Raisin River Canoe Race set for April 14

An annual rite of spring returns this Sunday, April 14th with the Raisin River Canoe Race.

Hosted by the Raisin Region Conservation Authority, the canoe race is a thrill for participants and spectators alike. Some 300 paddlers and racers from near and far compete with hundreds of locals cheering them on from the shorelines.

The Raisin River Canoe Race is one of the longest canoe races in eastern Ontario. First started in 1973, the 30-kilometre course runs from St. Andrews West to Williamstown. The race is always held during the spring melt when water levels are high and flows are favourable for paddlers.

“The canoe race meanders through agriculture land, villages, rapids and forested land giving participants a first-class seat to the natural beauty of the Raisin River and our region,” says RRCA’s Race Coordinator, Lissa Deslandes.

Racers can register online until April 11 at a discounted rate or on-site on April 14. A pre-race breakfast is taking place from 7 am to 11 am at the St. Andrews Parish Hall hosted by the St. Andrews Knights of Columbus. The official race begins at 10:30 am by St. Andrews Catholic School. Following the race, there will be a dinner hosted by the St. Mary’s Community Centre at the Char-Lan Recreation Centre. Racers are encouraged to visit rrca.on.ca and follow the RRCA on Facebook for additional race information and updates.

“There is a race category for all ages and skill-level, mixed teams and mixed ages. A new category this year is for best combined time for the Jock River Race competitors and the Raisin River Race competitors. We have many racers that participate in both Eastern Ontario canoe races as they typically occur the same weekend,” added Deslandes.

Thanks to the support from many local organizations, such as the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Regional Tourism Grant Program, title sponsors (Emard Brothers Lumber and Goodman Air Conditioning and Heating), and the Race Safety Committee (South Glengarry and South Stormont Fire Departments, St. John Ambulance, Amateur Radio Emergency services, OPP and OPP Auxiliaries), the RRCA is able to coordinate a successful race year after year.

Registration and Additional Information

Visit rrca.on.ca to pre-register. For more information, contact Lissa Deslandes, Raisin River Canoe Race Coordinator, (613) 938-3611 ext. 237, Lissa.Deslandes@rrca.on.ca.

Additional Events

Looking for other fun things to do in Cornwall? Make sure to check out our Events page for info on upcoming events in the area!

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Additional Information

Planning a visit to Cornwall? Cornwall Tourism can help. Email us at info@cornwalltourism.com to request a copy of our Visitor Guide or contact us at (613) 933-0074. You can also stop by the Cornwall Tourism office inside the Cornwall Civic Complex at 100 Water Street East. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

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Article by Kevin Lajoie
Photo by Rob Fry