The Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant was a canoe race started on May 24, 1967 in the Rocky Mountains by ten teams representing eight provinces and the two existing territories. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, the two remaining provinces were not entered. 3,283 miles (5,283 km) were paddled and portaged in 104 days by 100 men using six man shifts per team. They arrived in Montreal on September 4. Other privately sponsored canoes from across the country made similar trips.[1][2]
As of March 2012, it still holds the Guinness record for longest canoeing race in history.[3]
Beginnings
The Centennial Commission was started in 1963, with the mandate of organizing numerous projects
to promote the first Canadian Centennial.[4] Regional governments advertised for participants. Every man that officially completed the trip would receive $1000 (CDN$8,680 in 2023 dollars[5]). The winning team an additional $1,500 per man and $500 for 2nd/3rd. There were other contests along the route as well.[6]
The canoes
Twelve canoes were built for promotion and trials in 1966 by the Chestnut Canoe Company. The 10 canoes used the following year in the race were built by Moise Cadorette.[7]
