The Canadian Canoe Museum” presentation west this autumn.  The purpose of the “Rivers and Mountains” portion of the tour, as was the case with presentations in eastern and central Canada earlier this year, is to bring paddlers (and others) together to celebrate the canoe as a wonder of Canada and to raise awareness and build support for The Canadian Canoe Museum, which holds within its collection of 600+ canoes and kayaks and 1000+ canoeing- related artifacts and  the unique material and cultural portrait of Canada.  

The Presentation: National Treasure: Canoes, Canada and the Wonders of The Canadian Canoe Museum begins with a fun look at the various odd things that Canadians do in and with canoes, including a quick tour of the myriad and often curious ways in which canoe imagery is used in advertising.  From there, with maps and images drawing on canoes in the collection representing building traditions—older and newer—that span the country, the presentation includes facts, snippets, stories and music that show how a totally unique material and cultural portrait of Canada is contained in the collection of the Canadian Canoe Museum.  The presentation is about 75 minutes long with an intermission at which museum memberships and merchandise will be offered for sale.  A draw for door prizes will be available to anyone attending the presentation who fills out a ballot.  The presentation will be driven by a MacBook Pro computer with standard video and audio outputs.

The Presenter:  Dr. James Raffan, Executive Director of The Canadian Canoe Museum, is one of Canada’s foremost authorities on canoes and wilderness experience.  He is a Fellow and past Governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, past Chair of The Arctic Institute of North America and a Fellow International of the Explorer’s Club.  Author of 15 books including Fire in the Bones, Wildwaters, Summer North of Sixty, Deep Waters, Tumblehome, Bark, Skin & Cedar, and Emperor of the North, his work has been translated into several languages and adapted for radio and television.  Raffan has journeyed winter and summer throughout Canada by canoe, snowshoe, bicycle and by almost every other conveyance available—from ATV to icebreaker—and his stories about these adventures have been spun to rapt audiences across Canada and around the world in places like Australia, Cuba and the United Kingdom.  A canoeist at heart, there’s probably no one in the country more passionate or qualified to speak about Canada’s hidden National Treasure.

The “Rivers and Mountains” Tour

• October 22 Gravenhurst, Ontario: hosted by Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre—Grace and Speed marking the opening of The Canoe: A Canadian Cultural Icon, traveling exhibit from The Canadian Canoe Museum.
• October 23 Waterloo, Ontario: a different museum-related presentation hosted by Prof. Rae Crossman and the Bachelor of Integrated Knowledge Integration Program at the University of Waterloo.
• October 27 Winnipeg, Manitoba:  hosted by Paddle Manitoba at FortWhyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Road, Winnipeg.  7:00 p.m.  Contact:  Catherine Holmen, President, Paddle Manitoba; Stephen Challis, Vice President, Paddle Manitoba.
• October 28 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: hosted by the Saskatoon Canoe Club at the Castle Theatre, Aden Bowman Collegiate, 1904 Clarence Street S., 7:00 p.m.  Contact:  Bryan Sarauer, Publicity Director, Saskatoon Canoe Club.
• October 29 Calgary, Alberta: hosted by Undercurrents and the Eco Tourism and Outdoor Leadership Program at Mount Royal University at the Jenkins Theatre.  7:00 p.m.  Contact:  Tony Palmer, Owner of Undercurrents and instructor in Eco Tourism and Outdoor Leadership Program.
• November 2 Edmonton, Alberta: hosted by Paddle Alberta at Robbins Health Learning Centre, 9-201, Grant MacEwan College.  7:00 p.m.  Admission: “Twoney” Collection.  Contact:  Mark Lund, President, Paddle Alberta.
• November 3 Camrose, Albera: a slightly different museum-related presentation hosted by Prof. Morton Asfeldt at U of Alberta, Augustana Campus.
• November 4 Vancouver, B.C.: an event hosted by the Vancouver Maritime Museum 7-9 p.m.  Contact:  Sanford Osler., friend of The Canadian Canoe Museum.
• November 5 Vancouver, B.C.: a lunchtime event at the Bill Reid Gallery hosted Executive Director Michael Robinson and an evening event co-hosted by Mountain Equipment Co-op  and the British Columbia Recreational Canoeing Association at the Vancouver MEC store location.  Contact:  Kari-Ann Thor, President, British Columbia Recreational Canoeing Association.
• November 6 Victoria, B.C.:  an event hosted by Brian Henry at Ocean River Sports.  7:00 p.m.
• November 28 Toronto, Ontario: presentation at the annual wine and cheese gathering of The Wilderness Canoe Association.  Time and location tba.

Details of events and local promotion will vary by the local venue and host.  Museum memberships & limited merchandise (2 items) will be available for sale.  Door prizes provided by the museum drawn from ballots completed by attendees.

National Treasure Tour Sponsors

The National Treasure Tour is being sponsored by: