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Paddlers mark Canada 150 after 100-km journey to Winnipeg

After days of paddling down Manitoba's waterways, a group of modern-day voyageurs made their way to land in Winnipeg on Saturday.

La Brigade de la Rivière Rouge celebrated Canada 150 by paddling about 100 kilometres from St. Jean Baptiste, Man. this week.

Arriving in rainy, overcast weather, the spirits of the adventurers were still high when they arrived to a large crowd and a gun salute.

"I'm pretty impressed," Leo Desgagné said.

"The amount of people that were here today to see us arriving after leaving St. Jean Baptiste two days ago and arriving here at the confluence of the Red and the Assiniboine in front of the St. Boniface cathedral, it's pretty special."

The trip was organized by the Manitoba non-profit Rivers West, which is shutting its doors later this year. It struggled to stay afloat after losing provincial funding a few years ago.

Upon arrival, organizers hoped for 150 canoes to gather in the river and while they didn't meet that mark — about 30 took part — Desgagné said it was a great end to an iconic journey.

"It's always a pleasure to travel with them and the experiences that we live through our travels in the canoes and just the camaraderie and helping each other getting through the problems and any issues that come up through the travel," he said.

"It's quite an accomplishment for everyone in the canoe."