For two decades, the JLR Dragons have been making waves at the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, and 2026 was no exception.
This year marked JLR’s 20th consecutive year participating in one of Ottawa’s most well-known community events. Among more than 90 teams, the group ranked 8th in fundraising and placed 3rd in the Charity Cup, highlighting both their effort and continued support for the cause.
The crowning achievement? Winning the Construction Cup for the 13th time. With each victory, a new plaque is added, and over the years, the trophy has become closely associated with JLR. A reflection of the team’s sustained commitment to the event.
Paddling for a Purpose
The Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is more than a race. It’s a powerful engine for community giving. The event raises money for the Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation (ODBF), which supports dozens of local charities across the Ottawa region. Since 1998, the festival’s Charity Cup Challenge has raised over $6 million for more than 90 local causes.
This year, the foundation is directing support to organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (Walk This Way program) and the CHEO Foundation, which funds critical care and research at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
The JLR Dragons have contributed more than $105,000 over the past 20 years, through their popular wine basket raffle and other efforts.
The People Behind the Paddles
None of this would be possible without the dedication of key team members. Tracy Weatherdon team captain has been the driving force behind JLR’s Dragon Boat involvement for years. Behind the scenes, Megan Chewchuk keeps everything running smoothly as the organizational and administrative lead. Kristin McCartney serves as the fundraising captain, and her daughter helps make sure the wine baskets are packaged up enticingly to help secure more funds.
Together with paddlers past and present, they’ve built something special, a tradition that combines friendly competition with meaningful fundraising.
Looking Ahead
As JLR reflects on 20 years of Dragon Boat participation, one thing is clear: this team shows no signs of slowing down. With the iconic J-L-R-R-R chant echoing across the water, Team JLR continues to represent the company’s values of collaboration and community.
Congratulations to everyone who paddled, organized, donated, and cheered this year. Here’s to the next 20!