2024 June Newsletter - Alberta Whitewater Association

Hello ,

We've had a great start to the season! The 3-River Rendezvous did not disappoint with a fantastic turnout and good water levels. This first event of the season saw lots of new instructors certified, and many personal first descents for paddlers. Thank you to Chuck, Sue and their POCC team!

The first provincial competition of the season was the Harvie Passage Open. A good number of paddlers turned up from around the province for slalom, freestyle, SUP and kayak cross events. It was a packed day and lots of smiles abounded! The next competition is this weekend at the Kananaskis. Get your registration in by Wednesday to help out the volunteers prepare start lists!

Safety

Wherever your paddling exploits take you, take your time discussing and planning your next trip. Please take a moment to read this excerpt from member club UAPS:

"If you only read one message I send out this year, please let it be this one!

We hope you are as stoked to kayak this summer as we are! As a community dedicated to the safe enjoyment of whitewater kayaking, the United Albertan Paddling Society places the highest priority on the safety of all our members. In light of recent tragic events in our global paddling community and as we transition from the winter months into paddling season here in Alberta, we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone what safety on the river looks like.

1. Never Paddle Alone:

Paddling whitewater alone is incredibly risky! Always paddle with a buddy or group to ensure that help is available in case of an emergency.
Clear communication within a group is essential. Do you know the skill level of the people you are paddling with? Have you gone over river signals? Do the people you’re paddling with have any health concerns that might constitute an emergency? Do the people you are paddling with know this information about you?

2. Wear/carry Appropriate Safety Equipment:

At a minimum always wear proper safety gear, including a helmet, personal flotation device (PFD) and a whistle. These items are essential for your protection and can be lifesaving in critical situations. This also includes being dressed appropriately for conditions. Warm layers are important. Clothing for outdoor recreation in cold climates should be wool or synthetic. Absolutely NO COTTON.
Know what additional safety equipment you are trained to carry to make your days on the river more safe and enjoyable. Do not use any equipment that may pose an entrapment risk (leashes, ropes, slings, etc) if you are not trained and comfortable doing so.

3. Paddle Within Your Skill Level:

Know your limits and paddle within your skill level. Attempting rivers or sections that are beyond your capabilities not only endangers your life but also the lives of those who may need to rescue you. Be honest with yourself and the group you are paddling with about your abilities.
If you’re unsure if a run is suitable for you, ask! The whitewater community in Alberta is incredible and most everyone is happy to share information with you in the interest of everyone having a fun, safe, time."

- UAPS President -

Next Events

2024's event calendar is more full than ever! Start training and get out your calendar now to book off travel time to get to those exciting events.

June 8/9 - Kananaskis Open - Slalom, Freestyle, Kayak Cross

June 15/16 - CKC River Rescue Course - AQ Outdoor

June 28- July 1 - Grande Cache River Rendezvous - Hosted by UAPS & Grande Cache Hotel

July 5-7 - Sundre Paddlefest - Hosted by BVKC

July 5-7 - Canadian National Canoe Polo Championships - Edmonton

July 26-29 - Women's Whitewater Weekend - Jasper

August 2-5 - Slave River Paddlefest - Fort Smith

August 9-11 - KanFest 2024

August 12-18 - Canadian National Whitewater Championships - Kananaskis

September 7/8 - Alberta Provincial Championships - Kananaskis

September 21/22 - Harvie Fall Classic - Calgary

Events Calendar

2024 Leadership Courses Opportunities

This spring we have a good slate of leadership opportunities lined up:

June 9 - Instructor Intro River Module, Edmonton

June 15/16 - Swiftwater Rescue - UAPS members only

All of these will get you working towards higher levels of certification and/or provide you professional development points to maintain your current certifications. See list below.

Did you know that AWA Certified instructors get Pro Deals through Prolink now? Get all your certifications up-to-date!

2024 NCCP Course List

Alberta River Safety Project

Harvie Passage PFD Lending Station

The Harvie Passage PFD Lending station is just waiting for signage and then will be fully operational. The SeaCan was installed by the City of Calgary last week and we have hired two summer students who will work at the Lending station during the peak of summer. They will open and close the station daily and educate the public about the importance of wearing PFDs. We want to extend a big thank you to Paddle Alberta, AQOutdoors, Mustang and Transport Canada for their sponsorship of the Lending Station.

The PFD lending station will provide PFDs in a variety of sizes from infant to XXXL. The PFDs will be provided free of charge. We are hoping that most will be returned after use, but do expect some loss. If anyone sees any of the loaner PFDs scattered around we would greatly appreciate it if they could be returned to the lending station seacan. The PFDs are all labeled 'Harvie Passage Loaner'.

We are not permitted to leave the PFDs out overnight, so the lending station will only be open days when we have staff or volunteers available to open and close the station. If anyone is interested in volunteering to open or close the station please contact Elissa - safety@albertawhitewater.ca. We are in particular need of help in June and September from volunteers.

