Today, a group of ladies from the Shuswap Dragon Boat Society, Friends Abreast, prepared 300 carnations with tags to hand out to women as a reminder that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month which means it is time to book your mammogram.  This has been a long standing tradition with the team.  Glenda Lapine, a new paddler this year, allowed me to take her photo along with these two recipients near Canadian Tire. The lady on the scooter had her battery die so a Canadian Tire employee cam

Audrey Szafranski was one of the founding members of the Shuswap Dragon Boat Society.  During her time with Friends Abreast, she was an eager, reliable and active member until 2012.  Audrey rarely missed a practice or a festival. As well as being a breast cancer survivor, she lived with diabetes and focussed on keeping up her fitness.  After Audrey was no longer able to paddle regularly, she always came to the Salmon Arm Festival to take part in the Carnation Ceremony which was ve

  On June 14, 2022 our Awakening the Dragon ceremony took place at the Marine Wharf dock.  This is an annual ritual.  It involves a VIP to dot the eyes of the carved dragon head at the bow of the boat with a paintbrush, symbolizing the end of the creature's slumber during the off season.  This year John Howard was our guest of honor.  He is the husband of the late Barbara Ann Howard - 1946-2011.   We found it fitting to ask John to perform the dot