Power of the Dragon

🐉 Dragon Sister Spotlight: Betty Esperanza

Sometimes… all it takes is a raffle ticket outside Westmount metro.

Thanks to Isabel and Sandra, who basically said: *you’re trying this.*

She did.
And just like that… she was hooked.

✨ Once I realized it wasn’t that hard… I was in.

But what she found was so much more than a sport.

💬 t means that I am not alone. I basically meditate with each stroke. It soothes my brain.

Out on the water, Betty finds calm, rhythm, and something close to peace.
And in the boat?

💛 Confidence. Comfort. Connection.

✨ The friendships I made have given me confidence… I feel good and serene in sync.

Of course, being Betty… there’s also laughter, food, and a little chaos.

💬 My teammates are lovely… and they make the BEST food for our potlucks.

The vibe?
👉 Giddy and determined.

Because yes, the paddling matters —
but so do the sunsets…
and the fish jumping mid-practice.

Her advice?

👉 Don’t overthink it. It’s always a battle with your body… but it’s so rewarding when you get it right.

Off the boat, Betty is a full-on social butterfly 🦋
Cooking (strictly with a recipe 😅), music, festivals, art shows, and let’s be honest… eating.

She loves action sports… just not enough to risk injury anymore (growth 😂).
But she can still hold a 2-minute plank, so don’t test her.

What keeps her grounded?

💙 My community makes me happy every day.

Three words?
✨ Resilient. Funny. Optimistic.

Theme song?
🎶 *Rocky* (because obviously)

And her truest moment?

🌊 I feel most alive when I’m in nature… especially on a beach facing the ocean.
• Favourite thing: moving the boat in perfect unison

🐉 **Dragon Sister Spotlight**
• 10 years on the team
• Philanthropy queen 👑
• Favorite thing: moving the boat in perfect unison
• One thing to know: we’re basically a bunch of aunties… and we are funny AF

🎬 OFFICIAL TRAILER

Some women retire.

These women race.

A year of early mornings, strength training, road trips, friendships, laughter, and one very ambitious plan.

Introducing…

THE ENGINE.

The women in the middle seats. The ones who keep the boat moving.

Based on a true story.

Coming September 2026.

🐉

Stay tuned.

This is only part of the story.

Still to come:
⚡ The Unit
🚀 The Rockets

And finally…

The complete crew.

🐉 Dragon Sister Spotlight: Catherine

Sometimes, all it takes is a simple invitation…
A friend at the YMCA — and a yes.

For Catherine, dragon boating became exactly what she didn’t know she needed —
time on the water, movement, laughter, and connection.

✨ Opportunity to be on the water. Camaraderie. Fun exercise.

And then… something even more beautiful.

💬 Heavenly.

That’s how it feels when she’s out there —
paddling, breathing, fully present.

Her advice is simple and heartfelt:

👉 Just come out and try it. You will fall in love.

Because this team is more than a sport.
It’s a circle of women from all walks of life —
brought together by shared energy, positivity, and a coach who inspires them every step of the way.

She loves music, dancing, walking, swimming, reading, and time at the cottage.

Off the water, Catherine is just as vibrant —
she loves music, dancing, walking, swimming, reading, and time at the cottage.

What grounds her?
✨ Feeling connected to others and useful.

If she had to describe herself:
💫 Kind. Gentle. Passionate for life.

And her “theme song”?

It’s about showing up, sharing the moment, and feeling alive.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about perfection —
it’s about showing up, sharing the moment, and feeling alive.

🌅 Being outside on the water at sunset.
That’s where Catherine shines.

🐉 Dragon Sister Spotlight
• 5 years on the team
• MD
• Loves being outside on the water — especially at sunset
• A team built on connection, positivity, and women lifting each other up
* Catherine is in the middle of the photo.

🐉 Dragon Sister Spotlight: Debbie Gencher

Some dreams wait quietly… until life finally makes space for them.

For Debbie Gencher, dragon boating was always in the background. While working, she watched younger colleagues pour their energy into their teams and thought, *one day, that will be me.*

That day came after retirement. A small ad in the local paper… and she said yes.

At the time, Debbie was also caring for her parents — holding a lot, like so many women on this team. And yet, she found her way to the water.

✨ Paddling is a great workout, a social connection, and a very ‘cool’ sport.”

But it became more than that.

💬 When we paddle in sync I feel POWER. We fly!”

Debbie is inspired by the women around her — their strength, their stories, their resilience.

💬 “It gives me no reason to complain.”

Because this team is more than a boat.
It’s perspective. It’s a connection. Its strength.

💙 This is my time.

Her advice?
Off the water, Debbie is a devoted wife, mom, and grandma, a retired physiotherapist of 40 years, and a passionate watercolour artist who loves country life.

Off the water, Debbie is a devoted wife, mom, and grandma, a retired physiotherapist of 40 years, and a passionate watercolor artist who loves country life.

✨ Engaged. Happy. Dynamic.

And always helping the boat fly.

🐉 **Dragon Sister Spotlight**
• 8½ years on the team
• Retired physiotherapist
• Loves the workout, the water, and the women
• A team where every story matters — and together, we fly