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| 2007 Dragon Boat Festival - Salute to the City of Orillia and to the Staff at HRC I paddle for Heart & Stroke Dragon Hearts, Dragon Boat Team. With the strong assistance of our team captain, Mary Won, have organized a team to paddle at the Orillia Dragon Boat Festival 2007 in a special ‘Mayor’s Challenge Cup Race’, in recognition of the excellent care that HRC has provided to many over the years. Through Mary’s efforts we had some of Canada’s World Class paddlers committed to race, however they cannot make the 2007 Orillia Dragon Boat Festival as they are rowing in the Australia World Competition and do not return back to Canada until October 2, 2007. Mary, our team captain has gathered enough team members from her team and some other teams in Toronto to row in Orillia 2007 festival for this Challenger Cup Race. Our coach, Joe Dizon, will be giving our team a couple of training sessions prior to the race if possible. Joe will also be heading off to Australia races. Joe has coached a team of developmentally disabled and said it was a very rewarding experience to work with these individuals. Although our team will consist of members from various teams, we are hoping to pull it together, and win the race for HRC staff and the City of Orillia. Our main goal, is to let the staff and the City know, that we are all very grateful for the excellence in care and support of our loved ones, and that we will never forget the wonders and dedication they have provided over the years. The families of the residence and our team would like to do a special dedication to the City of Orillia and to all the staff at HRC, so that no one forgets the excellence in service and care that this City has brought to our most vulnerable citizens and use this race to do so. We will arrange for a ceremony in which we will throw ‘Forget-Me-Not’ flowers onto the lake in memory to all those who cared so dearly for the residents and to continue to bring awareness to the community of the developmentally disabled. Our team racing for this cause will be the “HRC –Forget Us Not Dragon Hearts”. Our families and staff are going through very difficult times in the closure of the HRC facility, and this race can lift the spirits of all. The City of Orillia, and especially all the staff that worked at HRC, has provided our loved ones with the best of care. Our families want to pay tribute to all of the staff and Orillia for that care. The Community Foundation of Orillia & Area, has designated this race to HRC staff. This race will be done each year, in memory and thanks to all the staff that made our relatives life the best it can be. This race will have a Plaque in the name of the HRC Staff - Centre of Excellence. Each year the winner of this race will have their team name placed on the Plaque. We will throw ‘Forget-Me-Not’ ( Purple Carnations) flowers onto the lake in memory to all those who cared so dearly for the residents and to continue to bring awareness to the community of the developmentally disabled. The organizer, Keith Bell , Executive Director, The Community Foundation of Orillia & Area has been extremely helpful in making this dream become a reality. A lot of thanks for his hard work in making this happen is due. I am looking forward to the 2008 Orillia dragon boat festival, I have a commitment from some of Canada’s World Class paddlers to join the team and help promote community support for the developmentally disabled and in support of a plan build and improve the supports in the Simcoe North Region. Sandra Macpherson |
| Families and Staff - come out to the Orillia Dragon Boat Festival - Saturday September 29, Lets make this event a demonstration of the excellence at HRC. HRC Challenger Cup Race - Salutes City of Orillia and HRC Staff 1:30 pm Come on Out in time to throw flowers onto the waters prior to the race to always remember the excellence the staff and the City of Orillia gave to our most vulnerable citizens Couchiching Beach Park at the bottom of Mississauga Street entrance - walk north to the race start The families of the residents have built a large card to the Staff to thank them for their dedication and continued service to our relatives. Drop by and sign the card, post your picture or note to the staff. This event will be broadcasted on Jack FM, tune in if you cannot be present at the races!! |
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