18th Annual Manulife Paddle the Don: A Huge Success

Now in its 18th year, Paddle the Don has become a signature Toronto event and a prime fundraising opportunity for Toronto and Region Conservation.
On a slightly overcast Sunday morning the conditions were almost perfect for the more than 600 registered paddlers who took part in this event. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of healthy rivers in Toronto and raises funds to support regeneration projects on the Don Watershed.
On May 1st, 2011, I had the privilege of taking part in this once-a-year opportunity to paddle down the Don River. The paddle covers 10.5 kilometers and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. There are some small rapids to negotiate and three small portages. Volunteers are stationed throughout the course to make sure everyone makes it down the river safely.
My canoe launch was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. The launch site was Ernest Thompson Seton Park at Leslie Street and Eglinton Avenue. The participants were all eager to go with canoes and kayaks waiting to get in the water. I was joined in my canoe by Dan Brohman a teacher at Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School and Kate our excellent guide from the Toronto and Region Conservation.
The first part of the paddle there were some rocky sections that needed to be negotiated. This was a challenge as the river rocks were not easily detected due to the brown choppy water. A strong current and rock hazards led some of our fellow participants to test the water which I understand was quite chilly. Fortunately we remained dry.
As we navigated downstream the river widened and the current was not as strong. It was along this stretch that we noticed a plethora of native birds including: a Kingfisher, a Red-winged Blackbird, a Cormorant, and plenty of Mallard ducks and Canada Geese. The sandy shoreline was filled with lush vegetation and the occasional wonderment of a small pristine beach.
When we canoed under the Bloor Street viaduct it was hard not to marvel at this massive and amazing feat of engineering above us. The juxtaposition of a bridge ushering cars and subway trains overhead while paddling in a canoe on the Don River was a poignant moment. It did make me reflect on the history of the Don River which hundreds of years ago would have served as a transportation route for First Nations People who used the rivers in Toronto as part of their elaborate trading routes.
The river began to widen as we neared the end of our journey. Suddenly the sounds of birds chirping was replaced by the roar of traffic from the cars zooming down the Don Valley Parkway next to us. Exhilarated we arrived at the Keating Channel, our take-out site at the mouth of Lake Ontario. A curious Canada Goose was perched on the rocky shoreline to greet us as organizers clapped us in. The Gardiner Expressway hovered above. This was a surreal experience I will never forget.