Newsletter

April 27, 2007

2007 Columbia River Brigade Update

Hello David Thompson enthusiasts and paddlers!

The 2007 Columbia River Brigade is just 2 months away.  Some teams have already registered and others are in the process of doing so.  Make sure you visit the event web site www.canadianvoyageur.com often to keep up to date with happenings.

The web site now has a poster for the event that you can download and publish in your newsletters or print and post in and around your paddling community.  There is still room for a few more teams and we encourage you to get organized and registered as soon as possible.  As well, for individuals looking for a team, post your names on the web site.  It is possible that if there are enough individuals, a new team can be formed and we will try and find an extra canoe for you. 

Special funding that was applied for is slow in materializing.  The Stage Show originally planned to go along with the canoe show is being re worked.  We still plan on having a professional actor do the David Thompson story but now we have had requests from local community performers and from First Nations groups to be added to the program to tell their stories.  As well, the educational video of the event is still in the works.

There may be a slight change to the itinerary.  We had planned on arriving in Golden July 1 and being a big part of their celebrations.  It turns out that Golden has a lot of activities planned and their program is quite full.  We still plan being in Golden July 1st but we may arrive early, participate in a community event, then travel over to Revelstoke and be able to be part of their July 1st celebrations as well.  This will allow us to have the next day, July 2, as a rest and recuperation day for all. We would then leave Revelstoke on July 3rd as planned.

There are many books written about David Thompson.  A couple of authors you may want to look up are Jack Nisbet and D’Arcy Jenish.  Mr. Nisbet has written, “Sources of the River” and “The Mapmaker’s Eye: David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau”.  Mr. Jenish’s book is “Epic Wanderer”. 

We have had inquiries from two national media organizations that want to come on the trip and record/broadcast parts of it.  We expect more national and local media types will want to be involved as well.

Remember, when you register, you get your own page on the event web site.  You are expected to list your team members but you can also list your sponsors and partners.  This is a way for you to have some leverage for raising funds for your team.  If you provide the links to your sponsors, your home towns, etc., we will put them on the page also.  As well, the GPS activated Google Earth map will allow everyone to follow you on the trip and there will be a link from your canoe icon on the map to your page and to your links.

The next update will be within two weeks.  Train hard!

Norm