Power of the Dragon

🐉💜 DRAGON SISTER SPOTLIGHT: GOLDIE GUTBERG 💜🐉

Some people join a dragon boat team to get fit. Others join for competition.

Goldie joined because a friend saw that she needed a lifeline.

More than 25 years ago, while caring for her mother during the final stages of cancer, Goldie was emotionally exhausted. One of Power of the Dragon's original members, the late Esther Shears, kept encouraging her to join the team.

At first, Goldie resisted.

But Esther wouldn't give up.

"She said, 'Join the boat. You need to do something for yourself. You need a little break for yourself. Otherwise, you can't do anything for anybody.'"

Esther was right.

For one hour each week, Goldie was able to set aside the worry, the sadness, and the responsibilities. She laughed. She smiled. She had fun.

And when she returned home, she brought that energy back with her.

"Actually, my mother needed that too."

Since 1998, Power of the Dragon has been much more than a team to Goldie. It has become family.

When the boat is moving perfectly together, she describes the feeling simply:

"I feel like I'm flying."

One thing that almost kept her from joining?

She couldn't swim.

In fact, she still can't.

But she quickly learned that dragon boating is safe and that she is never alone.

"You're with 19 other ladies who are right there whenever you need anything."

Ask Goldie what makes Power of the Dragon special and she'll tell you it's not about the paddling.

It's about the people.

"You have a family with you. Nineteen ladies who will not judge, who will be there whenever you need them, without question."

The energy in the boat?

✨ Exuberant.

✨ Laughing.

✨ Having fun.

Away from dragon boating, Goldie has lived a remarkable life. She was one of the first two women to graduate as a paramedic in Quebec, helping pave the way for generations of women who followed.

Today, what makes her feel strong is much simpler.

"When I can bring a little smile to a family member who has to endure the decline of their loved one."

Three words she uses to describe herself:

💜 Kind
💜 Caring
💜 Gullible

If Power of the Dragon had a theme song, Goldie doesn't hesitate:

🎵 *We Are Family.*

And when does she feel most alive?

"When I get off the boat and my whole body is tingling with excitement."

After nearly three decades with Power of the Dragon, Goldie believes there is one thing people should know about this team:

You can't explain it.

You have to experience it.

Thank you, Goldie, for your kindness, your loyalty, and for reminding us that sometimes saying yes to ourselves is exactly what allows us to care for others. 💜


Some people join a dragon boat team to get fit. Others join for the competition.not about the paddling.

🐉💜 COACH SPOTLIGHT 💜🐉

For this week's spotlight, we're turning the tables.

Many of our Dragon Sisters have mentioned him in their stories. They've praised his patience, his humour, his knowledge, and his ability to help every paddler become a little stronger than they were the week before.

So today, we're celebrating the person behind the paddle strokes:

💜 Our Coach. 💜

For the past 13 years, he has shown up season after season with the same goal: helping every paddler improve while making sure we never forget to have fun along the way.

When asked what dragon boating means to him, his answer was wonderfully simple:

"Fun, fun, fun."

What does he hope paddlers feel when they leave practice?

"Like they should do this all the time. 😉"

His advice to anyone considering dragon boating?

"Try it, you'll like it."

Simple. Effective. Very Coach.

When asked what makes Power of the Dragon special, he didn't talk about races, medals, or trophies.

He talked about attitude.

"Great attitude."

And his favourite part of practice?

"Seeing the paddlers improve."

That's who he is.

While we're focused on our strokes, our timing, and trying to survive those "last 15 seconds" that somehow always seem longer than 15 seconds, Coach is quietly paying attention to every small improvement and celebrating every success.

Outside of dragon boating, his passion is skiing ⛷️. If Power of the Dragon had a theme song, he chose *Short Ride in a Fast Machine* by composer John Adams—a choice that feels surprisingly appropriate for a dragon boat team.

One thing many newer paddlers may not know?

"The uniforms used to be yellow."

Thankfully, some traditions are better left in the past. 😄

Thank you, Coach, for your dedication, your humour, your endless patience, and for helping us become a better team—one practice at a time.

We appreciate you more than you know. 💜

🐉💜 DRAGON SISTER SPOTLIGHT: SONJA GRACI 💜🐉

Sometimes the best decisions are the ones you make on a whim.

Two years ago, a friend asked Sonja if she'd like to try dragon boating. It was the last practice of the season, and she decided to say yes.

"I wanted to say yes to more things. Try something new."

What she found was much more than a new activity.

For Sonja, dragon boating is a reminder to enjoy the moment—the fresh air, the people around her, and the simple joy of being on the water.

When the boat is perfectly in sync, there's a feeling she can't quite describe.

"There is a certain sound that comes with it, and the satisfaction from the right movements becomes therapeutic."

Her advice for anyone considering dragon boating?

