The paddles will flash and the sterns will cut the current of the Nechako River this year, when racers propel canoes in a community boat race.
It's the first time in many years that the once-popular race will be held, as a tip of the toque to Prince George's 100th birthday.
Shirley Ballum remembers when the canoe race was one of the biggest social events of the summer in this area. According to her recollection, the contestants would start at Fort St. James on the Stuart River, enter the Nechako River just north of Cobb Lake, go through the frothy Isle Pierre rapids, then paddle hard to the confluence of the Fraser.
Ballum was one of the members of Gary & The Valentines, a popular local country band of that era. Inspired by the city's centennial and the canoe race revival, she went looking in her scrapbooks and boxes until she found a particular memento: the lyrics sheet of an original song written and performed especially for the event.
"The Canoe Brigade Song was written by Lucille Harrison of Fort St. James," said Ballum. "She got the inspiration for writing the song because her husband was a participant in the canoe race of that period."
The tune of the song was the Johnny Horton (written by Jimmy Driftwood) classic The Battle Of New Orleans, the No. 1 song on the charts that year. It was also the last year the canoe race started in Fort St. James and ended at the old site of Fort George.
In 1960, in order to attract a wider field of competitors, the race started at Isle Pierre.
"She (Harrison) was the cousin of Beverly Smith who sang background vocals along with me. We were The Valentines," said Ballum, explaining how the band got introduced to the song. "The bass player was Ron Sutton and Gary, of course, was Gary Fjellgaard," the Hall of Fame country music star who was just getting his Prince George start in those days.
The group was the opening act for touring superstars like Johnny Cash and George Jones when they performed here, plus they headlined several concerts themselves.
"We had our own radio show and TV show back then, and we probably sang this song on the show, I can't remember that for sure, but I know we definitely played it live at Fort George Park as the canoes were coming in from the west as they ended the race."
Ballum said Lucille Harrison passed away (in 2005, while her husband David Blackburn passed away in 2013) so she couldn't quiz her old acquaintance now about the different lyrical points in the song, but she remembered it well. With the city's 100th birthday at the fore, she hopes the song will spark even more interest in the waves of community spirit being felt across Lheidli territory these days.
Northern Hardware was the major sponsor of the annual canoe races back then, and are back again this year for this special edition, joined by Integris Credit Union.
For more information, go to the Two Rivers Canoe Club Facebook page or email Pat Turner at [email protected]. Club members meet for practice sessions on the Nechako River at the Cottonwood Island boat launch on Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m.
The Canoe Brigade Song
by Lucille Harrison
In 1959 we took a little trip
Down the Stuart River in a mighty little ship
We lined upon the Stuart and the gun was fired at four
We didn't bring our paddles as the crowd began to roar
CHORUS
Paddle, paddle, paddle - canoe brigade's a comin'
Though there aren't quite as many
As there was the time before
Keep up your spirits, though your muscles are a'hummin'
Simon Fraser did it just a century ago
Oh the canyon loomed before us - the canoes were closin' in
From the way that they were paddling - everybody's set to win
The river's rough and treacherous - as fast as they could go
There's a hundred miles ahead of us - before we reach our goal
CHORUS
Ya, we raced down the river - and we came around the bend
And there were the waves - just-a standin' up on end
From the way that they are rolling - it looks kind of grim
If we don't take it easy - then we're headed for a swim
CHORUS
Ya, the water's white and foamy - you can hear the rapids roar
And there's a crowd of people - cheerin' all along the shore
We're breakin' though crystal waves - we'll have to make 'em straight
If we should make a blunder now - it's sure to mean our fate
CHORUS
Ya, the race is almost over, now, the finish line in sight
We've had a long, long journey and it's been a different flight
Many who gave up the task were taken to the shore
And they will not be here tonight to hear the vict'ry roar
CHORUS
