Brianna Hennessy to compete at the Paracanoe Pan American Championships

Canoe Kayak Canada announces the team representing Canada at the 2024 U21 Continental Pan Am Qualifier and Paracanoe Pan American Championships taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay from November 13-17. The U21 Pan American event will be held from November 13-14 and the Paracanoe Pan American Championships will take place from November 16-17.

At the U21 Pan Am qualification event, athletes from 17 different countries are competing for quota spots for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay.

The Canadian roster includes Paralympic silver medalist Brianna Hennessy and eight Canadian rising stars in women’s and men’s canoe and kayak events.

The Team Canada Roster includes:

Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa River Canoe Club
Calina Bidal – Lachine Racing Canoe Club
Carson Corey – Burloak Canoe Club
Chloe Bryer – Burloak Canoe Club
Conrad Hoogerboord – Senobe Aquatic Club
Léanne Castonguay – Otterburn Boating Club
Nikita Ciudin – Calgary Canoe Club
Peter Bradley – Rideau Canoe Club
Ruby Muhl – Rideau Canoe Club

Racing and results can be found at https://copaconline.com/

Canoe Kayak Canada is proud to announce the Dragon Boat team representing Canada at the 2024 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Dragon Boat World Championships taking place in Puerto Princesa, Philippines from October 31^st to November 3rd.

Canada will have athletes competing in the Junior, Senior and Masters (40+ and 50+) categories with Jerome Seremak as head coach and team leader.

The roster for this year’s championships has many returning athletes, including Trina Ross, recipient of the Tom Longboat Award at the 2023 Order of Sport Awards, who also brought home eight medals in the senior and masters categories at the 2022 Dragonboat World Championships in Racine, Czech Republic.

The Team Canada Dragonboat World Championships Roster includes:

Athlete                                       City                                 Province

Best of luck to all of the athletes! Racing and results can be found at planetcanoe.com.

National Men’s Kayak Coach

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is the recognized authority by the International Canoe Federation on all aspects of paddling in Canada including the Olympic disciplines of sprint and slalom, and the Paralympic discipline of Paracanoe. Our vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions.

Based in Montreal, the National Men’s Kayak Coach is responsible for the development of sprint racing member athletes capable of achieving world-class performances while contributing to the physical, psychological and social development of each athlete entrusted into their care.  Reporting to the National Team Head Coach and the Chief Technical Officer, The National Men’s Kayak Coach will lead the delivery of a national team training and competition plan with the highest level of professionalism while also leading with a culture of accountability in the execution of the program. Full Job Description.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• The successful candidate will have a degree in a related field or equivalent
• Be a certified Competition Development National Coaching Certification Program coach or hold an equivalent national coaching qualification
• Be willing to engage in continuing education including registration in Advanced Coaching Diploma of the National Coaching Certification Program

Skills and abilities:

• Be a coach with a successful track record of coaching athletes to the national and/or international level and/or extensive international experience as an athlete
• Be comfortable and enthusiastic in delivering programming as part of a team in close collaboration with other coaches and IST, with the HC making final decisions on programming, entries and other key technical decisions
• Show evidence of working effectively within a team, possessing excellent planning, interpersonal, management and organizational skills, and can motivate and inspire others
• Bilingualism is a strong asset

If you possess the passion and qualifications for this position, please submit your resume along with a cover letter clearly outlining why you believe you are a good fit for our organization. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

The application deadline is October 22, 2024 at 4:00pm ET. Please submit applications Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer.

It is with great sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Fred Johnston, a long-time paddler from the Sudbury Canoe Club and builder in the Canadian canoe kayak community.

Fred became involved in officiating and served as the Eastern Ontario Division Flag Officer from 1973-1976.

Fred also served as Vice Commodore of the Canadian Canoe Association and then served two years as Commodore from 1978-1979.

Fred’s vast knowledge of canoe sport led him to become involved on an international level with the International Canoe Federation. Fred acted as chair of the ICF Public Relations Committee for sixteen years from 1984 until 2000.

In 1983, Fred was presented with the R. Edgar Gilbert award by the CCA, a prestigious recognition of his contributions as a builder within the canoe kayak community.

Fred is most known for his historical contributions to Canadian canoeing. In 1975, Fred initiated a call to action from paddling alumni to contribute items to a proposed Canoe Museum. These items were the beginnings of the CCA archives, a vast collection of materials from across the country.

