The revamped Sackawa Aquatic Club marks a grand opening on Saturday

First established in 1980, the Sackawa Canoe Club of Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, held a grand opening event to celebrate its new facility on Saturday.

Over the years, the team has received funding from all levels of government to build and revamp the original 40 by 20 building into a community. club.

“A lot of dedicated board members, friends and family, our community, everyone finally wanted to build this canoe club here and now everyone has come out to see it and we are really happy to have them have,” said Tyler Laidlaw, commodore of Sackawa.

Located on First Lake, the facility offers week-long summer camps and full-time canoeing programs for various ages.

Laidlow, who has been on the paddling team since he was eight years old, says it’s a great place for kids to stay active and make friends.

“I’m 21 now, and it’s the club that made me who I am today, so I like to give back to this canoe club,” he said.

Head Coach, Chris MacPherson, spent 30 years with the Sackawa Canoe Club. He says the new facility will make a difference in the product he delivers to athletes and the community.

“It’s a community center for all of Lower Sackville, which is important because we’re growing as a community and it’s something we really needed,” MacPherson says.

After 10 years of establishing the community center, staff members say they are working to increase the number of children involved in the sport.