Pulling Together

Participants of the Pulling Together canoe journey come ashore somewhere in Howe Sound.

Peter Mallett
Staff Writer
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Military members, public service agencies, and First Nation communities of B.C. have ‘pulled together’ once again.

The annual canoe trip and outreach was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, but returned with a scaled-down re-launch July 16 to 18 in Howe Sound. Pulling Together is intended to bridge the gap of understanding and knowledge between government employees and First Nation communities.

“Paddling in the Royal Canadian Navy canoe was an incredible experience and the cultural immersion was even more meaningful,” says LCdr Rebecca Hardie, Acting Commanding Officer HMCS Discovery. “Being able to observe and share in traditional songs, teachings, and ceremonies will always stay with me.”

S2 Lindsay Yeung of HMCS Discovery said the opportunity to meet people from different First Nations was invaluable.

“Everyone was so friendly and a friend I made told me about growing up around Howe Sound and the places he’d been,” said S2 Yeung. “Every place we went he pointed to a location and told a story about that place.”

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