VCDS Canoe Race 2025
Registration Deadline Extended! Sign up by Friday 5 September at 1200 (noon).
VCDS Canoe Race for NDWCC 2025 – “Give a little, change a lot.”
Make a donation to your favourite team by searching for a Team to Sponsor.
Thursday, 11th September 2025
0900 hrs – 1300 hrs
HMCS Carleton Jetty at Dow's Lake, 79 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON, K0A 0K2
Grab your paddles and join the excitement as we mark the 25th annual VCDS Canoe Race!
This beloved tradition kicks off the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) in the National Capital Region. It’s always a high-energy event, bringing together enthusiastic participants and spirited spectators for a memorable start to the campaign season!
This year’s canoe race we are hoping to raise over $25,000.00 in celebration of the VCDS’ 25th anniversary of this event. It’s time to rally your teams and let the competition begin! Funds raised during this event will be split between Health Partners and United Way going to causes and programs that support people and families dealing with illnesses, medical research and programs that help build sustainable and stronger communities.
With around 30 teams joining the race each year, your support is key to helping us hit our fundraising target!
To reach our goal, each team is encouraged to raise at least $835.00.00. We invite all teams to go the extra mile by sharing their individual fundraising links with colleagues, friends, and family. Every contribution counts—because together, we can make a big impact.
Remember: “Give a little, change a lot!”
Who can participate?
Attention all DND L1s, OGDs and foreign attachés —your time to shine is here!
Gather a team of three paddlers and get ready to make a splash! Each DND L1 will be provided with a canoe, paddles, and life jackets for at least one team—available on a first-come, first-served basis. Prefer to use your own gear? That’s great too—just register and bring it along!
Other government departments and foreign attachés are also welcome to participate! These teams will need to bring their own canoe, paddles and PFDs as we cannot guarantee sufficient equipment.
To keep the event accessible and impactful, we’ve set a registration fee of $25 per participant and a minimum fundraising goal of $200 per team. Let’s come together, give back, and enjoy the excitement of race day!
Important: The online donation page will close at 1300 hrs on race day, so be sure to get your contributions in early. Every dollar raised counts toward your L1’s total—let’s paddle with purpose!
Or scan the QR code:
Registration Deadline Extended! Sign up by Friday 5 September at 1200 (noon).
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to show off your paddling skills and support a great cause!
*Please note that there are a limited number of canoes available to loan out. Each L1 is guaranteed one canoe with paddles and PFDs and these will go to the official representative team from each L1. We recommend additional teams bring their own canoes, PFDs and paddles, as the remaining canoes will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Map
VCDS Canoe Race Schedule
0900-1000: Registration opens
1000-1005: Teams assemble at HMCS Carleton waterfront for VCDS Opening Remarks
1005-1015: Paddler safety briefing by race organizers
1015-1030: Paddlers embark in their designated canoes and proceed to the start line
1030: Canoe Race starts from HMCS Carleton jetty
1100-1150: Central Band to play
1100-1130: Canoes expected to cross finish line
1130-1150: VIP guests, paddlers and spectators assemble in HMCS Carleton parade square for award ceremony and NDWCC Launch
1300: Event concludes
Parking
Please note that limited parking is available. Because of this, we strongly recommend carpooling with your team to help reduce the number of cars on site. No cars may park inside the fence of HMCS Carleton, but outside the fence parking may be used. The Navy Curling Club has also graciously allowed us to use their parking lot for the duration of the event. No parking is permitted in areas marked in red.
Be advised that DND and the Navy Curling Club are not responsible for any theft or damages that may occur in the parking lots.
Race Rules
- All L1’s will be provided with an opportunity to enter one team. This team will be provided with a canoe, paddles and Personal Floatation Devices. L1’s who do not enter a boat by the deadline will have their designated boat allocated to another L1.
- A limited number of additional canoes will be available on a first-come-first-served basis, so we encourage teams to use their own equipment
- Teams must be made up of one canoe with three persons aboard.
- All team members will wear a certified Personal Floatation Device at all times during the race.
- Only canoe paddles are authorized for use (no kayak paddles).
- No motorized propulsion devices are authorized for use (no matter what the design).
- In order to participate, your team must raise a minimum of $100 in donations, and each participant personally register through the online portal.
- Race participation is open to GoC public servants, Canadian Armed Forces members and foreign attachés with the approval of their chain of command.
Awards
- First Place Canoe - Claim victory and bask in the glory of being the fastest team!
- Best Decorated Team (including costumes) - Let your creativity shine and leave everyone in awe with your dazzling appearance!
