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Our First Newsletter: 

Hi , the AWA is pleased to introduce a seasonal newsletter to keep you up to date on whitewater paddling in Alberta. If you have any questions, or want us to address any specific issues please contact us.

Since the close of the 2017 paddling season we have been busy planning for the coming year. Check out the events we have planned for 2018, as well as events in nearby Montana and BC and mark your calendar now!

Event Calender

The Three River Rendevous Festival is just around the corner in Southern Alberta from May 18-21. Check out the event and sign up here. Other festivals include the Kicking Horse, Brierlies, Grande Cache, Sundre, Women's Whitewater, Toby Creek, Slave River, Kanfest and Fraser River festivals. New this year we will be hosting the Sundre Festival at the Panther River Retreat hosted by Sunset Guiding. 

Canoe Kayak Canada is nominating a team to represent Canada at the 2018 International Canoe Federation (ICF) DragonBoat (DB) World Championships taking place in Gainesville, Georgia (USA), scheduled September 13th to 16th. You can find more information on this event here.

 

Education: The Schools and Pools Program 

The Alberta Whitewater Association School and Pools program improves physical literacy skills and teaches whitewater safety through kayaking instruction. The program:

  • visited 15 different pools in 2017,
  • had participants from 48 communities, and
  • trained 73 lifeguards as pool kayak instructors.

1,222 people learned how to kayak including 930 youth and 292 adults. Thanks to the Makadiff Sports grant this program will continue to run in 2018 with 16 communities signed currently up. Watch the schools and pools video here.

 

Protection: Stopping the Spread of Whirling Disease 

Whirling disease has been confirmed in numerous waterbodies across the western slopes and foothills including the North Saskatchewan, Bow, Oldman, and Red Deer River watersheds. These findings mark the introduction of whirling disease to Canada. Whirling disease has the potential to severely impact populations of salmonids and their allies (in Alberta, trout, including: rainbow, cutthroat, brook, bull, brown, and lake, mountain whitefish, and arctic grayling) by causing skeletal deformations and “whirling” behaviour in fish, making them extremely susceptible to predation.
 
As river enthusiasts it is important that we take measures to stop the spread of whirling disease and other aquatic invasive species where we work and play. Equipment that we use in aquatic settings should be cleaned and disinfected after each use to reduce the risk of spreading the aquatic invasive species. Alberta Environment and Parks do not currently have a disinfection protocol for recreational boating; however, they are busy developing this with hopes to a protocol in place by the 3RR Festival. In the intermin, they are requesting paddlers follow the consultant and river researchers protocol found here. Whirling disease can be transferred by any equipment that comes into contact with a waterbody.

If equipment is used in different waterbodies and cannot be adequately dried and disinfected, or there is insufficient drying time between uses, equipment (including drytops, drysuits, paddles, skirts, and kayaks) should be disinfected with bleach or similar product. This practice is especially important for those of us that paddle in multiple rivers in a weekend and don’t have the opportunity to dry equipment in between uses.
 
Aquatic invasive species are regulated in Alberta. The transfer or release of an aquatic invasive species to Alberta waters is a provincial offence and if found guilty, individuals can face fines up to $100,000 and one year in prison. Please also remember that as of 2015 all watercraft (everything from paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes, to motor and sail boats) must be inspected when entering the province and/or passing an open watercraft inspection station. Failure to stop at these stations can result in monetary fines. Click on the below links for more information.


Decontamination
Protocol


Invasive Species
Information


Whirling Disease
Information
 

Competition: National Whitewater Championships

The National Whitewater Championships are being held on the Kananaskis River from July 30 - August 6. Events will include Freestyle, Slalom, Slamon Cross and Downriver. More information in the coming weeks be located here when avaliable. 

 

Competition: Alberta Summer Games

AWA, ACPA and ASCK are laying out plans for the Alberta Summer Games in Grande Prairie from July 19-22, 2018. Events will include Canoe Polo, Slalom, and a Downriver Race hosted by the Wapiti Kayak Club. Find out more information regarding the games here.

 

Facilities: Harvie's Passage

Harvie Passage is a whitewater facility originally constructed in 2012 to replace the Calgary weir. During the 2013 floods it suffered extensive damage and was closed for recreational use. Construction to rebuild the facility began in 2016; the park is scheduled to open on June 1, 2018. Click on the below link buttons for more information.


Alberta Transportation 

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Facebook Page / Updates
 

Membership: Renew your AWA membership

Please remember to renew your membership if you do not already pay through your club.  Without your membership the AWA's ability to speak on behalf of Alberta's paddlers and for our rivers is limited. Your membership strengthens our ability to speak out for our sport. 

You can learn more about what your membership does for the sport by clicking the below button.

Membership Renewal

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85 Valley Meadow CL NW
Calgary, AB T3B 5M1-T3B 5M1
Canada

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