Author: Graeme Galves

The purpose of the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award is to recognize volunteers who have made significant and exemplary contributions to the Outrigger Canoe Racing Discipline of Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (“CORA”) within Canada in the Builder Category.

The CORA Board has approved Policy and Procedure relating to selection and awarding and administering the Award as per the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award Policy.

The Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award is awarded after the CORA AGM. The CORA Board has reviewed nominations received for the past season and has recognized Jan Chavarie of Jericho Paddling Club as the 2022 recipient of the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award.

Jan Chavarie has a 20+ year legacy of selfless volunteer effort to paddlesports in general and outrigger canoe racing in particular. She has made contributions to support Canadian paddlers at the international, national, provincial, and club level. Jan and web designer / developer Colleen McCarthy collaborated to build the Jericho Paddling Club (JPC) website as well as the 1st and 2nd generations of the CORA website. She has been part of the Jericho Paddling Club that has hosted the popular PNWORCA Jericho Small-Boat Racing Winter Series event and Jericho Classic Iron, as well as volunteered to assist with the Jericho Oceanman and the JSCA Wavechaser Paddle Series for many years. She has served continuously since circa 2000 on both the Jericho Executive and the CORA Board including a 2-year stint as CORA Chairman (2005-2006).

CORA wishes to extend a round of appreciation to Bob Stewart (Mr. Aloha) for sharing personal insights as Guest Speaker on behalf of Jan Chavarie at the 2022 CORA AGM.

CORA hopes to have a Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award photo-op on February 4, 2023 at Jericho Sailing Centre as part of the 2023 PNWORCA Winter Series Event #2. Please join us for the presentation to Jan Chavarie (2022 Recipient) with the English Bay backdrop in the distance.

For more information about the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award, CLICK HERE

CORA is looking for ambitious members to serve as CORA Directors. The CORA Board of Directors may have a maximum of 15 directors, and we have 10 directors expected to continue in 2023. If you are passionate about outrigger canoeing and would like to volunteer your time and knowledge to the growth of outrigger canoeing in your community and across the country, consider stepping forth for nomination as a director.   Please have a CORA member nominate you via the nomination form linked below.

Director nomination forms must be submitted to CORA no later than Friday, November 18, 2022. We will contact the nominated individual to confirm acceptance of the nomination.

CORA is seeking to increase representation from Eastern Canada and Alberta, as well as all regions of British Columbia, so if you reside in Ontario, Quebec or Alberta, please consider serving as a director.

CORA’s Directors meet via Zoom on the evening of the first Wednesday of every month. The meeting time can be set to accommodate schedules. Directors are asked to serve terms of 3 years, but may resign at any time. The Board of Directors has various Committees with which new Board members can become involved, including those relating to racing, insurance matters, Off-the-Water video conference series, International Va’a Federation (sprint and distance), CORA awards, CORA grants, Canadian outrigger history and public relations. Directors volunteer for CORA’s Officer positions and Committees at the first Board meeting following the AGM.

In addition, CORA members at-large may volunteer to serve on CORA Committees without being a director. If you would like to volunteer for a Committee, please contact us at the link below.

If you would like to nominate a CORA member or step forth yourself as a director nominee, please complete or have your nominator complete and submit the on-line CORA Director Nomination Form or do so at the on-line CORA AGM on Sunday, November 20, 2022. Prospective nominees nominated at the AGM must be in attendance to accept the nomination.

Questions? Contact CORA via the Contact CORA page