Whitewater Ontario (WO) has just completed a very successful two year pilot project for the operation of a whitewater instructional program at the Minden Wild Water Preserve. WO is now issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the rental of space at the Roger Parson’s Centre - Minden Wild Water Preserve, to a service provider for the operation of a whitewater instructional program.  Interested applicants may find details of the RFP at the following location: download PDF.

Attachments:

WO RFP v. 3.1 2011.pdf

[2011 RFP for paddling school at Minden]

199 Kb

There was a wedding held at the Minden Wild Water Preserve on Septhember 4th, 2010. Two members of our paddling community, Paula Semple and Andrew Philips tied the knot on the "Kissing Bridge" on the Gull River.

Whitewater Ontario

411 Carnegie Beach Road

PORT PERRY ON L9L 1B6

RE: Phillips Wedding Ceremony Minden Wild Water Preserve Gull River, Kissing Bridge

Dear Whitewater Ontario Members

Andy and I would like to thank you for allowing us to have our wedding on Kissing Bridge on the Gull River September 4, 2010. It was very special to us and our guests.

John and the other members that fixed Kissing Bridge did a wonderful job. The bridge looked great. I would personally thank Peter Farr for building the plank to the bridge at the last minute. Without it I don’t think I would have made it to the bridge without slipping. It was a nice personal touch.

Our guests, most of whom have never been to the area, loved the scenery and thought it was the best wedding that they had attended. The Gull River and pathway as back drops to the ceremony and for pictures were beautiful. The fellow paddlers that were on the river that day also added to the atmosphere that we were trying to get across. I think the Rescue course participants that were there that day had some chuckles as we were taking pictures on the rocks.

As I mentioned our guests loved the area and most plan to return at some point and may use the camping facilities at the preserve. Some were wondering how to rent the space above the washrooms as it would be good for family gatherings. Andy and I will definitely return as we consider the preserve our second home in the paddling months.

We will try and send you some pictures to use in any promotional work for the Preserve. The pictures were taken in a large format so sending them in an e-mail is too much for the system.

Thank you again for your help and support. Our wedding would not have been as personal to us or as memorable to our guests if we were unable to use the Kissing Bridge.

Thank you

Andy and Paula Phillips

WO President

Dear Jim,

The purpose of this letter is to offer my observations from this summer that has lead to a change of attitude on W.O. operations at the Minden Wild Water Preserve.

Ask me one year ago what the Minden Wild Water Preserve would look like in 2010, I would have said a few visitors and quiet except for a couple of special events. Like everyone I had my thoughts what was needed: more energized volunteers and more existing paddlers to camp at the facility.

When I first heard of a potential commercial operation based from MWWP, even I as past president was hesitant, and considered a commercial partnership as not viable and possibly sell-out.

Since early July, I have visited the Gull and rented the centre numerous times while teaching rescue courses to government clients. In the four months my opinion has turned 180 degrees. The Parson Training Centre has undergone a renaissance.

Here are some examples of what I witnessed:

• Watched a father and daughter paddling down the Otterslide in an Inflatable Kayak, followed by Mother and son. Both carefully watched and guided by an AO Boatwerks Instructor. (Never would have seen that family experience in a WO L2K course).

• Then there was the husband and family inquiring at the Main Floor Boatwerks office about when their three young children could start whitewater kayaking. Who would figure recent immigrants from Somalia would see WW kayaking in their future, or that they could find the Canadian experience at the Gull in the midweek.

• While changing clothes, getting rescue gear ready, I witnessed multiple walk-ins to inquire about day instruction, weekend courses, and what organization runs the trails and site.

• Camps who used to run their own instruction were seen arriving by bus in the RL Parking Lot next to the Parson's Centre, for instruction with Boatwerks staff. Think about it – teenagers getting to see BOTH sides of the river. MWWP just became part of their summer memory. With more to come.

• On a Tuesday evening I watched 15 local young people (15-22 years old) gathering @ Roger Parsons Centre. Not to party, but to go for evening fun race. Many of the young people had a connection to AO Boatwerks.

In 1979 Roger and Heinz, and dozens of passionate paddlers had a vision to make MWWP a centre where people of all ages would come to learn, have fun, and refine excellent paddling skills. Decades later this vision is being carried on by fresh faces. It may not be the same race plan, may not be the same boats, but still the same whitewater and vision.

We have to be big enough to say .... It is not the way I'd do it bit it's getting done. And from what I saw it is getting done very well.

Jeff Strano, Brodee Harte, Neil Ross-Ross, and the AO Boatwerks crew deserve kudos for the creative idea, their initiative and professional customer interaction at the centre. They do a terrific job representing the commercial operation and the paddling community.

Credit must go to those WO Executive and MWWP Committee leaders who were prepared to take a risk with a new paradigm of operations. These people should be congratulated for seeing beyond how it was done in the past, and willing to pilot a new method of recruitment and partnership.

Further to that I echo Dave Taylor’s (GBKC) comments, I am impressed with the website, layout, it’s currency, as well as utilizing Donna Boadway as the primary contact for all administrative work.

Monica and I are looking forward to bringing our two sons into Whitewater Ontario. Hope this new paradigm of operations can be continued, and the vision evolves.

Yours in Service,

David Gillespie

Past President – Whitewater Ontario

Past Chief Instructor – Whitewater Ontario

Gull River Restoration Committee 2000-2001

Past VP Domestic Affairs – Canoe Kayak Canada

The 30th annual Gull Open Canoe Slolom race, held this past weekend near Minden, Ontario, was a great success with 84 racers and about 130 starts.

“It’s been called the Thanksgiving for Open Canoeists” said race co-founderWendy Grater reflecting on the 30 years of Open canoe slalom races at the Minden Wild Water Preserve on the Gull River. “We started with 17 foot canoeswith inner tubes and now have second generation paddlers competing for the medals”

The race has a wonderful atmosphere in an idyllic setting. The pristine waters of the Gull River attract paddlers from all over Ontario andit is a world class whitewater venue. “It is such a cool event” says eventorganizer Mark Scriver, “Between practice runs and racing up to 4 or 5 classes, you can get a lot of paddling in and everyone is so supportive and encouraging. It has something for everyone.”

There is camping on site and agreat social evening. Event sponsor Rapid Magazine hosted the Reel PaddlingFilm festival on the Saturday evening and Paul Mason’s Bubble street foam boat course was a big hit. There were lots of prizes provided by sponsors, Kenmark Snowsports and Summersports, Werner, Kokatat, Esquif, PadddlerCo-op, AquaPac, Predator, Canoewater Adventuring, Heliconia Press, NorthWater, AO Boatwerks.

Some of the world’s best slalom paddlers compete alongside parent and child teams that are all about having fun and getting new paddlers enthused about paddling whitewater. The 18 gate course was easy enough for all to enjoy but had some very interesting moves. 85 competitors competed in classes including men’s and women’s solo, tandem, and masters. The junior / senior tandem and mixed tandem are two of the mostly hotly contested classes. A Men’s Legends class (over 55) was added this year since the Masters class (over 40) was getting so large.  Results for this and past year's races can be found on the Gull River OC Race Results page and photos can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scriverpaddleski The event is always held on the weekend after Labour Day and the organizers plan to continue for another 30 years.