Towards the end of the winter, Fitness Corner, Southampton sponsored a competition.  The front of the gym would win a free paddling excursion from Bernie’s Boat.

Although it was touch and go for a while, the mound finally melted, and Sue Rutledge was declared the winner of the draw section. We sure had fun paddling with her. We hope she made great memories and enjoyed her photo souvenir!

And thanks to Holly and Frank Vanderzwet for donating $1000 to Bernie’s Boat.

Once again, Bernie’s Boat donated to Hoops for Heart, sponsored by the Olivia Rourke Foundation. This year, we offered a Silent Auction item to the event.

In August, the Silent Auction winners joined us for a morning of fun with Bernie’s Boat. The 2 winners, along with breast cancer survivor and Olivia’s mom, Jenn Rourke, experienced how much fun we have in our boat! After a dryland lesson, they spent the morning paddling, then received Bernie’s Boat hoodies and a photo from our Team photographer, Jane Ann Smith.

Proceeds from the Silent Auction were donated to the Oncology Unit at Brightshores Health, Owen Sound.

In 2026, the Martin family donated a utility trailer to Bernie’s Boat for its use as a Clubhouse.

In May, the Men’s Shed offered to retrofit our new trailer with shelves for paddles and gear, and hanging rods for our PFDs. Thanks so much to the Martins and the Men’s Shed!!!

Bernie’s Boat is thankful to be part of such a caring community!

Saugeen Shores hosted its 46^th Terry Fox Run on September 20^h, and Bernie’s Boat showed up in force along with over a hundred community members.

Forming an honour guard at the start of the event, Bernie’s Boat members high-fived all the participants as they headed out on the course, then followed behind to walk 5k.

A beautiful day and a great end to a busy weekend! Bernie’s Boat raised $3350 for cancer research!

Awesome contribution!!

Our second venture into the dragon boating festival world took place on September 19, 2026. 27 members of Bernie’s Boat participated in the Stratford Rotary Dragon Boat Festival.

It was once again a fun day of competition and camaraderie, and an incredible display of GUTS!!  We participated in three 500m races and the 100m final,  as well as the always powerful flower ceremony one, which recognizes not only breast cancer survivors but those who have succumbed to the disease as well.

We really stepped up our performances this year, shaving 6 seconds off our 2025 500m time, qualifying for the 100m final and finishing 3^rd overall in the 500m final, 2 tenths out of 2^nd, and 4^th in the 100m final, with 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place all finishing within 2/10ths of a second of one another.

Our dragon needed a longer snout!!

As a thank you to the Cham-bettes, Southampton Rotary, Thorncrest Outfitters and Bruce County Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Centre, Bernie’s Boat invited folks to paddle with us.

Lots of fun was had. Most importantly, guests could see firsthand how powerful Bernie’s Boat is, bringing physical and emotional support to breast cancer survivors in Bruce and Grey counties. Current studies prove that there is a 38-50% reduction in mortality for breast cancer survivors and a 16% reduction in breast cancer recurrence among those who participate in strenuous exercise 2-3 times per week.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, please reach out to us at info@berniesboat.ca.

Bernie’s Boat was thrilled to be invited once again to be part of Southampton’s Annual Marine Heritage Water Festival on July 25th.

Our Dragon boat, Pearl, was pulled from the water, scrubbed from bow to stern, and put on display for all to see at Southampton Harbour. Team members greeted festival-goers and shared information about Bernie’s Boat, our mission, and our activities.

Then, just before the start of the cardboard boat races, we did a paddle-by on the lake for all to see. The Marine Heritage Water Festival is a wonderful event bringing thousands of people to Southampton, and we were thrilled to be part of it again in 2026.

Bernie’s Boat coaching and steer staff grew this year to include new steers Kim Hebden and Holly Galloway, along with returning Head Steers Kelly Johnson and Linda Mason.

New coaching staff members include Dragon Boat Canada (DBC) Level 1 certified coaches Heather Willmes and Beverly Carlisle. Geordie Farrell returned as Head Coach with DBC Level 2 certification.

On June 23^rd, all members of Bernie’s Boat staff spent the entire day on the Saugeen River practising steering under the guidance of DBC Steer Instructor Ann Arndt.

June 17^th was once again a special day for Bernie’s Boat as we celebrated our 2^nd Annual Flower Ceremony.

Elder Shirley John from Saugeen First Nation brought greetings with a song and prayer.  We were so thankful to once again have so many from the Brightshores Oncology Department present to share the event with us, including Drs. Aboo and Thomson, Nurse Practitioner Jenna Sutcliffe, Head Nurse Crystal Hall and members of the oncology nursing staff.

Flowers on the Water Ceremony is a sacred tradition, practised worldwide to honour those who have lost their lives to cancer, inspire hope in those undergoing treatment, and celebrate the strength and resilience of breast cancer survivors.

Our official volunteer year kicked off at the Rotary Huron Shore Run on June 6^th.

This year we expanded our area of responsibility. We took care of the set up and take down of all equipment at the start/finish area, assisted runners with pre-race information, then provided mobile first aiders on the course along with support, medal distribution, nutrition and full medical aid at the finish line. It was a busy morning!

The RHSR is a fundraiser for the local Southampton branch of the Brightshores Health System.

Bernie’s Boat was thankful to also receive a $3000 donation from the local rotaries as a thank-you gesture for our help.

This year, several members of Bernie’s Boat helped Southampton Rotary with garden cleanup at Perkins Park. Under the direction of BB team member Kelly Johnson and Butterfly Way director Nancie Darlington-Smith, we dug, raked, snipped and planted…helping the Rotarians make the park beautiful for the summer season.