Media Advisory
Paddleboard Event Raises Funds for
Carolinian EcoTrail
June 20, 2013
June 20, 2013 – Ready, set, surf! 30 volunteers are making waves for nature during the first ever Lake Erie North Shore Standup – a 25 km standup paddleboarding event. Paddleboarding is a growing sport which combines surfing with canoeing. Participants, including Carolinian Canada staff, are paddling from Port Colborne to Fort Erie. They are taking on this challenge to support the development of the Erie Coastal Stewardship EcoTrail. The public can get involved in a variety of ways, whether as participants, or by sponsoring one of the paddlers, or joining the activities and celebrations on land on July 20. There will also be expert-led hikes to some of the EcoTrail Coastal Treasures that are rich with history and biodiversity.
From Essex to Niagara, the Erie Coastal Stewardship EcoTrail allows hikers, cyclists and paddlers to experience the ecological and cultural significance of Erie’s coast. The 600 km shore supports fragile habitats and array of rare species such as Fowlers Toad, Lake Chubsucker and Prickly Pear Cactus. As they travel this aquatic leg of the trail, participants will learn about Erie’s natural and cultural heritage.
The event is being organized by the North Shore Standup, with funds raised supporting Carolinian Canada. For those not hitting the water that day, the Bert Miller Nature Club will be running some free guided hikes of natural treasures along the same stretch of coast. It is generously sponsored by Grand River Kayak, Ausmosis Surf, RipZone International, Boggio Family Pharmacies, Entomogen, North Shore PaddleSurf, Fort Erie Underwater Recovery Unit, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Crystal Beach BIA, and Mountain Equipment Coop.
What:
The Lake Erie Northshore Standup is a challenging one-day, 25 km standup paddleboarding (SUP) event following the north shore of Lake Erie from Nickel Beach in Port Colborne to Crystal Beach in Fort Erie.
- Launch from Nickel Beach at the eastern edge of Port Colborne
- Back on land, interpretive nature hikes will be offered to the public by Bert Miller Nature Club
- Pledges to support the event or a specific paddler can be made by visiting:
http://caroliniancanada.ca/node/255 - Post-event Beach Party and Sponsor Displays at Crystal Beach
Who:
30 SUP participants including Carolinian Canada staff and board members. Friends, family and any others interested can take part in the nature hikes and after-party.
Where:
Starting location: Port Colborne
End point and beach party: Crystal Beach, Fort Erie
When:
Saturday, July 20th 2013
Paddleboard launch: Port Colborne, 8 a.m.
Rain Date: July 21st, 2013
Source:
Lake Erie North Shore Standup (www.northshorestandup.ca)
Carolinian Canada Coalition (www.carolinian.org)
Bert Miller Nature Club (www.bertmillernatureclub.org)
For More Information:
Media Contact:
Lake Erie North Shore Standup Event Contact:
Katherine Balpataky: Katherine@northshorestandup.ca
519-222-1178
www.northshorestandup.ca
Carolinian Canada Coalition:
Michelle Kanter
Executive Director info@carolinian.org
519-433-7077
www.carolinian.org
Bert Miller Nature Club Contact (incl. reserving a spot on the nature hikes)
Albert Garofalo
905-732-5084
info@bertmillernatureclub.org
About the Lake Erie North Shore Standup
The Lake Erie North Shore Standup is organized by a committee who believe in the vision of the Erie Coastal Stewardship EcoTrail, are passionate about standup paddleboarding or are motivated to bring people to Lake Erie to be part of the fun.
About Carolinian Canada Coalition
Since 1984, Carolinian Canada Coalition (CCC), now a registered charity, has been a leading ecoregional group in Canada. Stretching from Toronto to Windsor, the Carolinian Life Zone of southwestern Ontario is among North America's most vibrant and fragile ecoregions. CCC brings together diverse sectors, people and governments to collaboratively steward southwestern Ontario's unique habitat network, green infrastructure to support thriving wild and human communities in harmony for generations.
About the Bert Miller Nature Club
The Bert Miller Nature Club is a not for profit corporation holding charitable registration with the Canadian Revenue Agency. Our role is to preserve, protect and restore the natural environment and foster an understanding and awareness of the importance of natural resources for enhancing quality of life in the Niagara Peninsula. The club was formed in January of 1995 and is named after a well-known naturalist and resident of Fort Erie, Bert Miller.