- Most Funds Raised Team - Show your fundraising prowess and secure this prestigious title by going above and beyond.
- Best Foreign Attaché Team - Let's celebrate diversity and recognize the outstanding participation of other our international allies
- Best OGD Team: Coming together for a great cause! Celebrating the participation of other Canadian Government departments
- Most Determined Team – No matter your skill level, join the race, have fun, raise funds, and celebrate crossing the finish line!
Race Results
Winning Teams
| Finishing Position | Canoe # | Grp/Level 1 | Team Name | Team Members | Finishing Time | Funds Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | VCDS | Verdun Canoe Club | LCol Cedric Bowes-Lyon Maj Derric Bowes-Lyon Sgt Darrel Bowes-Lyon |
37’ 37” | $5,410.00 |
| 2 | 12 | VCDS | C Prog 1 | BGen Marc O’Ray LCol Michael Timms Maj Jamie Ellis |
38’ 46” | $464.40 |
| 3 | 9 | VCDS | CFD Capability Paddlers | Col Marie-Eve Begin Col Shawn Thompson Maj Nicolas Laroche |
39’ 18” | $420.00 |
| 4 | 32 | ADM(Mat) | The MPD(Sea) Eh-Team | Cdr Vic Armes Cdr Emil Schreiner Bashir Ibrahim |
39’ 59” | $1,465.00 |
| 5 | 35 | MPC | Thwarted Effort (DHH/DHP) |
Maj Cheryl Giberson MWO Guillaume Poulin Sgt William MacDougall |
40’ 38” | $210.00 |
| 6 | 22 | ADM(Mat) | Ninja Turtles | Sara Cruz Michael Henri Danny Richard-Maurice |
41’ 30” | $251.00 |
| 7 | 30 | SOFCOM | The Dow-minators | MS Samuel Proulx Cpl Garrett Tremblay Pte Olivier Pellerin |
44’ 18” | $200.00 |
| 8 | 24 | ADM(Mat) | NSN Paddlers | Derek Church Luc Sabourin Marek Wisniewski |
45’ 03” | $325.00 |
| 9 | 27 | ADM(Mat) | Smiles and Waves | Billy Francis Dapo Oyenubi Sqn Ldr Simon Ward |
45’ 12 ” | $470.00 |
| 10 | 18 | Ombudsman | Mario Bros | Mario Baril Olivia Crook-Simiana Philip Janelle |
45’ 49” | $470.00 |
| 11 | 26 | RCN | Royal Canadian Navy | Capt(N) Nathan Decicco Cdr Jennifer Kliem LCdr Robert Freistadt |
46’ 32” | $0.00 |
| 12 | 7 | CA | CA G10 | LCol Cullen Downey Christena Morrell Maj Holly Temple |
46’ 56” | $3,200.50 |
| 13 | 5 | ADM(IE) | Oarsome Together 3 | Adam Kurz Janet Osborne Joanna Glowacki |
49’ 15” | $340.00 |
| 14 | 19 | CPCC | Moral Compass | BGen Marc Parent Col Orin Wing Robin Ambrose |
49’ 35” | $415.00 |
| 15 | 21 | VCDS | Nautical Disaster | LCol Andrew Willis MWO Joshua Wintonyk Luc Fournier |
49’ 51” | $265.00 |
| 16 | 2 | VCDS | Aces of the Base | Col Jeff Toope CWO Zac Norman Ashley Fletcher-Kyle |
50’ 00” | $300.00 |
| 17 | 15 | ADM(Mat) | Ergonomates | Jack Boston Saiful Huq Janick Rice |
50’ 42” | $2,590.00 |
| 18 | 14 | ADM(Mat) | Directorate of Greatly Motivated Paddling Dudes | Maj Adam Lyle Maj Stephen Prior Maj Ryan Wilson |
51’ 45” | $1,310.01 |
| 19 | 3 | ADM(IE) | Oarsome Together | Maj Nicolas Claveau Charles Godin Vanessa Marsden |
51’ 54” | $315.00 |
| 20 | 4 | ADM(IE) | Oarsome Together 2 | Pte Keith Cameron Mitchell Lowe Leah Reinberger |
52’ 45” | $770.00 |
| 21 | 8 | MPC | CanoeFMWS | Justin Hazelwood Amanda Myers Brody Yantha |
52’ 52” | $255.00 |
| 22 | 16 | ADM(HR-Civ) | Canada Proud | Jennifer Bawden Ehren Edwards Dominic Gonthier |
