Employees Race for the Premier's Cup

Nova Scotia government employees will be paddling, racing and raising money for amateur sport at this year's Aliant Halifax Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, July 12. Almost 175 staff make up the teams that will race for the first Premier's Cup.

With almost 90 teams participating, this event will see 2,000 paddlers at Lake Banook, making it one of the biggest sporting events in Atlantic Canada. Teams of 22 people paddle a 1,500- pound wooden boat, 200 metres to the finish line.

"At the Office of Health Promotion we encourage Nova Scotians to lead healthier lives and we recognizing the importance of physical activity to health," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "This is an excellent opportunity to lead by example and for government to support its active employees as they support our province's athletes."

All proceeds from the Aliant Halifax Dragon Boat Festival benefit the Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund. The fund was created to help increase participation in sport by supporting amateur athletes, coaches, officials and community-based programs throughout Nova Scotia.

The funds raised allow the Sport Fund to contribute to a quality sport system in Nova Scotia. To date the Aliant Halifax Dragon Boat Festival has raised more than $430,000 for the fund.

The festival is held at Lake Banook in Dartmouth. The opening ceremonies are at 10:30 a.m and the closing ceremonies are at 6 p.m. The Premier's Cup race is at 10:40 a.m.