Data from the province reveals 202 drowning deaths occurred in the past four years. The biggest common factor was not wearing PFDs. The Lifesaving Society of Alberta has put together the above infographic highlighting drowning deaths in Alberta.

Emergency AEDs

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of AQ Outdoors, AWA now owns two AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) which can be used in cases where emergency CPR is required. The AEDs are stored inside the Canoe Meadows cook shack and inside the Harvie Passage PFD Lending Station SeaCan. Any paddlesports leaders or instructors who would like the access codes to these locations for emergency access to the AEDs, please contact Elissa safety@albertawhitewater.ca . There is also an AED at the Barrier Lake Visitor Info Centre which is located on Highway 40 about halfway between Canoe Meadows and Widow Maker.

We Paddle

The following is brought part of the Canoe Kayak Canada We Paddle projects. AWA has an Adaptive project and an Equity project underway with leadership from Lori Davis.

We Paddle - Adaptive

"I am stronger than my excuses."

Heather Scott is an NCCP Lake Kayak Instructor who started paddling with the Edmonton Whitewater Paddlers 3 seasons ago.

The first time I saw Heather was on the pool deck of the Kinsmen Sports Centre. She wheeled up to the polo boat rack, got her kayak down, wheeled her and her kayak to the pool edge and proceeded to get her boat on the water and into her kayak to play in the polo tournament. That was Heather's first season playing polo. She'd experienced kayaking independently with her injury for the first time the summer before.

Heather is now working on her river kayaking skills independently and with the United Albertan Paddling Society's Beginner Development Program (BDP) https://www.paddleuaps.com/page-18117. She will also be participating as an Instructor Candidate in the new NCCP Moving Water course first in Edmonton with Mark Lund June 9th and then again in Rocky Mountain House with Katrina Van Wijk June 29th (a part of the We Paddle - Equity Project).

Heather will also be doing the CKC Swiftwater Rescue Course with Saskia van Mourik at the end of August (also part of the WP-E). Heather was a full time nurse and has her advanced first aid certificate. She's very much looking forward to learning more about moving water safety and helping others living with disabilities experience the freedom and empowerment of paddling the river, going where you want to go unassisted.

In the photo above Heather is testing out the new TrailRider on the path down to 40 Boat Eddy. The TrailRider and the carefully chosen PFDS for Adaptive Paddler use were both purchased with the Community Sport for All support to aid in the efforts of the Alberta Whitewater Association to create a more inclusive and welcoming paddlesport community across Alberta. Heather was able to get down to the river and paddle the Lower Kananaskis River for the first time April 29th.

Heather uses this quote, "I am stronger than my excuses" a lot. It's her mantra, in a way. It's inspired me and I think of it a lot as I push forward these days.

Initiation into paddlesport activities requires us to push passed barriers. All kinds. Excuses to not start or to quit are always abundant. We as paddlers and as leaders guiding others along their paddlesport journeys can be stronger than our excuses. All of them.

We Paddle - Equity

At the annual 3 River Rendezvous I got to witness one of our youngest We Paddle - Equity Leaders, Ruby, demonstrate her dedication and heart as she spent a good part of Sunday's supper hour and evening convincing 2 ladies to try river kayaking again. They had had a sequence of negative experiences on a particular section of river earlier that day and were bound for home the next morning.

There was a very real passion for sharing what paddlesports has given to Ruby. After needing to take a break from paddling for a little while, Ruby is back working on her slalom skills and learning how to coach others. Ruby speaks about instructing and coaching with the wisdom of someone 3 times her age. She can identify things like body language cues that tell the story of a participant's mental state. She notes group dynamics that are key to athlete's or participants' learning outcomes. All of the ski coaching and paddling instruction that Ruby dedicates a great deal of her time to is shaping her into one of the most caring and astute young leaders we have seen.

Ruby convinced 3 of the paddlers who had had a very poor day on the water to allow her to lead them down a different section of river the following day before they dispersed on their long journeys home. All 3 finished the weekend thrilled to have experienced moving water while learning how to navigate it safely and confidently. They were all smiles and expressed their loss of fear and did their best to describe all of the various things they'd learned with their leader that day; about reading the water and using the current. They all said that they are eager to continue exploring paddling, not just on flat water but on the appropriate rivers too.

Theses new paddlers, more than 3 times their leader’s age, were very grateful for what Ruby had done for them. As for me, I feel so lucky to have watched this young leader care enough to help new paddlers feel success and support in order to continue their paddlesport explorations.

- Lori Davis - coordinator@albertawhitewater.ca

Bow River Dam/Reservoir

The Province has been consulting on options to create a new dam/reservoir on the Bow River upstream of Calgary.

What are your thoughts on the Options that have been presented by the Province and what could that mean for river recreation in the area?

Please fill out this quick survey to help AWA and partners advocate on behalf of the river community.

Take Survey

Canoe Meadows Campground

The Group Site has one available weekend available - email us to reserve!

August 3-5

Individual Tent sites are now open. Don't miss out on your favourite weekend!

Book Now

If you have any articles to publish or topics you'd like to see in the newsletter, please let us know!

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