52’ 59” | $800.00 |
| 23 | 23 | ADM(Mat) | Noah’s Ark | CWO Dany Forbes WO Junior Trudel Sandra Lafond-Côté |
53’ 23” | $660.00 |
| 24 | 29 | DMO | DM-Overboard Team Beck |
George Al-Aaraj Lindsay MacDonald Elizabeth Millaire |
54’ 09” | 225.00 |
| 25 | 13 | ADM(Mat) | DESPeration | Daniel Ray Jim Gregoire Tristan Anderson |
55’ 30” | $250.00 |
| 26 | 1 | ADM(DS) | 7 Comm HQ | Capt David Harquail Capt Ken Wardroper Lt Storm Silvawalker |
57’ 59” | $282.34 |
| 27 | 31 | CFLA | The Liti-Gators | Lori Brenning Yasmin Gonzalez Vale Keara Twomey |
58’ 11” | $570.00 |
| 28 | 25 | ADM(RS) | Row and Review | Jason Giddings Samuel Howard XXX |
59’ 16” | $45.00 |
| 29 | 34 | RCN | This ship is B-A-N-A-N-A-S |
LCol Kristen Mathisen Capt Katharine Quint Tanya Morin |
59’ 32” | $1,280.00 |
| 30 | 20 | VCDS | MP Machines | Maj Christine Cope Capt Karolanne Fortier WO Mathieu Dupont |
60’ 06” | $865.00 |
| 31 | 28 | DM SMSRC | SMSRC Paddlers | Charlotte Clarke Samantha Coles Kate Lord |
61’ 57” | $725.00 |
| 32 | 6 | ADM(PA) | ADMPAddlers | Elizabeth McKelvey Madison Russett Katie Williams |
64’ 21” | $195.00 |
| 33 | 33 | ADM(Mat) | The Royal Canoe Command | Col Thinh Nguyen Capt Michael Sitkowski MWO Mathieu Gaboriault |
66’ 27” | $330.00 |
| 34 | 11 | CJOC | CJOC Sunken Ship | Cmdre Matthew Coates CWO Timothy Saunders S1 Lorraine Cleroux |
68’ 31” | $870.00 |
| 35 | 10 | CJOC | CJOC HQ #1 | LCol Ian MacLellan Avr Jenna Bridgen XXX |
DNF | $285.00 |
| 36 | 17 | Corp Sec | Hydro Hustlers | Maryse Allain Tomas O’Shaughnessy Mohamad Yatim |
DNF | $270.00 |
Trophy Winning
Winning Teams
- 1st place – Team #36 – Verdun Canoe Club – VCDS – 37’ 37”
LCol Cedric Bowes-Lyon, Maj Derric Bowes-Lyon and Sgt Darrel Bowes-Lyon
- 2nd place – Team #12 – C Prog 1 – VCDS – 38’ 46”
Maj Jamie Ellis, BGen Marc O’Ray and LCol Michael Timms
- 3rd place – Team #9 – CFD Capability Paddlers – VCDS – 39’ 18”
Col Marie-Eve Begin, Col Shawn Thompson and Maj Nicolas Laroche
Best Decorated Team
- 1st place – Team #34 – This Ship Is B-A-N-A-N-A-S – RCN
Tanya Morin, Katharine Quint and Kristen Mathisen
- 2nd place – Team #18 – Mario Bros – Ombudsman
Mario Baril, Olivia Crook-Simiana and Philip Janelle
- 3rd place – Team #22 – Ninja Turtles – ADM(Mat)
Sara Cruz, Michael Henri and Danny Richard-Maurice
Most Determined Team
- Team #11 – CJOC Sunken Ship – CJOC – 68’ 31”
Cmdre Matthew Coates, CWO Timothy Saunders and S1 Lorraine Cleroux
Most Funds Raised
- 1st place – Team #36 – Verdun Canoe Club – VCDS – $5,210.00
LCol Cedric Bowes-Lyon, Maj Derric Bowes-Lyon and Sgt Darrel Bowes-Lyon
- 2nd place – Team #7 – CA G10 – CA – $3,150.56L
Col Cullen Downey, Christena Morrell and Maj Holly Temple
- 3rd place – Team #15 – Ergonomates – ADM(Mat) – $2,590.00
Jack Boston, Saiful Huq and Janick Rice
This year, we crushed our goal and teams collectively raised over $29,000.00 for the NDWCC!
A big THANK YOU the folks at HMCS Carleton for their support with safety boat, the Central Band for the jovial atmosphere, as well as representatives from GCWCC, United Way, Centraide and HealthPartners for joining us for our Campaign kick-off after the Canoe Race.