Paddle the Don was founded on the core principles of protecting, regenerating, and enhancing the Don River watershed. These principles have guided much of the work that Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and countless other organizations and individuals have undertaken over the years. Although we have seen great improvements in the Don, we need your help to continue to protect and conserve this valuable resource.

Developing opportunities for people to experience, engage in, and help enhance the Don River watershed is one of the most important aspects of ensuring its sustainable protection and conservation.

Your support helps Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) conserve the natural system in the Toronto Region and provide opportunities to educate and engage the public on the importance of protecting the Don River.

There are two registration options for Manulife Paddle the Don, the Public Paddler Registration, and the Manulife Corporate Challenge. More information on both options is included below:

• Public Paddler Registration
• Manulife Corporate Challenge Registration

Cost to Register: $100 per boat (Canoe or Kayak)

With the goal of allowing people to experience, engage in, and help enhance the Don River watershed, Paddle the Don will include a $100 registration fee per boat. 

Registration includes:

• Two lunches for paddlers (Provided at the Manulife Landing Party)
• Two Manulife Paddle the Don Gifts for the paddlers

In keeping with the CRA's regulations, as registrants receive a value in return for their registration fee (participation in the event itself, lunch and certain giveaways), a tax receipt will not be issued.  More information is available in our FAQ section of the website.

Participants are encouraged to fundraise above and beyond their registration fee.  The participant that raises the most above the registration fee is declared the winner!

The top fundraisers will receive:

• A fabulous prize - to be announced at later date.
• Recognition at the Manulife Landing Party.
• Recognition on our website following the event.
• Invitation to attend and be recognized at a Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) board meeting

The Manulife Corporate Canoe Challenge offers a fun and truly unique team building opportunity for companies to participate in. Simply form a team of your co-workers, business associates, suppliers or clients and join the Corporate Challenge along with some of Canada’s largest corporations. Take the lead and show others that your company is helping to make a difference in the health of the Don River! 

Corporate Canoe Challenge teams will begin launching at 10 a.m. from Ernest Thompson Seton Park. All paddlers must arrive by 9:15 a.m. to sign-in and have their team photo taken. Show your team spirit by wearing your company colours or flying your corporate flag!

Entry Fee: $1,200

A minimum donation of $1,200 allows your company to enter one team consisting of TWO canoes into the challenge.  Companies may enter additional teams if there is lots of interest in participating.

Your corporate team will receive:

• TWO canoes* plus paddling and safety gear.
• Lunch for all corporate paddlers.
• Keepsake hat for all corporate paddlers.
• Team photo.
• A dedicated online team fundraising page to collect donations.

* Three adults maximum are permitted in each canoe.

Your company will receive:

• Recognition on the Manulife Paddle the Don website.
• Recognition on the day of the event on signage at the launch site and Manulife Take-out Party.
• Recognition in media kits.

Entering the Corporate Challenge is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Recruit your team members.
2. Register your team and obtain access to your team fundraising page.
3. Fundraise and win!

Winning the Challenge & Awards

Teams are encouraged to fundraise beyond their minimum corporate donation. Winning is simple:  the team** that raises the most above the sponsorship fee of $4,000 (segment) or $1,200 (team) is declared the winner!
** Teams from the same corporation will be competing against each other.

First place team receives:

• The Grand Prize – to be announced at a later date.
• Manulife Corporate Paddle as a permanent keepsake.
• Recognition at the Manulife Landing Party.
• Recognition on our website following the event.
• Invitation to attend and be recognized at a Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) board meeting

Second and third place teams will receive:

• Prize - to be announced at a later date.
• Recognition at the Manulife Landing Party.
• Invitation to attend and be recognized at a Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) board meeting in June.

Join us on May 6, 2018 to celebrate Manulife Paddle the Don at the Manulife Landing Party at Corktown Common!

Whether you are a paddler or cheering on friends and family in the event; come down to enjoy live music, refreshments, and other great activities!

