The May sun shone brightly in Waverley, Nova Scotia today as fourteen girls and boys along with their Coxswain, Jonathan Pike from the Cheema Aquatic Club launched the new war canoe on its maiden voyage in front of hometown family and friends. Nova Scotia politicians and International Canoe Federation Board members congratulated the paddlers on winning the right to showcase the handcrafted big boat which would be showcased at the London Olympics.

Mr. Robert Fraser built the war canoe from British Columbian cedar and Nova Scotia elm. It is a truly Canadian boat! He told me that the elm came from a tree that had fallen during Hurricane Juan. It took three and a half months to build the boat and like a true craftsman, he used no plans or moulds…….just lots of patience and expertise!

Rick Fair, Atlantic Division Flag Officer congratulated the Cheema crew, reminding us all that “The War Canoe is a builder of character. You learn to pull together.”

« » 2 of 6 Fullscreen

Jonathan Pike Cheema Coach and Coxswain remarked that “The boat is almost too nice to paddle.”

Mr. Peter Giles, Commodore Canoe Kayak Canada congratulated the Waverley community for its support of this project .

Julia Rivard, former Olympian recently wrote about the War Canoe: “The War canoe is a Canadian boat in the Flatwater racing family which traces roots back to the indigenous people’s large canoes intended for war. It is not sanctioned by the International Canoe Federation but is an important part of Canadian Canoe Clubs coast to coast.”

The paddlers were excited to put the finely-polished boat in the water and to demonstrate it‘s speed..

Members of the team travelling to London are Stroke, Tyler Graves and other rights: Lily Warner, Anna Hetzler, Aaron White, Crystal Innes, Hayley Nelson, Kady Leard and Spare, Kamron Hayes. The lefts are Tom Hall, Allie Campbell, Tom Miller, Craig Spence, Marshall Hughes, Kenny Williams, Emma Miller and Coxswain, Jon Pike.

I talked with the athletes many of whom expressed their own thoughts and Olympic dreams: Tom Hall is hopeful that this is just the beginning to his Olympic dream. Marshall Hughes added that” It’s great that Cheema can produce so many elite paddlers.”

Cheema Aquatic Club has had many Olympic paddlers such as:
Ann Dodge-1976
Kelly O’Leary-1996
Richard Dalton-2004
Mike Scarola-2004
Jillian D”Allessio-2004
Karen Furneaux-2000, 2004, 2008

The Cheema War Canoe Team is certainly excited about their pending adventure to London. They will certainly build memories and stories to tell for years to come about their Olympic adventure.