Fred also published “The Book of Champions” in 1984, with a complete list of medalists from each National Championships dating back to the first championships in 1900.

More recently, Fred has helped to create exhibits at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario and Canoe Kayak Canada events across the country.

The “C. Fred Johnston Trophy” was named and awarded to the winner of the Open Men’s K-4 200 m race at the National Championships, in keeping with Fred’s appreciation of crew boats.

A Celebration of Fred’s Life will be held at James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd, Kingston on October 5, from 1-3 pm with music and story sharing. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or the Canadian Canoe Museum in memory of Fred.

Obituary

It was a historical moment for Canadian Paracanoe with Brianna Hennessy (Ottawa River Canoe Club) winning Canada’s first-ever Paracanoe medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games. The two-time Paralympian crossed the finish line in the va’a single 200m VL2 final in silver medal position behind Emma Wiggs of Great Britain. Australia’s Susan Siepel claimed the bronze.

Brianna was visibly emotional during the medal ceremony after the loss of her mother, in 2023. “I knew when she passed away, she was passing a torch to me,” she told CBC following her final race. “I feel like this represents that, and we did it together.”

Hennessy also raced in the KL1 200m event today at the Vaires-sur-Marne stadium, finishing just off the podium in 4^th place. The 39-year-old wraps up her remarkable Paralympic journey in Paris with the honour of carrying the flag for Team Canada to the closing ceremonies on Sunday night. Brianna shares this prestigious duty with 3-time medalist Nicholas Bennett (Paraswimmer).

Erica Scarff (Mississauga Canoe Club) crossed the Paralympic line fifth in the women’s va’a single 200m VL3. She qualified for the final through the semifinals earlier in the morning. Scarff, also in her second Paralympic appearance, was a member of the first Para canoe team back in 2016.

“To have my family and friends here means a lot and helped me push even harder on the water,” said Scarff. “It was a really hard race but I’m proud of all the good work we, as a team have put in to get here.”

Mathieu St-Pierre (Shawinigan Canoe Club) wrapped up the Paralympic events finishing 6^th overall in the men’s va’a single 200m today.

Congratulations to all three of Team Canada’s Paracanoe athletes for inspiring the next generation of para-athletes for 2028 and beyond.

2024 Paralympic Results

Canoe Kayak Canada is proud to recognize the 2024 Sprint and Paracanoe National Training Squad.

The National Training Squad (“NT Squad”) is comprised of athletes who are Senior (18+) in the upcoming season who have been identified as being on the pathway towards Podium Performances at the Olympic or Paralympic Games. Being named to the NT Squad is not tied to AAP Funding Support (Sport Canada Carding) or being selected to a specific competition team. It is connected to CKC’s High Performance identification program which invests in specific athletes through our National Team Centres and our World Class Coaching and Integrated Support Team.

“As we enter 2024, with eyes on Paris we are fortunate to be working with this strong group of athletes,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “Within this group we not only have podium potential for next summer, we also have a core group with their sights set on 2028 and beyond.”

Athletes who have also been nominated for support through Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program are identified in the list below by an asterisk. Please further note that because the NT Squad is restricted to 18+ athletes, some AAP-nominated athletes, both U18 and Senior, have been included below in separate sub-headings.

A detailed overview of the NT Squad is available here.

Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program policies and procedures are available here.

CKC’s Sprint and Para Canoe 2023-24 AAP Selection Criteria are available here:

SPRINT | PARACANOE 

Paracanoe

Benjamin Brown

Brianna Hennessy*

Gabriel Ferron-Bouius*

Erica Scarff*

Mathieu St-Pierre* 

Women’s Canoe

Amelia Wojtyk

Anna Roy-Cyr

Élizabeth Desrosiers-McArthur*

Evie McDonald

Jacy Grant*

Jessica MacKay

Julia Lilley Osende*

Katie Vincent*

Sloan MacKenzie*

Sophia Jensen*

Zoe Wojtyk*

AAP Supported Athletes – Women’s Canoe

Abby Wojtyk (U18)*

Men’s Canoe

Alix Plomteux*

Andrew Billard*

Connor Fitzpatrick*

Bret Himmelman*

Craig Spence*

Nikita Ciudin*

Peter Bradley

Tyler Laidlaw*

Viktor Hardy

Zachary Kralik

Women’s Kayak

Courtney Stott*

Maddy Schmidt*

Maren Bradley*

Michelle Russell*

Natalie Davison*

Riley Melanson*

Tosha Besharah-Hrebacka*

Men’s Kayak

Brian Malfesi

Cameron Low*

Ian Gaudet*

Jacob Steele

Laurent Lavigne*

Nathan Koné*

Nick Matveev*

Pierre-Luc Poulin*

Simon MacTavish*

Vincent Jourdenais*

AAP Supported Athletes –Men’s Kayak

Jason Burkholder*

Jéremy Lantz*

Nathan Koné*

Following an independent disciplinary process, Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) announces that Angus Mortimer has been found in violation of CKC’s 2015 Discrimination and Harassment Policy after it was found that he engaged in harassment and sexual harassment while a national team athlete.

