Written by MYRISSA KRENZLER
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 03 July 2008 |
Huble Homestead is the starting point for Rivermania, a flotilla journey down the Fraser River from Prince George to Stevenson, Aug. 24 to Sept. 28.
While the Prince George section of the journey is relatively small, Clint Fraser, marketing director of Northern B.C. Tourism, said it's a good project to be involved in.
"It really is a chance for us to showcase the province and show that we've got some great cultural product here in British Columbia, especially up here in the North and the Cariboo Chilcotin regions," he said. "It's a very unique experience."
Participants leave from Huble Homestead at 10 a.m. on Aug. 24 by canoe, kayak, or jet boat after touring the site and eating a traditional and First Nations breakfast and travel to Fort George Park. The journey takes three-and-a-half hours.
At the park there will be a variety of events including a community barbecue, museum tours and a concert by Vancouver Celtic band Tiller's Folly. The flotilla then continues to Quesnel.
Suppliers and boat operators local to each community involved will be used for that leg of the journey. "It's encouraging business for all the communities involved," Jennifer Rhyne, communications director of Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Tourism said. Private boats are unable to join the flotilla due to liability and safety issues.
Each community the flotilla passes has planned events celebrating their traditions and culture. They include drumming circles, First Nations guided working tours, barbecues and feasts.
The idea for the journey came from the realization that it's been 200 years since Simon Fraser discovered the Fraser River. "The tourism regions got together and said 'hey, how can we celebrate this?'" Fraser said. "And in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of British Columbia becoming a Crown Colony, we decided it would be a good opportunity to allow people to experience that journey and discover some of the products that are along that river that still sort of pertain to how it was some time ago."
Prices for the journey vary depending on how far participants want to travel and what type of boat they're using. The Prince George leg ranges from $155 to $536. Events at Fort George Park are open to everyone free of charge.
Packages can viewed at www.bcrivermania.com and booked through Exclusively Canada Ltd. 1-800-883-3640.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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