Update – December 6^th, 2011

ADVOCACY NEWS

Catch up with all the Advocacy Committee’s activities over the last year and find out how you can get involved. Follow this link to read our newsletter:

http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/news/ap-news/478-advocacy-committee-newsletter.html

COMMUNICATION

The WO website was moved to a new host in November.  If you didn't notice any changes, you can thank our former host Bryce for implementing the transition smoothly and Peter and Scott from the communications committee for doing the legwork to find a reliable and affordable new hosting service!

Any questions, comments or suggestions for the website should be directed to Brad Statham, the current Director of Communications, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

MINDEN WILD WATER PRESERVE

Thank you to all WO members and visitors for a very successful 2011 season.

The Preserve is ready for winter and should be in great shape for next year.

Paddlers and campers are still welcome at any time regardless of weather.

There are still some hardy paddlers visiting the Gull every weekend!

When the snow flies, don’t forget that the Preserve is a great area to hike, ski, snowshoe, bird watch or see wildlife.

For those who enjoy fishing, the river is open all year for rainbow trout!

If your group is planning to rent the Roger Parsons Centre or hold an event in 2012, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to book your time. We already have several weekends spoken for so don’t delay.

FREESTYLE NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS AT THE GULL!

Big news for Whitewater Ontario! Please see announcement below from Robert Zwanenburg of the Canadian Freestyle Kayak Committee. Dates and more details will follow soon.

"On behalf of Canoe Kayak Canada and the Canadian Freestyle Kayak Committee, I am proud to announce that AO Boatwerks and Whitewater Ontario have been selected to host the 2012 Canadian Freestyle Kayak team trials on the Gull River at the Minden Whitewater Preserve. With their combined efforts and experience we foresee a first rate event for our Canadian kayakers. CFKC will monitor and participate in the event as needed but we are now happy to hand over the reigns to the new host”. - Robert Zwanenburg

INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION

The new CKC/NCCP Instructor Certification Program was further developed at recent meetings at the CKC Annual General Meeting. The program now has six levels, including Pool, Lakewater, Leader2, Instructor2, Whitewater Leader3, Whitewater Instructor3, and six manuals to accompany the levels. The new levels should begin to roll out in 2012, which is also the last year to recertify into the new instructor certification program if you had a certification under the old NCCP program. The Whitewater Ontario Instruction Committee will be working on the 2012 course schedule shortly. If you are interested in hosting a leader/instructor program in 2012 please get in touch with Alison Smedley ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

CANOE KAYAK CANADA – WHITEWATER

The CKC-W Annual General Meeting was held November 26-27th at the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa. Whitewater Ontario was well-represented at the AGM and other associated meetings.  Long time Whitewater Ontario member, Harold van Winssen, was elected as the new chair of CKC-W taking over from Alberta’s Ian Jobe. The presence of Joey Hitchins from the freestyle community and Dan Fuller from Canoe Polo enhanced the discussions at the table as they both contributed important views and ideas.  There is clearly a sense at the national level of the importance of the various whitewater disciplines working together.  There was evidence of energy and commitment in connecting the disciplines through events and programs and increasing the ease of communication between the various organizations.

CKC-W has also published its own Long Term Paddler Development Model. The term has been modified from Sport Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development to more accurately reflect the large and critical role that recreational paddling plays in our sport. The LTPD framework is designed to maximize the potential of participants and athletes in our sport. The framework sets out training sequences and skill development for all ages and levels.

While Whitewater Ontario received some copies of the LTPD document from CKC-W, we hope to obtain more for our clubs, coaches, and instructors. Stay tuned for more information.

Whitewater Ontario has three representatives serving on a new committee at CKC-W with a focus on Domestic Development. Steve Pomeroy, Alison Smedley, and Kathleen Tayler have joined chair Julie Crepeau-Boisvert and other provincial representatives to look at best practices across our country and also to look at marketing and communication strategies to boost the whitewater profile in our communities.

The National Whitewater Slalom and Downriver Championships will be held in Valleyfield, Quebec in August 2012. Dates will be announced in the new year.

UPCOMING  EVENTS

February 24-26, 2012      Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show

Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. See you on the water in 2012!

 Whitewater Ontario is a volunteer-driven organization uniting, supporting, and sustaining the inclusive development of the whitewater paddling community and resources.

www.whitewaterontario.ca