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The Director’s Strokes
AS WE EXCHANGE OUR BOATS and paddles for skis and boards and start dreaming of next season’s paddling adventures, I will take this time to reflect on two signifi- cant events from this past summer.
NATIONAL PADDLING WEEK
The paddling season was recognized in Canada with the launch of the first annual National Paddling Week (NPW) in June, a project created by Paddle Canada, Rapid Media and the Canadian Canoe Museum. With over 150 events taking place from coast to coast to coast, our expectations of how widely the event would be adopted in its first year were wildly exceeded. As we had hoped, the media was quick to cover many of these events. You can read about some of the events at the NPW blog by going to
www.paddleweek.ca. Paddle Canada and our partners thank all of those who
hosted and participated in the events. A special thanks goes to Dawn Callan who was intimately involved in orga- nizing many NPW efforts and events. We have already started planning for NPW 2014 that will be held from June 7 to 14. We hope to add more events along with increased sponsorship support. If you would like to learn more or get involved, please visit www.
paddleweek.ca.
RIDEAU CANAL VOYAGEUR BRIGADE
I traveled with my seven-year-old son and 65 other paddlers from all over Canada in voyageur canoes from Kingston to Ottawa in the Rideau Canal Brigade in August. We navi- gated the locks and lakes of the historic Rideau Canal over a distance of 208 kilometres in 10 days. Albertans Mark and Lois Lund of the Voyageur Brigade
Society did a remarkable job of organizing all the logistics. Since 2008, about seven voyageur brigades have taken place in Canada, bringing approximately 1,100 paddlers together so far. Many paddlers participate for the social aspect and the ease of journeying with a large traveling community. It is also a very accessible multi-day journey because of the large numbers and support services that are provided. The relatively new Paddle Canada Big Canoe program has been developed in part to address the training needs for such trips. Photos of the brigade can be found on Paddle Canada’s Facebook page in the photo section. May your paddles always pull water. GRAHAM KETCHESON Executive Director (PC Big Canoe Intermediate Instructor)
info@paddlecanada.com
200 PADDLE CANADA || Annual 2014
From the President
Paddle Canada and Stretching the Season
AS COOLER TEMPERATURES arrive and the leaves start changing, it’s difficult to put the paddles down and accept that winter is on its way. The good news is that it’s possible to extend your season with some easy adjustments to your existing gear and have new experiences in your local waters. Colder weather changes conditions significantly and it is
easy to be caught off guard by chilly winds or an unexpect- ed immersion in the frigid water. These adverse conditions provide extra challenges that may not have been covered by a springtime skills course. If you’re not trained in pad- dling in cold weather conditions, you should contact your local instructor, community paddle shops or clubs to see if they have the necessary expertise and training available. It’s difficult to predict how the weather will change
in the autumn. A frigid morning might turn into a hot afternoon. The trick is to layer your clothing and adjust as needed. Layering should not just cover your midsection; you should be prepared to adjust your outerwear from head to toe. You should be aiming for garments made of wool or
synthetic fibres. Merino wool and a fleece are excellent choices. For those serious about stretching the season on the rivers or oceans, a dry suit or dry pants and a dry jack- et combination are wise investments. Bringing extra cloth- ing in a dry bag is also a smart idea. With the right preparation, paddling intelligence, insu- lating layers and a waterproof shell, cold weather paddling can be an enjoyable experience. In cold weather, keeping yourself warm is an obvious priority in emergency situ- ations. In addition to the usual tools in your emergency kits, bring extra candles, fire starters, solar blankets, food and water. Finally, let someone know what your plans are and when to expect you back. Don’t let the impending cold weather prevent you from
enjoying those paddles on your great waterways during our beautiful shoulder seasons. Canada’s summers are far too short and we paddlers need to extend our season to allow us to refine our techniques and enjoy the changing environment around us. Challenge your skills, have fun and stretch your season
this autumn! PRISCILLA HASKIN Paddle Canada President and Alberta Representative
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