False pretenses!!! If GWN is not using the new course they should immediately offer every team a refund.

I'm sure many teams will stay, but at least let them make the decision. An arbitrary last minute decision is not a good business practise, particularly after they just held races to the west on a good course!!!!!

False pretences? They never once said it was on the new course.

If I was Kerkman, i would intently watched the racing at CCWC's
Noted that the lane widths were very tight, which was the only way to run the races without
any bias to the lanes, but this did through in some wash - which cannot be avoided.
There are all kinds of logisitics with parking in holding a larger event at the Rock site,
but with enogh planning this could work.
Now supposing Kerkman had though this through, CCWC's were a sucess then he could have tried
to get a license for the event at the rockpile, however he may have still had an agreement with Ontario Place for this year.
If I were Mike I'd be getting GWN for next year moved right now before Sharifa tries to step in
and start a bigger turf war.

And, if it does rain - the rockpile will be a disaster.

"And, if it does rain - the rockpile will be a disaster."

Why would the Rockpile be a disaster? Do you think the concrete strip along lakeshore would be any fun in the rain either?

I'd take a bunch of concrete over wet mud/grass.
Think back to Pickering

Step up GWN, put it on a fair course!!!!!

GWN did try to secure the new course and due to whatever political wrangling (I leave the participants up to you) the request got stalled at city hall. With time running out they had to make a call.

That said, it isn't all that surprising as Mike was a thorn in the cities side throughout the site selection and public awareness sessions. Maybe a little payback?

That said, as a GTA resident and taxpaying paddler it is frustrating that it is ultimately US that are loosing out in not being able to use the course that we all paid for due to ANY political BS that may be going on.

PS. you can believe the above or not, but it is the truth.

"As much as it may pain you all August 15 2006, 4:59 PM

GWN did try to secure the new course and due to whatever political wrangling (I leave the participants up to you) the request got stalled at city hall. With time running out they had to make a call.

That said, it isn't all that surprising as Mike was a thorn in the cities side throughout the site selection and public awareness sessions. Maybe a little payback?

That said, as a GTA resident and taxpaying paddler it is frustrating that it is ultimately US that are loosing out in not being able to use the course that we all paid for due to ANY political BS that may be going on.

PS. you can believe the above or not, but it is the truth."

If what you are saying is true then it is a scandal and GWN would have a moral obligation to bring this issue forward. Imagine a $23M course built for dragon boating, being denied to an reputable organization that has run succesful events on the Waterfront for over 10 years.

Did public money go into building a site for the exclusive use of Sharifa? is it not a public space?

Why aren't all the paddlers contacting the Mayors Office!!!!!!

We want it on the new course!!!!!

"Why aren't all the paddlers contacting the Mayors Office!!!!!!

We want it on the new course!!!!!"

Because the paddlers have no idea what the real story is. All we have here is a bunch of aimless innuendo, and nothing concrete.

IF Mike K what to come out publically and state he was denied access by the City of Toronto for the new course, then yes i would say something. otherwise you will look like a fool, and it would be a waste of your time and the Mayor's staff time.

Isn't this an Electoral Year at City Hall.
I've heard of lesser actions bringing people down.

So Mike, if this is true, and you went through City channels to get the event moved.
Let the Dragon Boat community know.

Apparently it is very difficult for some people to identify sarcasm in forum postings... please consider flagging sarcastic or tongue in cheek responses in some manner that will assist the cerebrally challenged denizens of the forum.

Mayors office knows nothing about GWN being turned down, I sensed they were surprised a festival was happening and it wasn't on the course!

My god, you actually called the mayor's office about this?


Just when I thought dragonboaters couldn't get any dumber....

The original point about the refund is valid because GWN didn't warn teams about the lantern festival situation even as they pushed to fill registration. Very poor PR decision. People don't forget that kind of stunt.

It would be nice to have this at the new course, but GWN never promised it would be there. What they did wrong was not warning teams this might not be the usual Ontario Place experience.

We won't be putting any money down next year until we hear the complete plan.

GWN can't be bound by contract to Ontario Place. The lantern fest conflict is an easy out if they want it.

What I can't understand is why, if city people really did drag their feet on a permit, Mike K didn't kick up a bigger fuss?

I wish we could get to the bottom of this.

Anyone know any of the Star or Sun reporters who covered the Club Crews? "Taxpayer funded course sits empty" sounds like the kind of headline most reporters jump for.

Or does it sit empty because festival organizer doesn't like the taste of crow!!!!

So whatz the final word? We're NOT at the new course but back in Ontario Place but on the other side of the island? Did I miss the "official" announcement? I can't find anything on the GWN web site.

Their phone number is on the website. Why not just call them and ask?

Why all the excitement, I'm sure everyone will know in plenty of time, bottom line, it will be somewhere around Ontario Place.

Everybody already knows. It will be at Ontario Place. They made that clear already.

Settle it for yourself, give GWN a call - 416-962-8899

What a sham. If we hadn't already paid we'd withdraw. GWN owes teams a better explanation than what they've provided. This year's challenge sold out, but it comes at the expense of GWN's hard-earned credibility and goodwill. Very short-sighted.

I think they will have a hard time explaining to Rogers and the lantern festival organizers if anything were to happen to those lanterns, especially when there is a very viable alternate race course just down the lake.

Ok sooo GWN is at the actual GWN race site?
It's happening at the same time as the Lanthern Fest?
a 2 for 1?
Thats nice no?
It goes with the spirit of Dragon Boating.

No, we're not allowed in the lantern festival unless we pay $25, that's why we're on the other side of the Island. However, because it stretches across all of Ontario, we will inadvertently see a couple of the displays near the marshalling area.

Huh !!
So where are we loading from again ??

To avoid paying the $25 Chinese Lantern Festival entry fee, paddlers will be led across the bridge into the marshalling area with paper bags on their heads. The paper bag rental charge is included in your registration fees, but should any damage occur, you will be charged an additional $5.00 per bag.

Thank You
The Management

sooo where the heck will the spectators take place?

Well, there's the irony. We have to load the boats down at the new course, and paddle down to Ontario Place.

On the one hand, it's an excellent warm up run to get there, and a much better than usual warm up paddle.

On the other, it REALLY slows things down. The organizers need two more sets of boats. They have asked to borrow the SRS boats from WCCC for this. No reply yet, but they don't anticipate any problems.

It has also allowed the inclusion of a 1500 metre race, which is about the distance from the new site to the bridge. No charge for the extra race, which was a bit of a surprise.

Will friends and family have to pay to be a spectator?

If you are on a mixed team can you also be on a open or womens team?