Frank Baunoch and Bruno Wilfahrt flew over an ocean to paddle down a river last week.
Their destiny? To participate in the Canada 150 Athabasca River Voyageur Canoe Brigade from June 22-28.
Their plans began nearly six years ago in 2011, the last time Wilfahrt paddled a long canoe down the mighty Alberta river that flows from the Columbia Glacier to Lake Athabasca in the north east corner of the province.
Wilfart kept in touch with organizers of the 2011 event hoping to get a heads-up when another significant event came up. So when he heard about the brigades plans for Canada 150, he jumped at the chance.
鈥淧addling a big canoe is not that usual for us,鈥� Baunoch said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to be here.鈥�
In all about 180 paddlers, most in full voyageur garb including the distinctive red toque, took 15 longboats from the day use area behind the Jasper Airfield to Fort Assiniboine, paddling about 333 kilometres in all.
鈥淭he landscape is so great, the people are so great, so it鈥檚 easy to say, we like it,鈥� Wilfahrt said.
When they鈥檙e done the Athabasca brigade, Wilfahrt and Baunoch are hopping right into the Fort Edmonton brigade from June 29 to July 3.
For Jasper National Park superintendent Alan Fehr the event brought back memories when he lived in Aklavik and Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, in close proximity to the Mackenzie Delta, which the Athabasca鈥檚 waters eventually pass through en route to the Arctic Ocean.
鈥淚t was an amazing period of my life, and actually where I started my career with Parks Canada,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t feels like it鈥檚 going full-circle. Maybe a little bit of the water cycle going on here.鈥�
Coun. Dwain Wacko wished the paddlers a safe journey and said the traditional knowledge of the Indigenous peoples who used the Athabasca Pass as a transportation and trade corridor informed the development of today鈥檚 transportation route through the Canadian Rockies.
鈥淵our journey demonstrates a more recent use of the modern transportation route, the Yellowhead Pass,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e promoting cultural cooperation, stewardship and education. We who live here now are privileged and appreciate efforts and opportunities to experience and showcase the rich cultures here today.鈥�
Craig Gilbert
[email protected]
