The Vancouver Park Board has opened a new paddling centre, east of the Creekside Community Recreation Centre in False Creek.

The new facility includes six small storage buildings for non-motorized boats and paddling equipment, six floating docks, and two entry and exit ramps. Inspired by floating lanterns, the paddling centre boasts semi-translucent panels and simple cube structures, with hushed LED lighting at night.

It will be the new home of the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, and British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society.

“We’re obviously very excited about having this great facility as we’ve been looking for a permanent home for 20 years,” said Frederic Lajeunesse, Chair of non-profit Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, in a press statement.

If the paddling centre should ever need more storage space, it can be expanded. “The centre is expandable, so we do have the ability to add more buildings and docks as needed in the future,” said Park Board Chair Sarah Kirby-Yung.

Concord Pacific provided funding for the new paddling centre, as well as a $1-million donation from the CEO, Terry Hui. The Canadian-headquartered developer has previously supported many parks, docks, infrastructure, and three kilometres of the seawall on the north shore of False Creek.

It was also announced today that Concord Pacific is now the new title sponsor of Vancouver’s Dragon Boat Festival, renamed as Concord Pacific Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival.

A community paddling day will be hosted this Saturday (April 30) at Creekside Community Centre (1 Athletes Way) from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. for Vancouver residents. Free 45-minute dragon boat paddling sessions and kayak rentals will be offered.