On June 22, the Voyageur Rendezvous is going to be retracing the steps of fur traders from eras past with a canoe brigade traveling through Lac La Biche Lake on the traditional route from the fur-trading days.
"It is a bit of a reenactment that we are doing. What we're looking to do with this is a recreation of a traditional route,” said Mel Kuprowsky, an organizer for the event. "The water was where the highways are and the voyageur canoes were the vehicles – the heavy transport. They would bring the furs down the river, up the La Biche River into Lac La Biche Lake, the Mission was already there, so they would be stopping at the Mission for food and civilization. We want to be authentic with what the voyageurs would have eaten – stew and bannock, traditional fish fry and flapjacks and sausage”
The trip runs for 32 kilometres along the traditional trading route, beginning at Plamondon White Sands Resort, making its way to the historical Lac La Biche Mission and ending at McArthur Park, with activities and eats at each stop. There are 11 canoes confirmed for the event, which starts early on Saturday morning with a hearty breakfast.
"The paddlers and the public is invited to meet in the morning at Plamondon White Sands at 7 a.m.,” said Kuprowsky. "From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. is breakfast and that is put on free of charge by Plamondon White Sands Resort. Then [participants] get into their canoes and off they paddle to the Mission.”
At the first stop on the canoe trip around the lake, paddlers will be treated to traditional beef stew and bannock at the Mission. Kuprowsky says that the folks at the Mission will be dressed in their period costumes to welcome canoers ashore, with a few other bits of entertainment as well.
"They are in period clothing – they go all out. They take them up [from the water] and they've got a stage and a band there and they serve a traditional beef stew and bannock lunch and dessert,” he said.
The final stop on the canoe trip is McArthur Park in downtown Lac La Biche, where participants will be stuffed full of food at a traditional fish fry, ice cream and showers.
"There is a welcoming ceremony on the beach and we are looking to do a traditional fish fry this year,” said Kuprowsky. "They paddle, come around, at McArthur Place, they land on the beach and we welcome them.”
The meals are free of charge for paddlers, or $10 for those that want to meet up with the paddlers during their stops.
Kuprowsky says he wants the daylong canoe trip to be an example of how the residents of Lac La Biche like to have a good time.
"We have 11 canoes confirmed,” said Kuprowsky. "We want to show newcomers to the community how we have fun in Lac La Biche. This is how we do it in a small town. Everyone is invited.”
Kuprowsky says that the canoe trip will be tiring for the canoers, but also an educational and enjoyable event, and wouldn't have been possible without the sponsors who donated their time and services.
"Acknowledging our sponsors, Access Pipelines, Trans Canada, Enbridge and Servus Credit Union. Also the business providing in-kind donations: LLB Sporting Goods, BCMInns, Extra Foods and Plamondon White Sands, is very important,” he said.
Colleen Pierce of the Program for Adult Learning is looking for newcomers to Lac La Biche to paddle their way around the lake. For those that are interested in taking up a spot in the 35-foot canoe, contact her at 780-623-2477. Deni Gillis is also looking for Aboriginal paddlers for the 25-foot canoe donated by Access Pipeline. If you are interested in joining the day's events, call Gillis at 780-623-3039.
