Peaceful Border Days will include another friendly international competition as International Falls officials and residents will be a part of the Fort Frances dragon boat races on Canada Day, July 1.
The races, a part of a four-day festival, are a way to promote relations between the two border cities, as well as kick off the nearly week-long celebration. The dragon boat races will take place from 10:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, at the Sorting Gap Marina in Fort Frances.
“We are definitely proud to become a part of this growing sport,” International Falls City Councilor Cynthia Jaksa said about the Fort’s third-annual event.
Members of both city councils will go head-to-head in the races to settle a challenge the Falls issued to the Fort Monday during the Fort Frances Town Council meeting, according to Randy Thoms at 93.1 The Border radio station.
Fort Frances Town Councilors Rick Wiedenhoeft and Andrew Hallikas were slapped with white gloves by International Falls City Councilors Jaksa and Gail Rognerud, who both wore star-spangled bows in their hair and red, white, and blue leis around their necks.
After the challenge, Wiedenhoeft was given a pair of women’s shoes, which he has to wear as a part of a lost bet over last summer’s Peace Pull.
Jaksa saw the opportunity to issue the challenge since the staff of two cities will be racing among councils in the event.
“I Falls challenged, so we will prevail against our sister city.” Jaksa said. She later added the Falls team’s strength from eating walleye to be a reason she believes her city will beat Fort Frances in the race.
The International Falls Booster Club, along with one or two Falls High School sports teams, may also compete in the event as a way to raise funds. This would only occur if one of the teams wins the competition, and can collect the prize money as a donation to the booster club.
The boat races involve teams of 15 paddlers and one drummer in long, skinny boats which are shaped like canoes. The boat races got their name from a story originating in ancient China. The tale involves a poet who died in the water, angering the dragons who then needed to be appeased by creation of the annual event.
The participation in the races is said to bring good luck to the community.
“We don’t want to run afoul of the dragons.” Mayor Bob Anderson said earlier this year about the Falls’ participation in the event.
Dragon boat races are becoming a popular event in Minnesota and Canada. The Fort Frances event drew around 1,500 spectators, 13 competing teams, and four food vendors last year. This time around 18 to 20 teams are expected to take part, including teams from Duluth and Bemidji.
Since the event falls on Canada Day, July 1, Canadian businesses also have a chance to get in on the fun, and businesses have challenged one another during the event in past years.
Although participants under the age of 14 need to sign a waiver, there is no age restriction in the event. People from ages 11 to 74 have paddled in past races. The sport is more about teamwork instead of strength, so it’s incredibly easy for people of all ages to partake in, according to the Montreal-based company 22 Dragons, who will be providing two boats for the event.
