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Candlelighters shine at Barrie Dragon Boat Festival

'This will help with families of kids that have cancer,' says founder of group whose team placed 3rd in platinum division
Bob Bruton
Bob Bruton

It was good to be on the water again for Candlelighters Simcoe.

The Barrie Dragon Boat Festival featured 20 teams of nearly 600 paddlers on Barrie’s waterfront Saturday, and the Candlelighters did particularly well, finishing third overall in the platinum division.

“We were really thrilled. We’ve never done that before,” said Barbara Johnson, mentioning their best time of one minute, 31.8 seconds. “More than half the team was new to dragon boating this year — brand new.”

But more important than the finish time is that $3,500 was raised for the Candlelighters’ cause.

“This will help with families of kids that have cancer,” said Johnson, who founded the group.

Candlelighters Simcoe provides programs and services exclusively for children with cancer, and their families. Its programs and services are aimed at needs of the entire family, and deal mainly with alleviating both the emotional and financial stress families of children with cancer deal with on a daily basis. The programs are facilitated by parents whose children have been diagnosed with cancer.

Organized and hosted by the Barrie Public Library, and presented by Tim Hortons, the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival has raised more than $2 million during the past 17 years. Each team raises a minimum of $500 for the charity of its choice, and more than 60 charities in Barrie and area have benefited.

Charities supported this year include the Barrie Public Library, Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka, Ryan’s Hope, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Candlelighters Simcoe Parents of Children with Cancer, Barrie’s Ribbons of Hope, Catholic Family Services of Simcoe County and CIBC Run for the Cure.

This was the first time in three years the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival was held, because of the pandemic.

And while fundraising is paramount, the paddlers took their races seriously in Saturday’s sunny, steamy weather on Kempenfelt Bay’s shores at Heritage Park.

“It’s just paddling, being on the water, being part of a team,” Elise Carlson, of the Candlelighters, said of the attraction. “It’s just everyone getting together.”

The Barrie Dragon Boat Festival promotes community spirit, athleticism and unity, and it’s said to have an energy one has to experience to understand.