Public flocks to the Creek to get out on the water; Concord Pacific at the bow of the boat for Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival
FALSE CREEK, VANCOUVER, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Over 500 people took advantage of an offer to be out on the water in False Creek over the weekend. The event was held to celebrate the announcement of a new title sponsor for Vancouver's annual dragon boat festival – now called the Concord Pacific Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival.
Just days earlier the Vancouver Park Board announced the opening of a new $3.2M Paddling Centre funded by Concord Pacific.
Concord's increased commitment is not only to the festival itself but also to making the creek accessible to all who want to paddle year round.
The local developer has been an active supporter of the event - and the sport of dragon boating - since the Festival began in 1989.
"Concord Pacific is one of our founding sponsors, so becoming our lead partner is a natural fit," said Ann Phelps, Society Executive Director. "What a lot of people don't know is that Concord's CEO Terry Hui has also been a big supporter on a personal level for which we are very grateful. He's always been there for us when things got tough - as happened immediately after fire destroyed all our boats and equipment last year.
"I know it's been said before, but we really could not have done it without him. We both want to push the sport to thrive and we both want to build community and that's why Concord works so well as our sponsor."
"Building community is central to Concord Pacific," said Matt Meehan, Vice President of Planning for Concord Pacific. "We have been involved with the Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival for 27 years and look forward to stepping up our commitment. In addition to our sponsorship, we will work with the dragon boat society board members on year round initiatives and funding to make dragon boating on the creek more accessible to all."
Funds from Concord Pacific and others in the corporate community are vital to the Festival's success as they support initiatives such as youth program - a free, high quality, year-round, dragon boating program for nearly 1,000 high-risk youth in Vancouver and the surrounding area. It not only promotes fitness and a healthy lifestyle, but teaches values of teamwork, leadership, perseverance and hard work.
The Concord Pacific Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival is the largest dragon boat festival outside Hong Kong. The races represent the pinnacle of competition for the sport in Canada.
The Festival combines competitive and recreational dragon boat racing with live music, circus acts, family entertainment and food from near and far. Started in 1989, the festival and the sight of the paddlers on False Creek have become symbols of the city.
The 2016 Concord Pacific Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival is June 17, 18 and 19 on False Creek.
About Concord Pacific:
Concord Pacific is a Canadian-headquartered developer of multi‐phased, master‐planned residential communities. It is Canada's largest urban community builder and has won many national and international awards for design and excellence. Concord is a large supporter of citywide events and charities in the communities they develop. Their development schemes are strategically designed to enhance the lifestyles of its residents with innovative architecture and engaging public spaces of world‐class scale and use.concordpacific.com.
SOURCE Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society
Image with caption: "Opening of the new $3.2 million paddling centre on False Creek funded by Concord Pacific. left to right: Peter Wong, past Chair,Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society; Matt Meehan, SVP Planning, Concord Pacific; Peter Webb, SVP Developments, Concord Pacific; Duane Geddes, Executive Director, BC Mobility Opportunities Society; Sarah Kirby-Yung, Vancouver Park Board Chair; Ann Phelps, General Manager, Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society; Coun, Raymond Louie, acting Mayor of Vancouver. (CNW Group/Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160502_C3932_PHOTO_EN_680036.jpg
For further information: Anita Webster, Manager of Communications, Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, 604.732.7035 | e [email protected]; Peter Udzenija, Director of Corporate Relations, Concord Pacific Developments Inc., 604.899.8800 | e [email protected]
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