Article by Randy Pinsky.
People have various motivations for joining dragon boating. Some people are seeking a new adventure, some people are trying to get in shape, others are looking for a community.
And some do it for all three reasons.
After twenty-one years in the Canadian Armed Forces, change would be difficult for anyone, but Captain Georgette Mink took it especially hard. As one of the few women in her Unit, she had to prove her worth for her entire military career, performing on par with the men – and then some. So, when she was compelled to retire due to a physical and neurological injury, she naturally was devastated.
What would her role be now? How would she find the communal nature and bonding she craved? Where would she get a similar competitiveness and sense of purpose?
Joining the Forces
Originally from Erickson, Manitoba, Mink is Cree and exceptionally proud of her heritage. On International Every Child Matters Day, she posted how her mother, a victim of the Residential School system, was forced to assimilate. Her last name ‘Mink’ is thus a source of pride and connection for Georgette and her children, upholding her mother’s heritage and demonstrating resilience over adversity.
Through planning a career as a Physiotherapist, she decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces for the opportunity to travel the world. This would be the start of a grueling but exciting two-decades journey. From Bosnia and the Netherlands, to Brazil, Lebanon and Croatia, Mink has been to every corner of the globe.
Photo credit: Badr Rosema
Through the Forces, she also had the opportunity to compete internationally in track, cross-country and marathon running. It was a busy and intense life, made particularly challenging with the differential treatment of women in the Army.
Making Her Mark
Mink was one of the few women in her Unit, and the other soldiers never let them forget it. When training as Gunners in Field Artillery at CFB Shilo in Manitoba with fellow comrade Tara Skinner, Mink related how women soldiers were compelled to perform at the same standards as their male counterparts, with several, of the latter, making bets on when they would ‘break.’
As a highly competitive individual, Mink met them head-on, staying on par with – and often exceeding – her colleagues. Once she earned their respect, she had their backing for life. But it was a long and challenging process to get past the ‘old boys club’ mentality; an experience echoed by other veteran paddlers in Dragon Boat Canada’s feature piece, “Water Warriors”.
Photo credit: Georgette Mink
A Soldier and More…
In addition to serving as a Range Safety Officer, Mink was also an expert marksman, as well as the frequent recipient of the ‘Fittest Soldier’ award. At 6’1”, “Georgette is a beast in everything she does,” shared Skinner. “She is very committed to her physical fitness and is very strong.”
As a member of the International Military Sports Council running team, Mink has competed internationally in track and marathon running. In 2009, she was invited to be a torch bearer for the Vancouver Olympics, representing Canada on the world stage- an experience she would later relive as a paddler.
Life was going great, until one day…
Photo credit: Georgette Mink
Change
The pandemic hit and things were difficult, but nothing like what Mink experienced in her final two years in the Army. In a personal reflection, she wrote, “suffering a devastating injury forced [me] to hang up [my] combat boots and track spikes,” effectively ending both her military and athletic career.
After twenty-one years in the Armed Forces, she was looking at an abyss; where would she find the community of the military? The competitiveness of track?
The future looked bleak.
Dragon Boating Saved My Life
Mink fell into a depression as she pondered how to fill the void of multiple identities ending so abruptly. She recalled thinking, “This can’t be it. I can’t just be done. There has to be another purpose for me.”
While doing stand-up paddle boarding as part of her healing and rehabilitation in Barrie, Ontario, she heard about dragon boating and decided to try it.
Enter the London Pendragons! A mixed-competitive team composed of paddlers of all ages and levels of experience. Mink immediately felt an affinity for the sport.
Her integration was rendered all the easier as she quickly identified many parallels with her military background: the drills, the striving for perfection and synchronicity, the team effort. Pretty soon, she was finding the family she had been longing for.
“As an injured Army Veteran, I had to find a new identity,” she said in a 2025 interview with Para Dragon Boat Canada. “I wish more military veterans would find dragon boating – it helped me in physical and mental ways.
“But I think it also quite honestly saved me.”
Additionally, she was astonished to find that the training helped heal several lingering injuries. Her back felt stronger, she had more mobility and was able to reduce her reliance on pain medications.
And it was more than just physical benefits.
On World Mental Health Day (Oct 10, 2025), she posted, “Paddling helps me with my anxiety, PTSD, and cope with this thing called LIFE.” Many of these lessons are incorporated into her physiotherapy practice in St Thomas, Ontario where she emphasizes holistic health and wellness. As a mentor to many, Mink also promotes inspirational quotes such as “I challenge you to be your best version of yourself” and “The secret to getting ahead is to get started.”
DBC National Team
It usually takes years of training to be recognized by a coach, but Mink’s strength set her apart. “I could probably pull this whole boat by myself,” she laughed.
Coach Cheryl McLachlan recognized her fierce commitment to every practice and race. “She’s a beast, incredibly fit,” she related. “Georgette is determined and resilient despite her past-
it will always be there, but she doesn't show it. In the boat, her eyes are focused and forward-looking,”
McLachlan noted Mink gives them perspective as well. “We can train hard and I’ll bust their chops to perform, but she reminds us to have fun as well,” she laughed.
“If we had a boat of Georgettes, no one would be able to touch us.”
Photo credit: Georgette Mink
In 2025, Mink was invited to try out for the Senior A division team for the International Dragon Boat Racing Championships to be held in Germany. Not too shabby for a three-year newbie!
Mink surprised many when she opted to join the Para National Team to challenge assumptions about para-athletes and ‘second careers.’
Photo credit: Barb Coon
“Just because one part of your life changes, doesn't mean it ends there,” she shared. “There is always more to come, [you] just have to be open to it.”
The Big Day…
It was a rainy weekend that greeted paddlers competing in Brandenburg an der Havel (Germany) for the 17th International Dragon Boat Federation World Dragon Boat Racing Championship. Most of the races took place in complete downpour. With limited visibility and high winds, this would have been daunting for even the most experienced of paddlers, but Mink took it all in stride.
By the end of the competition, the Para National Team smashed all expectations and collected hardware in the form of three golds and one silver. More than that, their timings were comparable to that of the able-bodied Senior teams.
“This was just like in the military,” observed Mink. “[Female soldiers] had to prove we were worthy twice as much, even if we did comparable timings.”
“I am very proud of Georgette,”shared military comrade Skinner. “I am inspired by her perseverance and her positive nature. She is a great advocate for members being released [or retiring] from the Armed Forces as she understands them on a different level.”
For her part, Mink uses her life journey to show others that there is always a purpose for them, even when life takes unexpected paths. “I am living proof that you can turn things around,” she posted. “I chose to flip the script [and so can you]. Trust the process, have faith – and never give up.”
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