Date Range

1998-2022

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Abreast of ‘Bridge Dragon Boat Club

Physical Description

101.6 cm of textual records; 265 photographic prints; 1 DVD, 1 map

History Biographical

The Abreast of ‘Bridge Dragon Boat Club was established in 1999 as the first Dragon Boat team in Lethbridge. The Club was formed as a women’s cancer survivor dragon boat team in Lethbridge, Alberta. In 1999, breast cancer survivors, Estelle Warnica, Susan Giffen and Diane Randell formed a support group for women in Lethbridge that promoted healthy and active lifestyles for survivors. They began with organized walks around Henderson Lake, hiking trips, swimming, snowshoeing, white-water rafting and working out at the YMCA. The Club grew to include women of all ages who had survived breast cancer. In 1995, Dr. Donald McKenzie, and his research at the University of British Columbia promoted paddling as a way to regain upper body strength and prevent other diseases in breast cancer survivors. Dr. McKenzie’s original research group was named Abreast in A Boat. According to Dr. McKenzie, dragon boating had a positive impact on the survivors and lead to the creation of dragon boat teams around the world; including in Lethbridge. Estelle Warnica, Susan Giffen, Diane Randell and other survivors in Lethbridge were inspired by Dr. McKenzie’s research and in 2000, launched Lethbridge’s first Dragon Boat team, Abreast of ‘Bridge. The Dragon Boat team were loaned their first dragon boat from the Calgary Canoe Club. The name, “Abreast of ‘Bridge” became official in 2001, and was a reference to the High Level Bridge in Lethbridge, as well as the cook books, “The Best of Bridge”. That year, Abreast of ‘Bridge competed in their first race in the Calgary Dragon Boat Festival, where they won a medal. In 2002, Lethbridge held the City’s first Dragon Boat Festival. The Abreast of ‘Bridge Dragon Boat Club consisted of over 20 members, will 22 team members in the dragon boat. The Club trained at Henderson Lake, and would train at the YMCA and other indoor activities during the winter months. Abreast of ‘Bridge formed a partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Lethbridge, and through fundraising, the team received two teak boats from the Dragon Race Foundation of Alberta. In 2001, the team was awarded the Women of Distinction Award. In 2006, a new boat was christened the “Christine”, to honor long-time Club member, Christine van Raay, who passed away in 2005. The Abreast of ‘Bridge Club promoted a healthy, active and positive lifestyle, as well as providing outreach support and education. They competed in Dragon Boat Festivals all over Canada, including the annual ATB Rotary Club Dragon Boat Festival in Lethbridge. The Club organized the Rose Petal Ceremony that would take place every festival in Lethbridge, to raise awareness and to honor those who have lost their lives to cancer. In 2020, the Club planned to celebrate their 20th anniversary, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the celebration was cancelled. Their Team Mission states: “Abreast of ‘Bridge is a group of women living with breast cancer. The purpose of Abreast of ‘Bridge is to make a difference in their lives by providing opportunities for a full and active lifestyle, encouragement, hope, fun and mutual support. Their activities will help create awareness of breast cancer and a message of hope”.

