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Current Strokes | Coups Courants (en francais ici)

April 2011

Avril 2011
In This Issue
Graham's Gab
Remembering Kirk Wipper
Comments from Members
New Website
Advertise on Website
Instructor News

Paddle Canada SUP Board Program 



Paddle Canada certified it's first SUP Instructors at April's Vancouver & Ottawa national program launch clinics
 

 View The Videos!  


________________________

NEW Mailing Address:


PO Box 126
Kingston, ON  K7L 4V6

 

 

Quick Links

 

 

It's spring, so remember to dress according to the water temperature, not the air temperature.     

 

Guided Excursions now are required by Transport Canada to have a 'Cold Water Plan' for their participants.

Learn more about the new regulations 

Graham's Gab 


I'm just back from Ottawa (April 16/17) from the Eastern Canadian launch of the SUP Program.  I got to briefly hang out with Mark Scriver and Tony Palmer & the other participants on the river during the only sunny bit of weather that weekend (mostly it was cold, rainy, windy and sleeting).  We have many new SUP instructors and IT's as a result. Some are starting to plan and register courses now in their area.  Stay tuned for a PC SUP course/clinic in your area soon.   

 

I am so pleased the registration of kayaks and canoes is now behind us (in case you hadn't heard, it's been suspended).  In follow up meetings with Transport Canada, we were assured the issue should not come back to haunt us in the future.  They also credited Paddle Canada almost entirely for bringing the issue to the masses and rallying the voice of the paddling industry. This is what pushed the minister to make the change in the end. Thanks to everyone who called, emailed and wrote letters to Transport Canada.  They listened to us! 

  Read More... 


May your paddle always pull water,

 

Graham Ketcheson

Paddle Canada 

Remembering Kirk Wipper - Paddle Canada's co-founder 

 

Donate to the Kirk Wipper Legacy fund in memory of Kirk Wipper 

We encourage all our members to make a tax-deductible donation to the "Wipper Legacy Fund" via the Canadian Canoe Museum. Learn more... 

 

Upcoming Events in honour of Kirk Wipper: 



Recent Comments To Share From Members: 

  

Re: Registration Issue: "It is a little late but I wanted to thank you and the others at Paddle Canada who worked to have the DOT regulations amended to take into account the paddling community. I believe that I saw a story where a politician cited interventions by Paddle Canada. This shows that the value of PC extends far beyond training."
Mark S. (Instructor Member) 

  

Re: automated feedback request email from a course participant : "Thanks very much for passing (comments from participant) on Graham.  A very nice personal touch and one of the reasons Paddle Canada continues to amaze me in how it can act in the friendly manner of a grassroots organization when it is so big. Even being able to coordinate 1300 over such a huge area and maintain a high consistency of standards, is impressive.  This speaks to both the quality of the program and the integrity of the members who support it. Keep up the good work,  Garth I. (Instructor Member)

New Website Launched in March! 

If you haven't already noticed.. we have a new look to paddlecanada.com and paddlingcanada.com. The new site has actually been up since early January however we just switched all domains over in March to our new home on the internet.  The new site gives us the ability to post more news, blogs, paddling and instructor resources, videos, photos to a gallery (send us your shots!) and gives us much more control over the content and look than the last site.

You will find the members area is now hosted on a separate site called paddlebuzz.ca (some of you have probably paid it a visit to renew memberships, register courses etc.).  

We hope you will spend some time discovering all it's contents and check back regularly for new posts on industry news and instructor news.  Comments or suggestions on web content welcome. Enjoy.  


Want to Advertise on PaddleCanada.com ? 
 

A web banner is a great way to promote your service, business or product.  With currently over 7,000 visits per month ( 4500 who are new visitors),  who look at 3.13 pages on average and spend 3:49 min in time on the PC site, your message will be targetted to paddlers. Imagine all who will see your web banner displayed here.  We will send you monthly stats on how many impressions and click throughs your ad generated. 

Great Rates... contact us for details.


 

Instructor News


1. Instructors, Renew Today

 

More than 350 instructor members have already renewed their memberships for the 2011 season. Last year we had almost 900 paid instructors so have some ground to make up yet. So get your dues paid now, hit the water and put your certs to use.  

 

 

2. Advertise Courses

 

Put folks in your boats with

 the marketing exposure of the PC website. By selecting "Advertise this course on the Paddle Canada website," your course will be listed in results when the general public searches the site. Paddlers are already calling the office looking for a course in their area, so get your courses listed early. (Courses can be registered only by current members.)

 

 

Canoe Rescue
Photo: Brian Johnston

3. Updated Canoe Program Manuals & Resources 

 

 

The Canoe PDC is pleased to announce updates to many of the program manuals.  Please visit your members area and follow the 'Canoe Program' link under 'Instructor Services' menu to view and download.

  • Lake Canoe Manual - New version
  • Moving Water Manual - New version
  • Canoe Program Venue Charts - New!
  • Canoe Strokes Resource Document - New! 
  • Updated additional resource documents 
  • Canoe Tripping Manual (Coming Soon)

 As always, comments are always welcome to help the Canoe PDC with their ongoing program revisions.  

 

4. In need of an upgrade, recert or thinking of taking your first instructor course? 

 

We've put together a summary of all Canoeing, Sea Kayaking and CKC/PC River Kayaking (and SUP if more are announced) instructor & recert courses running nationally in 2011.  This one stop shopping page should make it easier for all to find a course near you. It's all posted on Instructor News along with other good tidbits. (IT's if i've missed posting your course, let me know as this was last updated April 13)

 

You can also search the database by province and instructor level under the Programs menu.  

 

 

5. Instructor Resources On Line 

 

We've moved some of the resources around.  On the public paddlecanada.com site under the Instructors Menu you will find:  

The Waiver/Liability Forms, all Program instructor manuals, certificates and wallet cards are still in your members login area, under Instructor Services menu.
(please note you have to paid up instructor to view/gain access to these Instructor Services pages). 

 


Atlantic Paddling Symposium

Upcoming Events

 


 

  • David Thompson Columbia River Brigade - June 1 to July 26, 2011

    Here is your invitation to participate! 

    www.2011brigade.org 



     
  • Alberta's Paddle Canada Moving-Water Symposium
    July 25 - Aug. 1, 2011

    Upper Red Deer River, Alberta (with special guests Paul Mason, and Andrew and Carole Westwood) 

    Visit Event Homepage 

Thanks for reading

Until next month, keep your stick in the water...

 

Graham Ketcheson, Executive Director  

 


Contact Info

(New Mailing Address!)

 

Paddle Canada | Pagayer Canada -- PO Box 126, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4V6

1-888-252-6292  613-547-3196  Fax: 613-547-4880

Skype and Twitter: paddlecanada   

info@paddlecanada.com    www.paddlecanada.com 

 

Office Hours

Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 pm & Thursday evening 8 to 10 pm (Closed Statutory Holidays)
 

Winners Announced  For Outdoor Gear Prizes

All members who renewed by March 31, 2011 were entered into a members draw for great prizes from Outdoor Research, Level Six, Northwater, and Aquapac.  

 

View list of member prize winners here. Congratulations to the winners.