Mr. Mortimer is permanently ineligible to participate in any capacity in any program, activity, event or competition sponsored by, organized by, or under the auspices of Canoe Kayak Canada and its members, and he has been ordered to provide letters of apology to the complainants.

CKC commends the courage of the complainants who have come forward and will continue to offer support to them in relation to this matter. CKC has a fundamental obligation and responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the organization, its members, and its participants, and CKC takes this responsibility and any situation involving misconduct very seriously.

CKC also strongly supports all participants’ rights to compete in an environment that is safe and free from harassment, maltreatment, and abuse. We’ve been a strong leader in the Canadian sport system, and we’re pleased to be a supporter and signatory to the newly established Abuse Free Sport program. We’re also committed to working with Abuse Free Sport and our members to continue to strive to be better.

Any cases of alleged violations of CKC’s Safe Sport policies are dealt with thoroughly and objectively through the Independent Third-Party process. Once a decision is made, CKC fully supports the principle of openness and transparency (through public disclosure) to the extent we are able, in accordance with any final decision of a discipline panel.

We continue to respect the confidentiality of this case in accordance with our policies and out of respect for all individuals involved. Accordingly, we are unable to provide further comment and we thank you for respecting the privacy of all individuals involved.

Memo circulated to Sprint membership on November 7, 2023

Canada’s top sprint paddlers captured nine remarkable medals at the Pan American Games in Concepcion, Chile from November 1-4.

On the first day of finals, Team Canada went five for five, winning triple gold in the women’s K1 500m (Michelle Russell), the men’s K2 500m, (Ian Gaudet and Simon McTavish), and the C2 500m with Alix Plomteax and Craig Spence.  Silver was won in the K4 500m event (Courtney Stott, Natalie Davison, Riley Melanson, and Toshka Besharah). Sophia Jensen rounded out a day of success with a bronze in the C1 200m.

Carrying over some momentum from the first day of finals, Connor Fitzpatrick kicked off another medal-winning streak, earned his first Pan American bronze medal in the C1 1000m. K2 500m paddlers Maddy Schmidt and Courtney Stott collected a second bronze medal of the day.

The men’s K4 crew of Nick Matveev, Pierre Luc Poulin, Simon McTavish and Laurent Lavigne, also won the silver behind Argentina.

World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Katie Vincent raced the C2 500m on the final day with Sloan Mackenzie and delivered a nail-biting finish, scooping the gold medal away from the Chileans.

“It’s really exciting, it’s both of our first Pan Am Games so I think it’s really special especially leading into Paris next summer with the rest of our team,” shared Vincent.  “I think this is a really nice confidence boost and will just help motivate us for the next 9 months ahead!”

Tying up the event, Vincent was given the incredible honour to represent all of Team Canada as co-flag bearer alongside Breaking athlete Phil Wizard.

This event wraps up a hugely successful 2023 season for the Canoe Sprint team as they look ahead to a busy and exciting year ahead of Paris 2024.

RESULTS

TEAM CANADA PAN AMERICAN SPRINT TEAM

Women’s Canoe
Sophia Jensen (Chelsea, Que.)
Sloan MacKenzie (Windsor Junction, N.S.)
Katie Vincent (Mississauga, Ont.)

Women’s Kayak
Toshka Besharah (Ottawa, Ont.)
Natalie Davison (Manotick, Ont.)
Riley Melanson (Dartmouth, N.S.)
Michelle Russell (Fall River, N.S.)
Maddy Schmidt (Ottawa, Ont.)
Courtney Stott (Pickering, Ont.)

Men’s Canoe
Connor Fitzpatrick (Dartmouth, N.S.)
Alix Plomteux (Lac-Beauport, Que.)
Craig Spence (Dartmouth, N.S.)