Scope and Content

2021.1113/001: General Meeting Minutes, Treasurer Report, Mission Statement, etc. 2001-2009. 2021.1113/002: Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Fundraiser Information, etc. Part 1/2. 2014-2018. 2021.1113/003: Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Fundraiser Information, etc. Part 2/2. 2011-2019. 2021.1113/004: Meeting Minutes, List of Executives, Fundraising Correspondence, etc. Part 1/3. 1 photographic print. 2013-2017. 2021.1113/005: Meeting Minutes, List of Executives, Fundraising Correspondence, etc. Part 2/3. 1 photographic print, 1 map. 2012-2017. 2021.1113/006: Meeting Minutes, List of Executives, Fundraising Correspondence, etc. Part 3/3. 2000-2014. 2021.1113/007: Correspondence. 6 photographic prints. 2001-2009. 2021.1113/008: 2000 to 2006 Minutes, Society Registry, Financials, etc. Part 1/3. 2002-2006. 2021.1113/009: 2000 to 2006 Minutes, Society Registry, Financials, etc. Part 2/3. 1999-2006. 2021.1113/010: 2000 to 2006 Minutes, Society Registry, Financials, etc. Part 3/3. 1 photographic print. 1999-2005. 2021.1113/011: Executive Meeting Minutes, Membership Lists, Correspondence, etc. Part 1/3. 2 photographic prints. 2009-2013. 2021.1113/012: Executive Meeting Minutes, Membership Lists, Correspondence, etc. Part 2/3. 2007-2010. 2021.1113/013: Executive Meeting Minutes, Membership Lists, Correspondence, etc. Part 3/3. 2003-2007. 2021.1113/014: Annual General Meeting, Sponsorship Levels, Financial Statements, Membership Lists, etc. 2011-2018. 2021.1113/015: Abreast of ‘Bridge President’s Binder 2010-2012. Part 1/3. 2009-2012. 2021.1113/016: Abreast of ‘Bridge President’s Binder 2010-2012. Part 2/3. 2006-2013. 2021.1113/017: Abreast of ‘Bridge President’s Binder 2010-2012. Part 3/3. 1998-2013. 2021.1113/018: Executive Meeting Minutes, “Two Teak Boats – Paying it Forward”, and “Paddling with Purpose” writings. 2020. 2021.1113/019: Newspaper Article, Photographs, Meeting Minutes, Correspondence, etc. Part 1/4. 6 photographic prints. 2001-2019. 2021.1113/020: Newspaper Article, Photographs, Meeting Minutes, Correspondence, etc. Part 2/4. 2003-2015. 2021.1113/021: Newspaper Article, Photographs, Meeting Minutes, etc. Part 3/4. 96 photographic prints. 2011-2015. 2021.1113/022: Newspaper Article, Photographs, Meeting Minutes, etc. Part 4/4. 2014-2018. 2021.1113/023: Abreast of ‘Bridge Obituaries and Newspaper Articles. Part 1/3. 6 photographic prints. 2001-2017. 2021.1113/024: Abreast of ‘Bridge Obituaries and Newspaper Articles. Part 2/3. 28 photographic prints. 2003-2005. 2021.1113/025: Abreast of ‘Bridge Obituaries and Newspaper Articles. Part 3/3. 30 photographic prints. 2000-2006? 2021.1113/026: New Member Package Documents. 1 photographic print. 1998-2010. 2021.1113/027: Sandra Fuentes’ book, “How I Kept My Head When I Lost My Breasts: A Breast Cancer Survivor’s Journey”. 2012. 2021.1113/028: Dragon Boat Lethbridge Festival 2011. 1 DVD. 2011. 2021.1113/029: Dragon Boat Racing PowerPoint Presentation to Chamber of Commerce Brooks. 2006. 2021.1113/030: Herald Articles on Abreast of ‘Bridge. 2007. 2021.1113/031: Minutes, Communications, E-mail Discussions, Policies, etc. Part 1/3. 1 photographic print. 2004-2010. 2021.1113/032: Minutes, Communications, E-mail Discussions, Policies, etc. Part 2/3. 2007-2010. 2021.1113/033: Minutes, Communications, E-mail Discussions, Policies, etc. Part 3/3. 2007-2010. 2021.1113/034: Minutes, Communications, Registry Documents, Strategic Planning, etc. Part 1/3. 2006-2008. 2021.1113/035: Minutes, Communications, Registry Documents, Strategic Planning, etc. Part 2/3. 2005-2008. 2021.1113/036: Minutes, Communications, Registry Documents, Strategic Planning, etc. Part 3/3. 2001-2007. 2021.1113/037: Grant and Funding Research. 2006. 2021.1113/038: Fiscal Year: 2000/2001. 2000-2002. 2021.1113/039: Fiscal Year April 1/2002 – Dec. 31/2002. Part 1/2. 2001-2003. 2021.1113/040: Fiscal Year April 1/2002 - Dec. 31/2002. Part 2/2. 2002-2003. 2021.1113/041: Fiscal Year 2001-2002 April 1-March 31, 2002. Part 1/2. 2001-2002. 2021.1113/042: Fiscal Year 2001-2002 April 1-March 31, 2002. Part 2/2. 2001-2002. 2021.1113/043: Fiscal Year: 2003. 2002-2003. 2021.1113/044: Fiscal Year: 2004. 2003-2004. 2021.1113/045: “2004 A Team” – Financial Papers. 2001-2005. 2021.1113/046: “A Team Minutes + Notes 2005”. 2004-2006. 2021.1113/047: “Reimbursements to Club + Funds Reused – 2005”. 2005-2006. 2021.1113/048: “A Team Donations Received 2005”. 2005. 2021.1113/049: Financial Papers: 2005. 2004-2005. 2021.1113/050: 2005 Tax Return – Financial Statements. 2005-2006. 2021.1113/051: Abreast of ‘Bridge 2008 Financial Papers. 2008-2009. 2021.1113/052: Financial Statements: 2008. 2009-2010. 2021.1113/053: Financial Records for 2007. 2006-2008. 2021.1113/054: 2007 Financial Statements. 2008. 2021.1113/055: Financial Records for 2006. 2006-2007. 2021.1113/056: “2006 – Notes and General Correspondence” – includes Proposed Mission and Vision Statements, Financial Records, Executive Meeting Minutes, etc. 2005-2007. 2021.1113/057: “2006 Working Papers” – Financial Records. Part 1/2. 2005-2007. 2021.1113/058: “2006 Working Papers” – Financial Records. Part 2/2. 2005-2006. 2021.1113/059: Abreast of ‘Bridge 10th Anniversary Photograph. 1 photographic print; oversized (located in Medium Grey Box #56). 2010. 2021.1113/060: Notes, Membership Lists, Newspaper Articles, etc. 2 photographic prints. 2002-2022. 2021.1113/061: Receipts and Financial Papers – sampled. 2006-2016. 2021.1113/062: Dragon Boat Scrapbook. 81 photographic prints. 2003-2019. 2021.1113/063: Meeting Minutes and Financial Details. 2005-2021. 2021.1113/064: Dragon Boat Festival Agenda, Correspondence, Roles and Responsibilities, Articles, etc. 2006-2016. 2021.1113/065: Correspondence, Financial Records, Festival Details. 2008-2015. 2021.1113/066: Event Invitations, Meeting Minutes, Financial Records, Correspondence, Club Reports, etc. Part 1/2. 2 photographic prints. 2002-2007. 2021.1113/067: Event Invitations, Meeting Minutes, Financial Records, Correspondence, Club Reports, etc. Part 2/2. 2006-2010. 2021.1113/068: Essays on the history of the Abreast of ‘Bridge Dragon Boat Club by Wendy Aitkens. "Two Teak Boats - Paying It Forward" and "Paddling with Purpose"

Accession No.

20211113

Collection

Archive

Less detail