The Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club is mourning the loss of two vintage voyageur canoes to an early-morning fire.
Firefighters responded to Loudon Park on the south side of Long Lake on Thursday, Nov. 24, to find a temporary shelter and two fibreglass canoes on fire. Both canoes, which originate from the 1960s, and the shelter were completely destroyed.
Ashley Rowe, Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club commodore, said she found out about the fire at about 6 a.m. when the coach for one of the rowing teams called her.
B次元官网网址淪he reported that fire services were just leaving the park and she was able to talk with a couple of the firefighters before they left B次元官网网址� I spoke to her on the phone she mentioned that there was no canoes left. That was just mind-baffling to me. I asked, B次元官网网址楬ow can there not be any canoes? They canB次元官网网址檛 burn that quickly, can they?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Rowe arrived to find the blackened remains of the craft and the tires they were stored on to keep them off the ground.
She said volunteers Sean Plecas, Danuch Patrick and Paul Steele, of PMG Heritage Yachts, spent months restoring the canoes, which were about 55 years old. The canoes previously belonged to the White Ravens Canoe Club and were used in centennial celebrations that involved paddling the route used by voyageurs. A third canoe of the same vintage, stored under tarps outside the shelter, was spared serious damage. Rowe estimated the canoes that burned were worth about $15,000 and the shelter about $1,000.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very disheartening because these boats havenB次元官网网址檛 been used for many years and then this summer was the summer that we were able to put them on the water again and have people out in the boats and theyB次元官网网址檙e a boat that accessible and made for all ages and abilities,B次元官网网址� she said.
The canoes, about eight metres long, could hold up to 10 people each and were used for the clubB次元官网网址檚 summer programs, school field trips, community partnerships, such as the Mid-Island Metis Nation, and were also used to help build the clubB次元官网网址檚 membership.
B次元官网网址淧ainting, sanding, fibre-glassing B次元官网网址� I learned a lot,B次元官网网址� Patrick said. B次元官网网址淭hat was a good experience because it sort of gives you an idea of how those boats are built [to] restore them.B次元官网网址�
Reserve Const. Gary OB次元官网网址橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, said police found evidence of a possible homeless encampment under the canoe shelter.
B次元官网网址淸This] didnB次元官网网址檛 appear to actually be an intentional arson as the tarp and items around suggested that it was being utilized as a camp,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t looks like they had a fire going underneath it.B次元官网网址�
OB次元官网网址橞rien said there is no security footage and no known witnesses or suspects.
To learn more about the canoe restoration project, visit .
Anyone with information about this fire is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP detachment non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file #2022-41249.
READ ALSO:
chris.bush@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