Men’s Kayak
Ian Gaudet (Dartmouth, N.S.)
Laurent Lavigne (Trois-Rivières, Que.)
Cameron Low (Toronto, Ont.)
Nick Matveev (North York, Ont.)
Simon McTavish (Oakville Ont.)
Pierre-Luc Poulin (Lac-Beauport, Que.)

Canada on top of the podium at Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships

Paddle to Paris – 12 Olympic, 2 Paralympic quotas

Duisburg, Germany (August 28, 2023) – Canada captured 12 medals, including 5 gold medals, at the ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany. Canada also secured a total of 12 quota spots for the 2024 Olympic Games and two quotas for the 2024 Paralympics. The overall medal standings ranked Canada in 3^rd place behind Germany and Spain for the Olympic disciplines, and sixth on the Paracanoe medal standings.

Tokyo Olympic Bronze medallist, Katie Vincent (Mississauga Canoe Club) put on a remarkable canoe sprint clinic on the final day of competition, winning gold in the C1 500m, C2 mixed 500m with Connor Fitzpatrick, and the C1 5000m. Katie’s comeback in 5k race was revered as one of the best comebacks ever, grinding back from second last place on the first lap to World Champion on the finish line with a time of 25:57.25. Katie also paddled to a bronze medal finish in the C2 500m on Saturday with partner Sloan Mackenzie (Cheema Aquatic Club).

Vincent reacted on social media saying, “A week I will always remember! We had some broken bones a few months back but your faith and trust in me to come back stronger made this weekend all the better!” She went on to humbly thank her teammates, family, friends and all the support team around her.

The men’s and women’s K4 500m crews both finished 10^th overall. Their outstanding efforts in Duisburg locked up an impressive 8 quota spots for Canada for Paris 2024. Michelle Russell raced a career personal best to punch Canada’s spot on the start line in K1 500m.

Sophia Jensen (Cascades) also contributed to the quota count, finishing 6^th in her C1 200m final, and on quota reallocation, snapped up the last available spot for Canada.

Paralympian Brianna Hennessy (Ottawa River Canoe Club) had a banner event, securing a silver medal in the VL2 200m, bronze in the KL1 200m event, and a quota spot for Canada for Paris 2024. Rio Paralympian, Erica Scarff (Mississauga Canoe Club) also hit the podium with a silver medal in the VL3 200m event securing the second qualification spot for the 2024 Paralympics.

“The performances in Duisburg exceeded our expectations and we witnessed results that are a direct reflection of the hard work and commitment of this entire team,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “We are thrilled with the quotas we have secured for Paris thus far and are very proud of this unified team!”

There were several other narrow podium misses and outstanding performances for Team Canada worth mentioning.

Here is Duisburg 2023, Team Canada by the numbers:

Medalists:

GOLD
Katie Vincent – C1 500m
Katie Vincent & Connor Fitzpatrick – C2 mixed 500m
Katie Vincent – C1 5000m
Rachel Cohen/Maddy Schmidt – K2 Unified
Matthew Casey/Laurent Lavigne – K2 Unified

SILVER
Brianna Hennessy – VL2 200m
Erica Scarff – VL3 200m
Jacy Grant – C1 1000m
Maddy Schmidt – K1 5000m

BRONZE
Katie Vincent/Sloan Mackenzie – C2 500m
Brianna Hennessy – KL1 200m
Sophia Jensen/Sloan Mackenzie/Jacy Grant/Julia Lilley Osende – C4 500m

Top 10 in the world:

Toshka Besharah Hrebacka – 4^th – K1 200m
Simon McTavish – 4^th – K1 5000m
Brian Malfesi/Vincent Jourdenais – 5^th – K2 1000m
Sophia Jensen – 6^th – C1 200m
Michelle Russell – 6^th – K1 500m
Gabe Ferron-Bouius – 8^th – KL3 200m
Mathieu St. Pierre – 8^th – VL2 200m
Connor Fitzpatrick – 9th – C1 1000m
Pierre Luc Poulin/Simon McTavish – 9^th – K2 500m
Courtney Stott/Riley Melanson/Nat Davison/Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka  -10^th – K4 500m
Nick Matveev/Pierre Luc Poulin/Simon McTavish/Laurent Lavigne – 10^th – K4 500m

For full results on the ICF site, click here.

Szeged, Hungary (May 15, 2023) – Katie Vincent (Mississauga Canoe Club) headlined Team Canada’s performances collecting two gold medals in the C1 500m and C1 5000m on Sunday. Vincent also won silver in the C1 200m and bronze with C2 500m partner Sloan Mackenzie (Cheema Aquatic Club).