Lunch is available and will feature a variety of hearty and exciting options to choose from. For those 19 and over, our partners will offer a great selection of beer for participants to purchase. Don’t forget to bring your ID.

Transportation will be provided between ET Seton Park (the start of the paddle) and the Take-out at Corktown Common (155 Bayview Ave). Shuttles will run in a loop between these two locations all day.

We look forward to celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Paddle the Don with you at the Manulife Landing Party this year!

• Launch Site: Ernest Thompson Seton Park, Toronto
• Landing Party Site: Corktown Common (155 Bayview Ave)

Launch Site:
Ernest Thompson Seton Park, Toronto

Access Ernest Thompson Seton Park via the entrance to Wilket Creek Park and Sunnybrook Park on the west side of Leslie St., just north of Eglinton Ave.  Follow the signs to the event.

Parking:
There is limited parking at the main launch lot.  Overflow parking lots will be used and a shuttle bus will run throughout the day to bring paddlers from their vehicles to the main launch site parking lot.  Paddlers are asked to wait for the bus by the event signs which will be located at the top of each of the overflow parking lots.

Public Transit:
Take Route 34C Eglinton East (links to both the Yonge-University-Spadina (vis Eglinton Station) and Bloor-Danforth subway line (via Kennedy Station)), Route 54 & 54A Lawrence East (links to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line (via Eglinton Station)) or Route 51 Leslie (links to the Yonge-University-Spadina (via Eglinton Station) and Sheppard subway lines (via Leslie Station)).  Exit bus at the Leslie St. and Eglinton Ave. East stop and walk down the stairs on the south side of Eglinton to the launch site.

Please note: Subway service on Sundays begins at 9:00 am.  Buses will be boarded outside the station before that time.

Landing Party Site:
Corktown Common (155 Bayview Ave)

The Landing Party is located within the park which is on the east side of Bayview Ave.

Public Transit:
Take Route 514 Cherry (Dufferin Gate-Distillery via King) which operates between Dufferin Gate Loop and Distillery Loop and serves the St. Andrew and King stations on Line 1 Yonge-University. Exit the street car at Cherry Street at Front Street East.  Walk east on Front Street East for approximately 6 minutes (500 m).  

Parking:
There is limited on-street metered parking available.

Picking up your canoe/kayak after the event:
Bayview Ave will be closed from Mill Street to Front Street.  For information and directions on how to retrieve your canoe or kayak after the event, please see the following detailed map.  In addition, maps will be available at the registration tent.

*Note about DVP Closure: At this time there are no plans to close the DVP on the day of our event. We will be checking in regularly with the City of Toronto in case this changes.

The Living City Foundation

The mission of The Living City Foundation is to raise funds for the initiatives undertaken by Toronto and region Conservation (TRCA), especially for The Living City program. The foundation was established in 1961 and since that time, it has raised almost $40million for conservation work in the Greater Toronto Area. For more information, please visit: http://www.thelivingcity.org/about/

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)

With over 50 years of experience, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) helps people understand, enjoy and look-after the natural environment. Our vision is for The Living City® -a cleaner, greener and healthier place to live, for you today and for your children tomorrow, where human settlement can flourish forever as part of nature’s beauty and diversity. For more information, call 416-661-6600 or visit us at https://trca.ca/

Contact Us

Need more information?
Email us at paddlethedon@trca.on.ca or call the Manulife Paddle the Don hotline at 416-661-6600, extension 5397 and leave a recorded message.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Oakley
Toronto and Region Conservation
Tel: 416-661-6600 ext 5632 / Mobile: 416-358-3446 / E-mail: media@trca.on.ca

The Living City Foundation
5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, ON M3N 1S4, Canada
http://thelivingcity.org/

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario, M3N 1S4, Canada.
Tel: (416) 661-6600, ext. 5397
Fax: (416) 667-6278
Email: paddlethedon@trca.on.ca
https://trca.ca/