Billets needed for female

By Joanne Oostveen - The Weekly News
About 40 female athletes and their coaches will need a place to stay when they come to Dartmouth to take part in a canoe development camp this summer.
The women range in ages from 15 to 40 and come from 14 different countries. They will be taking part in the first ever international women's canoe development camp and will need a bed, breakfast and dinner for about two weeks.
"We need people to come forward by the beginning of March," said Elaine Keene, who is chair of the Women's Canoe Development Camp and Exhibition. "You don't have to transport these women anywhere, we are taking care of that. The dates that we need these women to be billeted are Aug. 5 to 17."
Keene said the response to the camps has been overwhelming, which is why they are taking the step of asking the public to help out.
Last year, a meeting was held at the Pan American Canoe Championships in Montreal to determine how canoeing for women could be promoted on a more world-wide level. At that time it was decided that development camps should be held to introduce the sport to women in countries that are not familiar with canoeing, and to help others fine-tune their skills.
"Frank Garner, who is chairman of the Canoe Sprint Committee of the International Canoe Federation and the general manager of Canoe 09, which is being held at Lake Banook, took the request back to the ICF," said Keene.
That request became a reality and it was agreed that a camp would be held in Dartmouth in conjunction with Canoe Kayak Canada and the World's.
The word was put out to all canoe federations worldwide for women to attend this camp, which will be held at the Orenda Canoe Club in Lake Echo.
"The great thing is that these women will all be expected to race in some exhibition races at Lake Banook that will be interspersed throughout the World Canoe Championship competitions," said Keene. "Canada is a world leader in canoeing and this is just one more way that we are moving toward inclusion of women's canoeing at a world level."
Women have been competing at the Pan American Canoe Championships since 2001, but 2009 will mark the first year that women's canoe will be a full medal event.
joanneoostveen@accesswave.ca
For more information on how to become a billet contact Elaine Keene ekeene@canoe09.ca. Also, Canoe '09 requires up to 800 volunteers. The recruitment process is open and is available at www.canoe09.ca