“Winning 4 medals this weekend hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” said Vincent. “I am grateful for my coaches and team support staff for helping us get to this point. We’ve put in a lot of work over the winter to get here and I am really excited to be in good form leading into World Championships and Olympic qualifications at the end of August.”

Sophia Jensen (Cascades) finished 4^th in the C1 500m and 8^th in the C1 200m final. Sophia also placed 5^th in the C2 500m with partner, Julia Lilley Osende (Mic Mac Aquatic Club). Michelle Russell (Cheema Aquatic Club) placed 6^th in the K1 200m final and 7^th in the K1 500m.

Alix Plomteux (Club de Canoe-Kayak Lac-Beauport) placed 6^th in the C1 500m while Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe Aquatic Club) finished 8^th in the men’s C1 1000m final.

Canada ranked 5^th on the country medal table with Hungary at the top with a total of 11 medals.

Paralympian Brianna Hennessy (Ottawa River Canoe Club) earned a silver medal in the VL2 200m paracanoe event along with teammate Erica Scarff (Balmy Beach Canoe Club) paddling to bronze in the VL3 200m. Mathieu St. Pierre (Club de canotage du Shawinigan) ranked just off the podium in 4^th place in the VL2 200m. Canada ranked 7^th on the Paracanoe medal table with Great Britain topping the leaderboard.

The team will return to Canada and prepare for National Team trials at the Olympic Basin in Montreal, QC from June 23-25.

Full results from ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup Szeged can be found here.

Canoe Kayak Canada is thrilled to welcome Anna Hetzler and Samuel Raiche to the CKC sprint high performance team in the new year. Anna will take on the role of Assistant Coach at the Halifax Training Center, while Samuel joins the men’s kayak program as National Team Coach at the Montreal Training Center.

“We are so happy to have Sam and Anna joining our full-time coaching staff,” said Ian Mortimer, CKC Chief Technical Officer. “Both coaches will add huge value to our athletes and bring their unique experience and skill sets to our technical leadership team in our National Training Centers.”

Samuel Raiche joins the CKC team as the Men’s Kayak Coach, working closely with National Team Head Coach, Anders Gustafsson and NT Coach, Chad Brooks. Samuel will share responsibility for developing sprint kayak athletes into world-class performers, while also prioritizing the mental wellness of each athlete in the program. Samuel brings significant knowledge and experience from his 10 years of coaching experience at Club de canoë kayak de Pointe-Claire and Club de Canoë de Course de Lachine.

“In 2022, the men’s kayak program stood out with an all-time best Canadian K4 team performance, in the K4 500m event, placing 5^th at the ICF World Championships – a testament to each individual driving the team success,” said National Team Head Coach, Anders Gustafsson. “Now all eyes are on the team to continue to deliver beyond these results in Paris 2024. Sam will be supported by the whole CKC team and many colleagues in Montreal at our National Training Center. This is a continuation, and a refinement of an evolving system and Sam will be a valuable team asset in supporting an athlete-centered approach to winning healthy and well. We want to thank the former men’s kayak coach, Mathieu Pelletier for his contributions to the success of the men’s kayak program.

Anna Hetzler will work closely with National Team Coach, Mark Granger, on the Team Red Development program as well as working as part of the coaching team at the National Training Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Anna has been working closely with CKC sprint teams over the course of the last eight months, filling a temporary leave position, and will now take on a new, more permanent role on the development side of the program. Anna has extensive coaching experience at multiple international events, including a supporting role at the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This position is made possible through the collaboration and support of the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic. 

We welcome both Anna and Samuel to the CKC team in the New Year. Samuel officially starts his new role on January 27, 2023 and Anna officially joins us on February 1, 2023.

Canoe Kayak Canada is proud to recognize the 2022-23 Sprint and Paracanoe National Training Squad.

The National Training Squad (“NT Squad”) is comprised of athletes who are Senior (18+) in the upcoming season who have been identified as being on the pathway towards Podium Performances at the Olympic or Paralympic Games. Being named to the NT Squad is not tied to AAP Funding Support (Carding) or being selected to a specific competition team. It is an identification as being part of the group of athletes which CKC’s High Performance program is choosing to invest in for the upcoming season through our National Team Centres and our World Class Coaching and Integrated Support Team.

