Alana and Kyla, pictured at far left

It started out as a quick message asking about a Kirk Wipper Memorial Portage and would I be interested in participating. We were a group of Ontario Educators (aka "edutweeps") along with our families, who were immediately enchanted with being a part of this memorable portage that would end up at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough in time to mark the beginning of the Kirk Wipper public memorial.

Andy, Ross, Ryan, Jeff, Nick, Colin, Lynn, Anna, Kyla (my daughter) and I were a small but mighty team who were responsible for the first leg of the Peterborough leg of the portage. We all walked the portage and while the boys carried the canoe, Kyla and I had the chance to walk and talk with one of the organizers, Tim
McDonagh, and heard about his connection to Kirk, what the canoe meant to him, and how much he enjoyed walking with the canoe and meeting the people who had come out to participate in the portage.

Our leg of the portage was about 6 km (Hwy 28 starting at Springville United Church, up to Sir Sandford Fleming Drive, across and right onto Dobbin Road finishing at Lansdowne). After the canoe left us, I’m not
sure who carried the canoe or what their adventure entailed but I can tell you it was fun to participate in the memorial portage and be with friends who love to paddle, love to get involved, and are fun to be with. I'd like to think Kirk Wipper would have totally approved of our crew!

On a personal note, my daughter Kyla was the youngest person to carry the canoe and she was very proud to add her signature to the paddle that was given to his wife Ann Wipper after the memorial service. Although Kyla took some convincing to actually help carry the canoe, she was mighty proud to share her story with her dad at the end of the day.

For more pics from the day, click here and here.

[KirkWipper.ca; Canadian Canoe Museum]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Alana Callan; photo via Flickr]

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Alana Callan (middle) at the start of last year's YMCA Half MarathonThis weekend, I decided to try out the new YMCA Half Marathon route. I have never run an unfamiliar race route before race day, and since the route has changed and runs through the city of Peterborough this year, I decided to give it a try.

The 21.1 km route begins at the YMCA located on Alymer street and takes runners through familiar aspects of the city. Many parts of the route are regular running routes for locals (around the Lake, out to Trent etc.). Runners leave the YMCA and run up Alymer Street to Perry Street and proceed down Crescent Street past the Little Lake Cemetery and then head to Lansdowne Street. From Lansdowne, you run up to Ashburnham Road past the canal and turn on Hunter to go through the Lift Lock tunnel and up and over "Museum Hill" and turn down Armour Road. Runners take a long trip down Armour Road to the turn-around.

It is an "out and back" route, and on the way out I had decided I hate "out and back" routes. But once I turned and headed back, I decided I quite liked running "out and back," as the run back was nicely familiar. Runners who have run the YMCA Half Marathon in the past few years will enjoy this new route for the change of scenery. I don't think I'll need to "draft" behind another runner this year as I have done in the past while running out by the airport and battling the wind.

There are four water and toilet stations this year, and I've been told that the local fire department will be taking care of the water station near the Peterborough Lift Lock.

The 33rd annual YMCA Half Marathon in Peterborough is in support of the YMCA's Annual Strong Kids Campaign, which encourages the healthy growth and development of Peterborough's youth. There is still time to register for this great event. It takes place this Sunday (February 27) starting at 12:30 p.m. and you can choose either the 5 km or 21.1 km race. There is also a kids 1 km fun run which is very fun to watch.

Click here for a PDF of the detailed route map.

[Contributed by Alana Callan]

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