High Stakes in the 1000 Islands Poker Run

July 27th, 2011 One of the many attractions on the St. Lawrence in the summertime is the 1000 Islands Poker Run, an event held on the first weekend in August every year. Hosted by the city of Kingston, an estimated 50,000 spectators attend every year, taking in the festivities on the mainland, and checking out the high-octane action on the water.

For those who are unfamiliar with a poker run, it's not a race, it's a poker game, and you pick up your hand at the various stops along the course. Nevertheless, the some-odd 150 high-performance boats didn't come to the largest poker run in North America not to strut their stuff. The fast boats, hot babes, cool drinks and good music make for a fun festival.

For environmentalists, tt's not all fun in the sun, however. Those powerboats skimming along the surface of the St. Lawrence burn a lot of fuel and the carbon dioxide and disturbances in the water damage the wildlife and ecosystem. Supporters of this notion like to point out that Kingston totes itself as the sustainable city. A group of local residents called SPLASH (Sustainable Practices Leave a Sustainable Heritage) lobbied the local government to find an alternative.

The group also complains of the noise polution, which disturbs an otherwise tranquil stretch of water between Kingston and Brockville. Not that SPLASH isn't down to party, they've suggested a number of non-motorized water activities, such as a pirate-themed festival, an eco-Irish festival, or a Kingston homecoming festival similar to Gala Day on which takes place on Toronto Island every year.

The city council, acting on a recommendation by the KEAF (Kingston Environmental Advisory Forum), is entertaining the possibility of having organizers purchase carbon offset credits to compensate. As this year's event draws near it's certain to be a point of discussion, although the number of participants has been declining over the years.

Photo at top of page provided by Maunger.