“We are proud to work with such a strong group of athletes out of our two National Team Centers in Montreal and Halifax,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer.  “With this squad of athletes and the strong support team around them, we are working in a positive direction not just towards Paris, but Los Angeles 2028 as well.”

Athletes who have also been nominated for support through Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program are identified in the list below by an asterisk. Please further note that because the NT Squad is restricted to 18+ athletes, some AAP nominated athletes have been included below in separate sub-headings.

A detailed overview of the NT Squad is available here.

Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program policies and procedures are available here.

CKC’s Sprint and Para Canoe 2022-23 Selection Criteria are available here:

SPRINT | PARACANOE

Paracanoe

Brianna Hennessy*
Erica Scarff*

Mathieu St-Pierre*
Gabriel Ferron-Bouius*
Stefan Samoila
Yves Borque*
Benjamin Brown

Women’s Canoe

Katie Vincent*
Sophia Jensen*
Julia Lilley Osende*
Sloan MacKenzie*
Jacy Grant*
Ella Hodgson-Pageau
Evie MacDonald
Amelia Wojtyk
Mila Souilliere*
Anna Roy-Cyr
Konwanakeren Diabo
Ava Carew
Jessica MacKay
Marlee MacIntosh

U18 Athletes Women’s Canoe

Zoe Wojtyk*
Élizabeth Desrosier-McArthur*

Men’s Canoe

Connor Fitzpatrick*
Alix Plomteux*
Tyler Laidlaw*
Craig Spence*
Bret Himmelman*
Andrew Billard*
Ydris Hunter*
Matt O’Neill*
Peter Bradley*
Viktor Hardy*
Zach Kralik*
Foster Salpeter

Women’s Kayak

Michelle Russell*
Andréanne Langois*
Tosha Besharah-Hrebacka*
Maren Bradley*
Riley Melanson*
Natalie Davison*
Maddy Schmidt*
Courtney Stott*
Sarah Nagy
Lissa Bissonnette*
Grace Webby
Alanna Bray-Lougheed
Anna Negulic

U18 Athletes Women’s Kayak

Alina Tverie* 

Men’s Kayak

Nick Matveev*
Pierre-Luc Poulin*
Simon MacTavish*
Laurent Lavigne*
Brian Malfesi
Ian Gaudet
Alex Canning
Cameron Low*
Craig Johnson
Vincent Jourdenais
Jack Hall
Mitchell Barran
Alex Scott

U18 Athletes men’s Kayak

Jéremy Lantz*

2022 ICF Sprint Canoe World Championships

The 2022 ICF Sprint Canoe World Championships were a resounding success with several podium performances for Canada – a total of 8 medals, including 3 gold. While the hardware certainly shines bright, the Canadian generosity shone even brighter with several partner organizations stepping up in support of Team Ukraine. From logistics to funding and sponsorship, all hands were on deck in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Leading up to the World Championship event, Canoe Kayak Canada partnered with several different organizations to facilitate and financially support Team Ukraine‘s travel, accommodations and participation at the event.

“It was really important for us to get them out of such a horrible situation so they can train and relax and be a part of the event. It’s really an outpouring of support from Canadians to the Ukrainian family and we are proud to able to support.” says Casey Wade, CEO of Canoe Kayak Canada.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) sponsored all air and ground logistics for the Ukrainian team thanks to the generous support of Provincial Government of Nova Scotia. Many of the local clubs assisted with boats and supplies along with supply partners, Nelo and Plastex. Thank you to all of our Atlantic Division clubs who provided this much needed support.

Our thanks also go out to McInnes Cooper legal (Canoe 22 event sponsor) and the federal government – Darren Fisher, MP for Dartmouth, for helping Team Ukraine arrive safely into Canada. Dalhousie University sponsored Ukrainian accommodation, Aramark Canada provided meal services, and Canoe 22 supported event entries for the Ukrainian athletes. Halifax Regional Municipality and Need-A-Lift Inc also contributed to essential services for members of their team.

Standing in solidarity, CKC launched an apparel fundraiser with Ukrainian themed CKC sweatshirts sold with all the proceeds directed to CKC’s Team Ukraine support effort.

The community generosity continued to expand throughout the event with additional companies leaning in to make a difference. Vivoblu and Water for All reached out asking how they could get their life-saving water filters into the hands of the Ukrainian team.

Water for All works around the globe to serve those in desperate need of clean water by providing Vivoblu water filtration systems that are purpose-built for use in the harshest conditions.

