Author: Graeme Galves

Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award 2023

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The purpose of the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award is to recognize volunteers who have made significant and exemplary contributions to the Outrigger Canoe Racing Discipline of Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (“CORA”) within Canada in the Builder Category.

The CORA Board has approved Policy and Procedure relating to selection and awarding and administering the Award as per the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award Policy.

The Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award is awarded after the CORA AGM. The CORA Board has reviewed nominations received for the past season and has recognized Annie Boulding of Comox Valley Canoe Racing Club as the 2023 recipient of the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award.

Annie Boulding has a 40-year legacy of selfless volunteer effort to paddlesports in general and outrigger canoe racing in particular. She has made contributions to support Canadian paddlers at the international, national, provincial, and club level. She was a member of the Canadian National Whitewater Team and did Molokai Na Wahine several times long before CORA was founded. Annie was founder of the Comox Valley Canoe Racing Club (CVCRC) that has hosted the popular Comox Island Iron for many years. Annie has not served on the CORA Board or with Team Canada, but has been a member of Team Canada from the very first time that Canada participated as a member nation at the 1992 Sacramento IVF World Sprints

CORA wishes to extend a round of appreciation to Michele Genge for sharing personal insights as Guest Speaker on behalf of Annie Boulding at the 2023 CORA AGM.

CORA hopes to have a Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award photo-op on March 10, 2024 at Nanaimo Ocean Paddling Centre as part of the 2024 Nanaimo Crazy 8 and NPI Attack. Please join us for the presentation to Annie Boulding (2023 Recipient) with the Saysutshun and Protection Islands backdrop in the distance.

For more information about the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award, CLICK HERE

CORA Town Hall (11 November 4PM Pacific): Stellar Seven – CORA Hall Of Fame

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The CORA Off-the-Water Video Forum Series has resumed this Autumn 2023 with the next up presentation being Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame Induction on SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11 ~ 4PM (PACIFIC).

CORA is hosting this online Town Hall presentation for 2023 Hall Of Fame inductees spread across Canada and around the world. Microwave some popcorn, heat up a warm drink, curl up next to the fireplace, and join us this Autumn evening as our Inductees and Guest Speakers share with you some great tales.

This is an opportunity to get to know those individuals who have been recognized this year including Ruth English Matson, Nancy Botting, David Hill, Lynda Roberts, Norman MacDonell, Leanne Stanley, and Len Morris Jr. who have made significant and exemplary contributions to outrigger canoeing in Canada over their lifetimes as athletes / coaches-builders and as pioneers. Although their histories have been published on the CORA website, their friends and colleagues have personal insights they wish to share.

Guest speakers are being invited and will hopefully include Heather Taylor, Andrea Dillon, Ron Williams, Wendy Rae-Perkins, Janet Davis, Karen Simpson, Alan Thompson, Donna Harrison, Kristine Malmqvist, “Uncle” Leonard Kimokeo Kapahulehua, Mhairi MacDonell, James Hill, Zoe Norcross, Melanie Conard, Rita Morris, Gordon Martinez, John Richardson, contributions by Hugh Fisher and several other luminaries.

Topic: CORA Town Hall: Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame Induction
Time: Saturday Nov 11, 2023 4:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

CORA Town Hall October 2023 – The Wahines In The Boat

Graeme Galves 4 Comments

CORA Town Hall virtual sessions return in October 2023. CORA members and friends are invited to join our Off-the-Water Video Forum Series. Opportunities for questions will be provided in the latter half of these 90-minute session and through the “chat” function. Presentations will be recorded and posted for those with scheduling conflicts.

The October 2023 CORA Town Hall virtual session has been rescheduled for Sunday Oct-15 at 4PM (Pacific) will feature a reunion of the all-Canadian women’s 1985 Molokai Na Wahine crew that placed 5th overall in that race for one of the best ever showings by an all-Canadian women’s crew in 38 years.

Please join us for a roundtable of what it was like to build an outrigger racing crew in 1985 with Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Famers Ruth Matson and Annie Boulding, Canadian Olympians Sheila Taylor and Joanne Woods, and all of the stellar crew members that CORA has been able to locate including Cathy (Nixon) New, Sheila (Chadwick) Cupp, Kathy Gallagher, Gail Timmer, Janice (Henderson) Kyle, and Diane Chippindale. We are looking forward to a special guest appearance by legendary Molokai Na Wahine Board Member “Auntie” Rosie Lum, with recognition of legendary Waikiki Beach Boy Albert “Rabbit” Kekai, who coached the all-Canadian Womens crew for the 1985 Kaiwi Channel Crossing.

Here is the recording of the engaging roundtable of Canadian Molokai 1985 competitors: