When she is paddling, Pam Sutherland, commodore of the Fort 黑马磁力 Canoe Club (FLCC) views it as being "out in the church of Mother Nature."
"I just love being on the water," Sutherland told the 黑马磁力. "It's a very social activity. It's very good exercise."
Paddling, which includes kayaking, outrigger canoes, and dragon boating, is an increasingly popular activity for seniors attracted by a sport that provides a way to get active, be outdoors, and engage in a full-body workout that is gentle on the joints.
"It's a sport you can do," Sutherland explained.
"First off, you can do it sitting down, which is a big bonus for a lot of people 鈥� especially as you get a little older. And for me, I have a bad back, so exercise sitting down is awesome."
On a recent Sunday morning, Sutherland was greeting newcomers to the sport at the club dragon boat drop-in program, held at the Fort 黑马磁力 marina located next to historic Haldi House.
"Don't let your physical limitations make you think you can't do it," Sutherland said.
"We have blind people who paddle, we have breast cancer survivors who paddle, we have PTSD people. We have people who we have to help in and out of the boat, because they're not physically able to get in and out themselves, but once they're in the boat, they're good to go."
Audrey Nadalin, 69, has 20 years experience paddling dragon boats, outrigger, and voyager canoes, as well as regular canoeing and kayaking.
"It's a great sport," Nadalin commented. "You can age with it."
Brenda Hoffman, 64, got started in 2018.
"A friend of mine had said, I think there's a program you're just going to love," Hoffman recalled. "And I did 鈥� and been loving it ever since."
Sandy Ferguson, 70, is a kayaker who loved to go out on two-week trips, then discovered paddling as a team sport about 19 years ago.
Now a "coach, steersperson, drummer, everything," Ferguson said the sport is "available to anybody, any age. You can paddle one day a week, two days a week, or go to the world championships."
"The best part about dragon boating is you don't have to be a certain shape, size, [or] weight," Ferguson said.
FLCC has nearly 600 members now, and interested newbies are being advised to book well in advance for drop-in sessions if they want to be sure of finding a spot.
For more information, visit / is the provincial sport organization for paddling, and supports recreational canoeing clubs.