“The need is hard to fathom, and we are working to help as many Ukrainians as we can, as fast as we can by working every available connection,” says John DeYoung, President of Water for All. “Five filters might not seem like a lot, but these 5 filters will serve 75-100 people for three years and every one of those people has a story, has a family, has a life filled with dreams they want to live for. We are so grateful that Canoe Kayak Canada made it possible for us to get these filters directly to the Ukrainian team.”

Team Ukraine won a total of 5 medals – 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze. They bring back more than just medals to their country, they bring back hope and stories of kindness in the world.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (August 19, 2022) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is pleased to announce the 2022 Canadian World University Canoe Sprint Team heading to Bydgoszcz, Poland from September 16-18.

Thirteen student athletes from across country will represent Canada next month at the Brdyujście Regatta Course, recognized as the oldest course in Poland.

For more information on the upcoming FISU University Canoe Sprint Championships, click here. 

2022 WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM 

Coaches

The following coaches have been selected to support the following teams:

World University Championships

• Rowan Hardy-Kavanagh

JR/U23 World Championships

• Cheyanne Farquharson
• Liza Racine

Olympic Hopes Regatta

• Dominic Gomez-Granger
• Doug Tutty
• Marie Rousseau-Demers

Katie Vincent crowned triple World Champion

Dartmouth, NS (August 7, 2022) – Canada captured five medals, including three gold medals, on the final day of the ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships at Lake Banook in Dartmouth Nova Scotia.

Tokyo Olympic Bronze medallist, Katie Vincent (Mississauga Canoe Club) was crowned world champion three times today in front of a home crowd. While she missed the podium in the C1 200m event, finishing 5^th overall, she swiftly bounced back in the C2 mixed 500m event to win gold with partner Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe Aquatic Club). Thirty minutes later, Katie lined up to win a second gold medal in the C4 500m with under-23 teammates Sophia Jensen (Cascades), Julia Lilley-Osende (Mic Mac Aquatic Club), and Sloan Mackenzie (Cheema Aquatic Club). Remarkably, Katie comes back for one more final race in the gruelling 5000m event to capture her third gold medal of the day.

“It was one of the best experiences I have ever had with so many amazing memories all week and today,” said Vincent. “Coming down the last two hundred meters was so exciting and so amazing to be competing in front of this electric home crowd. It’s fuel to our fire and you just take it all the way to the finish line.”

20-year-old Sophia Jensen captured her first senior world championship medals, taking home the silver in the C2 500m followed by a gold medal in the C4 500m event.

“I just went as hard as I could and knew I would be up there in the mix but didn’t know I was contending for top 2,” said Jensen. “These ladies are so strong and it was so much fun battling with them. I could hear the Canadian crowds and there is no giving up, you don’t want to let them down. I will never forget this moment.”

Hometown paddlers, Craig Spence (Cheema Aquatic Club) and Bret Himmelman (Maskwa Aquatic Club) won the bronze medal in C2 1000m event in front of a home crowd on Lake Banook.

“It’s unreal. I grew up here, paddling since I was five years old so this is like a dream come true,” said Spence. “Friends, families, coaches and everyone who has supported me throughout my career was right here with me so this can’t get any better.”

“This is something we’ve dreamed about since they announced this event four years ago. What an amazing feeling,” said Himmelman.

Team Canada concludes the 2022 World Championship event in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with a total of 8 medals, three gold, two silver, and three bronze along with multiple top 5 finishes across the canoe, kayak and paracanoe disciplines. Canada ranked 4^th overall on the medal standings.

Summary of results

Dartmouth, NS (August 6, 2022) – Two bronze medals for Canada on day 3 of the ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships at Lake Banook in Dartmouth Nova Scotia.

Two-time Olympian Andréanne Langlois (Club de Canoë-Kayak de Vitesse de Trois Rivières) and Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka (Rideau Canoe Club) celebrated their new crew partnership in the women’s kayak today with a bronze medal in K2 200m event.

At 19 years old, Toshka is making her first mark at the senior international level while also inspiring a veteran teammate to rediscover her love for paddling.

“We both learn different things from each other,” said 29-year-old, Langlois. “It has brought back the spark in me that sometimes you might lose in your sport when you forget how much fun paddling can be, and for that, I am very grateful to Toshka.”

Both paddlers raced in the K4 500m event one hour prior to their bronze medal finish in the K2 event.

“The turn-around time wasn’t as difficult as expected,” said Besharah-Hrebacka. “We are both extremely confident in our crew and in our ability to throw down a 200m race. The biggest challenge was calming ourselves from all the excitement before our next race.”

