06/05/2026
Last night the Kootenay Robusters had our Pink Carnation Ceremony at Christina Lake 🌸
Tossing a pink or fuschsia-coloured flower in the water at the end of a breast cancer race is a tradition. It is a tradition that partially evolved from a thoughtful gesture by one of the Originals back in 1996, the first year ofbreast cancer dragon boat racing.
As she was getting ready for her team’s first official race, Brenda Hochachka noticed her floribunda rose bush in
full bloom. The colour was so similar to the fuchsia-coloured t-shirts the team was wearing that she picked 24 of them and brought them to the festival. The women were delighted and following the example of one of
the paddlers, tucked the flower into their headband during the race. These were the first blooms carried by a breast cancer crew.
The following year Abreast In A Boat increased to three crews and participated in the world’s first breast cancer race in Vancouver. Dorothy Cichecki, a novice paddler, was unable to participate due to treatment for
a recurrence of breast cancer but she was certainly on the boat in spirit.
Jeanne Stiles, on of her crew mates, arranged for Dorothy’s headband to be tied to the dragon boat and for each crew member to carry a pink
carnation as a token of her hopes and prayers for Dorothy’s recovery. In an impromptu move at the end of the race, instead of the pre-arranged paddle salute, the crew tossed their carnations in to the water.
These were the first flowers that were tossed after a breast cancer race. By 1998 breast cancer dragon boating was expanding across North America and survivor races were held at both the Vancouver and Toronto festivals.
At both venues, paddlers on the participating crews linked boats and tossed flowers in the water after the final breast cancer race. These were the first officially organized flower ceremonies.
Since then there has been a flower ceremony after every breast cancer final race.
This has now become a tradition that in our paddling season as the Kootenay Robusters, we pause to remember those who have lost their battle with Breast Cancer, those who are presently fighting to restore their good health and to renew our commitment to our Mission to experience, physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellness at a level that is comfortable and personally challenging. Through the Dragon Boat experience it is our aim to raise awareness of Breast Cancer and the uplifting truth that there is life after breast cancer.
By coming together we able to share our emotional support for each other. The pink carnations, represent those who have experience breast cancer,
particularly those who have succumbed to this disease. As the flowers spread upon the surface of the water, we reflect on how these lives and loved ones have touched us, how we have bonded together to combat breast cancer (but unfortunately like most teams, members have had to
combat all kinds of different cancers) and help those survivors live active,
rewarding lives. We also honour all those who are no longer with us: teammates, friends, strangers, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nieces, sisters and partners.
We pause for a moment of silence to remember past Kootenay
Robusters:
Pat Augustin
Phyllis Weldon
Wanda Mears
Lora Burke
Mary Jane Cadman
Maria Morris
Janet Merry
Mavis Chato
Amy Fehr
Kay Read
Lisa Market
Maxine Dewdney
Sharon Griffiths
Judy Peck
Dr. Trudi Toews
Arlene McGillivray
Margaret Arlene Almanza Deborah Barlow
Pat (Birdie) Tjader
Gail Ross
Kathryn Tremblay
Connie Miller
Lynn Yeske,
Peggy Phillips
Sally Chilcott
Kathy Hanson
Patricia Logan.
We Remember You
We are still at these times, to pray and to think
We release to these water, carnation of pink
They grew from the earth, now on water they float
We remember you often, as paddle our boat.
Breast cancer defies all logic, all reason
Except that to everything, there is a season
To Mother, to daughter, to partner, to niece
Your spirits are with us, you are resting in peace.
