Dragonboat festival participants paddle forward

Hundreds of people gathered at Bell Park July 16 to participate, watch and enjoy the 12th annual Sudbury Dragonboat Festival.

Chairman John Stolte said 55 teams registered this year, an increase of five over last year.

He said the festival is a great way to bring the community together.

“(The) object is not only to celebrate the Chinese involvement in the community but also to raise funds for a charity,” he said.

“The money is generated through pledges the paddlers obtain throughout the spring as they're practicing for this event.”

This year, the Sudbury Food Bank will benefit from the festival.

Stolte also said the event is so successful thanks to the volunteers who help out. He said a couple hundred people stepped forward to help this year.

“That's a great part of it that people volunteer to get involved in a community event,” he said. “They serve the community and at the same time they have a lot of fun doing it.”