Sunday, August 2, 2026
​Registration: 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Race Starts: 1:00 p.m.

If you’ve never joined our annual canoe race, you’re missing out! This fun-filled tradition is the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon — paddling, cheering, eating, and celebrating together as a community.  This annual event is a Salerno Lake tradition for all ages — whether you’re racing, cheering, or just there for the BBQ, you won’t want to miss it!

🕛 Registration: 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Race Starts: 1:00 p.m.
📍 Start/Finish: Boat Launch
☀️ Rain or Shine! 
​💲Funds are not refundable if you cannot attend on race day

​All Race Participants must be SDLCA members or affiliated with a current member whose dues are paid for the year. Not a member yet? CLICK HERE to purchase your annual SDLCA Membership online before buying your Event Tickets.

Cost: 
Registration: 
  • Where: Boat Launch: 12:00–1:00 p.m. (race day)
  • You are required to arrive early for the race to register, sign your waivers, select your categories and get your craft numbers.
  • Categories for juniors, women, men, mixed teams, and families
  • Canoes, kayaks, and SUPs welcome!

Requirement: 
  • All racers must wear PFDs and sign a waiver
  • Boats should have a 15 m buoyant line and a sound-making device

🏁 Race Details:
  • Starts: 1:00 p.m.
  • Start/Finish location: Boat Launch
  • Course: The race course runs south along the shoreline, around the island, and back to the starting point

🏆 Prizes:
  • 1st Place: Beautiful hand-painted paddles by Salerno Lake’s own John Leonard
  • Youth Winners: Mini paddles
  • Top 3 in each category: Medals
  • All participants: Official event crest

🍔 BBQ, Games & Awards
  • 📍 Irondale Community Centre
  • 🕒 3:00–6:00 p.m.
  • Delicious food and non-alcoholic drinks by Bottled UP (no outside alcohol permitted)
  • 50/50 Draw
  • Kids’ Games start around 3:00 p.m. (adults welcome to join!) Three-legged race, water balloon toss, running race, bubble gum blow, egg toss, shoe kick, and more 
  • Awards follow the games
Beautiful hand-painted paddles by Salerno Lake’s own John Leonard

5oth Anniversary on Salerno​

Our 50th Anniversary of the Salerno (Devil’s) Lake Canoe Race was in 2017, by Sydney Clark (with input from Rob Stuart)
​

Back in the summer of 1967, the executive of the recently formed Devil’s Lake Cottagers’ Association, led by Jack Thompson, wanted to do something special to mark the country’s 100th birthday. They also wanted to create an event that would bring the members of the fledgling organization together in a festive and fun-filled manner. Some people had made the paddle from Irondale to Furnace Falls each year and felt that turning that experience into a friendly race might be just the ticket. Other lake associations held regattas on their lakes, but those lakes had geographical features like beaches or landings from which a regatta could be mounted. Sa-lerno Lake (or Devil’s Lake as it was then known) had no such feature, so the decision was made to sponsor a canoe race down the Irondale River from the bridge at Irondale to Furnace Falls, a distance of ten kilometres. Jack and Betty Thompson organized the first race, and Rob Stuart and his team began marshalling and organizing it in 1972 and have continued to do so until the present.

In the beginning, Joe Hancock was permitted to launch the race from his property east of what was then the Bailey Bridge. When the number of participants increased, an “in canoe” launch on the west side of the new bridge began. Rob obtained permission from the owner at that time and, with a crew, he weed-whacked the start area. Property changed hands again, and Rob could not contact the owner, so the marshalling moved to the roadside of the fence.

The race has been an annual highlight of the summer ever since 1967, with the participants vying for awards that have become cherished decorations in their cottages. Initially, from 1967 to 1973, there was only ONE category, Men’s. Now there are ten, including Men’s, Women’s, Senior men’s, Senior women’s, Mixed, Junior, Open, Men’s and Women’s kayak, and Junior kayak. In order to participate, one must have a current membership in our Cottagers’ Association, SDLCA.

The original prizes in 1967 and 1968 were birch bark trophies, handcrafted by Jack’s wife, Betty Thompson. Then, the following year, actual trophies were awarded. In 1972, paddles were first awarded.

Ever since 1971, every participant has received a crest, and many people proudly display these on their cottage walls. In 1987, John Leonard designed a new crest in honour of the 20th anniversary of the race. In 1994, John changed the crest once again, depicting a man and woman paddling. Since then, the design has not changed much except for the dates and colours.
It was in 1992 that the now-coveted paddles, hand-painted by renowned artist John Leonard, were first awarded. John has continued to donate his skill and talent to this day.

Safety has always been of paramount concern. Rob and his crew would always run the river before race day and clear any obstacles. Before the launch of the first boats, Rob or one of his team would go over the rules and brief the paddlers on any concerns. The venue for the race had to change three years ago, in 2014, when a series of log jams made the river impassible. Given that there had never been a serious accident in the race, the organizers felt that to run it under such conditions would be courting disaster. Thus, the decision was made to move the race to the lake in the interest of continued safety for all participants. The fact that we now have a viable landing on the lake made the move possible. Remember, back in 1967, there was no landing.

There are pros and cons to running the race on the lake. The first advantage is the safety of the participants, the second is that all cottagers can enjoy watching it from the comfort of their docks or porches, and the third advantage is that transporting your canoe or kayak from your cottage to the starting point is much simpler. Another advantage is that the barbecue and Children’s Games can now be held at the Irondale Community Centre, which also did not exist in 1967. The biggest disadvantage to racing on the lake is that it is a hard slog, especially if it’s windy. There is no current to help you on your way. Some say that the race is no longer the same; it is not as much fun paddling on the lake as on the river, but when one considers that the primary reasons for holding a race at all were to increase the sense of community at the lake and to commem-orate a significant birthday for the nation, the race, whether on the river or the lake, fulfills its function. For this, our 50th anniversary year, we do not yet know where the race will be held. Rest assured, Rob and his team will ensure that wherever it is held, it will be a safe and positive experience for all.

The current executive of SDLCA hopes that in this, our 50th year of running the race, everyone will come out to support it, either as participants or as cheerleaders, both onshore and at the barbecue and Games afterwards. Mark the date, August 6, in your calendars and be sure to tell all your friends. It would be great to have 50 boats in the 50th race!