As a Joan Rivers impersonator harangued the crowd, team captains passed the symbolic paddle Friday night to begin the 2002 Sault North Rotary Dragonboat Festival.
Our photograph shows Garry Riberdy of BDC Rapid Warriors passing to Joanne Fischer, captain of last year's winning team, PUC Power Paddlers.
The races start around 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the St. Mary's River near the Roberta Bondar Pavilion.
Award presentations are at 5 p.m. at the pavilion.
Major sponsors of the event are MCTV and the Canadian Forces.
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