"It's a fun way to get exercise, fresh air, and human companionship in one shot."

What she loves most about Power of the Dragon is that these are real women showing up, supporting one another, and doing their best.

"All they want from you is to show up and do your best."

And when it comes to practice, one person stands out.

"Jode, our coach, is my favourite part. He's a fountain of dragon boat knowledge, he's funny, and he wants us all to become a formidable team."

Away from the boat, Sonja is a voracious reader.

"Some people dream about being buried in money. I'd rather be crushed under an avalanche of books."

She describes herself as someone who tries her best, doesn't overthink things, and, in her own words:

😄 "A socially adequate gremlin."

If Power of the Dragon had a theme song?

🎵 *Can't Hold Us* by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

And when does Sonja feel most alive?

😂 "When Jode says 'last 15 seconds' and I know that's a lie."

Thank you, Sonja, for your humour, determination, and wonderful energy. We're so glad you said yes to that first paddle. 💜

🐉💜 DRAGON SISTER SPOTLIGHT: PIERRETTE HÉBERT 💜🐉

Sometimes the best adventures begin right next door.

More than a decade ago, Pierrette was introduced to dragon boating through her neighbour, who happened to work with our teammate Isabel. After years of spending her time supporting her son through hockey, baseball, and other sports, she realized it was finally time to find something for herself.

What she discovered was much more than a sport.

"The most amazing feeling of being on the water, the camaraderie that we have with those ladies is the best."

Since joining Power of the Dragon in 2014, Pierrette has found not only a passion, but a second family.

"This team is a second family and you can count on those ladies."

For her, one of the greatest feelings in dragon boating is when everything comes together and the boat moves as one.

"Wonderful feeling of having the boat moving in sync."

If someone is thinking about trying dragon boating, Pierrette doesn't hesitate:

"Come and try it. We have the best team, and the coach is very good. The time on the water is precious."

What makes Power of the Dragon special to her?

"We have fun together."

And what does she admire most about her teammates?

"The energy they come with at each practice."

The word she uses to describe the boat's energy is simple and perfect:

✨ Fun.

One of the things she loves most about dragon boating is that it gives her something many women forget to make time for:

❤️ Time for herself.

Away from the boat, people are often surprised to learn that she is a dragon boat paddler. When she's not on the water, she enjoys taking long walks and spending time with the people who matter most.

"My family and my friends."

Pierrette describes herself as:

✨ Punctual
✨ Dedicated
✨ A good listener

And when does she feel most alive?

🚣‍♀️ "When I'm paddling on the canal."

Thank you, Pierrette, for your commitment, positive spirit, and for reminding us that it's never too late to carve out time for yourself and discover a new passion. 💜

For her, one of the greatest feelings in dragon boating is when everything comes together, and the boat moves as one.

🐉💜 DRAGON SISTER SPOTLIGHT: KAREN SAUDER 💜🐉

Sometimes all it takes is a friend's invitation to change the course of your life.

Six years ago, Karen's friend and teammate Catherine McCuaig encouraged her to give dragon boating a try. What she found wasn't just a sport—it was a welcoming community that quickly became an important part of her life.

"I joined because of the warm, friendly welcome I received."

Now, six years later, Karen says paddling helps her feel young and has brought a special energy to her retirement years.

"It has helped make my retirement more enjoyable."

For Karen, dragon boating is about more than fitness. It's about being part of something bigger than herself. It's about friendship, laughter, and those magical evenings spent on the water.

When the boat is moving perfectly together, her answer is simple and beautiful:

"It feels like flying."

If someone is nervous about trying dragon boating, Karen offers the kind of encouragement that perfectly captures the spirit of Power of the Dragon:

"We're mostly old ladies and if we can do it — so can you!"

What keeps her coming back year after year is the camaraderie. She deeply admires the strength of will she sees in her teammates and describes the energy in the boat with one simple word:

✨ Fun.

One of her favorite parts of practice?

"The lovely evenings as the sun is setting."

Away from the dragon boat, Karen is a woman of many talents. She practices Tai Chi almost every day and is actively involved in amateur theatre, both on stage as an actress and behind the scenes helping productions come to life.

When asked what gives her strength every day, her answer was heartfelt:

❤️ "The love and support of my husband."

Three words that describe Karen?

✨ Creative
✨ Friendly
✨ Open

And if Power of the Dragon had a theme song?

🎵 "We Are the Champions!"

When does Karen feel most alive?

"When I'm surrounded by friends."

🐉 Dragon Sister Snapshot

• Years on the team: 6
• Occupation: Commercial Interior Designer
• Favorite thing about dragon boating: Being out on the water
• One thing people should know about our team: We laugh a lot.

Thank you, Karen, for bringing your creativity, kindness, and joyful spirit to our dragon boat family. We're so glad Catherine invited you to that first practice. 💜