Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant

The Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant was a canoe race started on May 24, 1967 in the Rocky Mountains by ten teams representing eight provinces and the two existing territories. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, the two remaining provinces were not entered. 3,283 miles (5,283 km) were paddled and portaged in 104 days by 100 men using six man shifts per team. They arrived in Montreal on September 4. Other privately sponsored canoes from across the country made similar trips.[1][2] As of March 2012, it still holds the Guinness record for longest canoeing race in history.[3]

Start of race at Rocky Mountain House. Photograph by Frank Grant.

Beginnings

The Centennial Commission was started in 1963, with the mandate of organizing numerous projects to promote the first Canadian Centennial.[4] Regional governments advertised for participants. Every man that officially completed the trip would receive $1000 (CDN$7,370 in 2018 dollars[5]). The winning team an additional $1,500 per man and $500 for 2nd/3rd. There were other contests along the route as well.[6]

The canoes

Twelve canoes were built for promotion and trials in 1966 by the Chestnut Canoe Company. The 10 canoes used the following year in the race were built by Moise Cadorette.[7]

The route
Relief map courtesy of Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection and the Central Intelligence Agency
Portages needed to be done over the divides

Expo 67 Official Guide Book Schedule:

See also

Books and periodicals
  • Guilloux, Doreen: Paddling, Portaging & Pageantry: 2007: ISBN 978-0-9782874-0-5
  • Dean, Misao: The Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant as Historical Re-enactment: Journal of Canadian Studies: Vol 40.3 pp. 43–67: 2006
  • Berton, Pierre: 1967: The Last Good Year: Toronto: Doubleday Canada: 1997: ISBN 0-385-25662-0

References
  1. http://expo67.ncf.ca/expo_67_news_p27.html
  2. http://expo67.ncf.ca/expo_67_news_p34.html
  3. Glenday, Craig: Guinness World Records 2008: Random House Digital, Inc.: 2008-04-29: p509: ISBN 0553589954: ISBN 9780553589955
  4. Historica-Dominion. "Centennial celebrations, 1967". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  5. Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. January 18, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019. and 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  6. http://expo67.ncf.ca/expo_67_news_p37.html
  7. http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/collection/water7.cfm
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