The duo will be back on the start line on Sunday to contest the K2 500m A final at 12:47pm.

Canadian Paralympian Brianna Hennessy (Ottawa River Canoe Club) paddled her way to her second medal in Dartmouth, capturing bronze in the KL1 200m event. Brianna also earned a silver medal in VL2 200m event yesterday.

In Tokyo, Hennessy’s top finish was fifth in the VL2 200-metres, just 1.05 seconds off the podium.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet and I think it’s going to take a couple of days,” said Hennessy. “I’m known to be slow off the start and my coach calls me the ‘comeback kid’ so it’s in the last 100m where I really try and ramp it up and catch up to all the amazing athletes here. I am truly humbled and can’t really believe I did this.”

Team Canada had many other notable results today including a 5^th place finish for the men’s K4 team, 5^th for women’s C2 200m, and 5^th in women’s C1000m.

Team Canada will race in 15 finals tomorrow on the last day of World Championship racing on Lake Banook. Live streaming is available at CBC Sports and Planet Canoe.

Today’s results

 How to Follow:

Schedule

Media Guide

Live Streaming

Media:

Colleen Coderre
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Dartmouth, NS (August 5, 2022) – Canada’s Brianna Hennessy (Ottawa River Canoe Club) captured the silver medal today in the VL2 200m paracanoe event at the Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships on Lake Banook.

Brianna crossed the finish line with a time of 1:01.42, two seconds behind Paralympic gold medallist Emma Wiggs from Great Britain.

“I’m at a loss for words,” said Hennessy. “I’m just proud of the team that I have and want to dedicate this race to the Ottawa River Canoe Club and all the kids back home who have had my back the whole time. I’m happy to be able to bring home some hardware for country. I’m very humbled.”

In Tokyo, Hennessy’s top finish was fifth in the VL2 200-metres, just 1.05 seconds off the podium. The multi-sport Para athlete and Paralympian will also be in contention for a medal tomorrow in the KL1 200m at 10:20am Atlantic time.

Canadian paracanoe teammates Erica Scarff (Mississauga Canoe Club) finished fourth overall in the VL3 200m today with Gabriel Ferron-Bouius (Rideau Canoe Club) finishing third in the KL3 200m B final.

Canada will race in multiple A Finals tomorrow on Lake Banook:

KL1 Women 200m – Brianna Hennessy

VL2 Men 200m – Mathieu St. Pierre

K4 Women 500m – Besharah/Langlois/Davison/Melanson

K4 Men 500m – Lavigne/Matveev/McTavish/Poulin

C2 Women 500m – Katie Vincent/Sloan Mackenzie

K2 Women 200m – Andréanne Langlois/ Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka

C2 Women 200m – Sophia Jensen/Julia Osende

C1 Women 1000m – Jacy Grant

The competition wraps up on Sunday August 7^th with additional podium opportunities for Team Canada in both canoe and kayak events. 

How to Follow:

Schedule

Media Guide

Live Streaming

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Aug 2, 2022) – Canada’s top sprint and paracanoe paddlers will line up on the start line at Lake Banook for the pinnacle event of the year from Wednesday, August 3 until Sunday, August 7. The event will showcase the top sprint athletes in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. For the first time at an ICF World Championships, PaddleALL exhibition events will be featured as part of the competition program.

Team Canada has a strong contingent of athletes racing on home waters this week including several Tokyo 2020 Olympians and Paralympians poised to paddle to the podium. Team Canada brought home 11 medals from the ICF World Cup in Krakow, Poland in May.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be part of the home team this year at the World Championships on Lake Banook,” said Olympic Bronze medallist, Katie Vincent. “I hope, as a whole team, we can carry the momentum from our successful World Cup tour and create some memories that will inspire the next generation of paddlers all across Canada!”

The event program includes races in women’s, men’s, and paracanoe categories of canoe and kayak in single, doubles and quad boat races. A total of 32 different finals will be raced in 200, 500, 1000, and 5000 meter distances.

What:

ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

When:

Wednesday, August 3
Thursday, August 4
Friday, August 5

Schedule here

Where:

Lake Banook
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

How to Follow:

Schedule

Media Guide

Live Streaming

It is with deep sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Jean Asselin, President of the Shawinigan Canoe Club.

Jean was instrumental in the development and amazing growth of the club in Shawinigan and was the President of the Organizing Committee for the 2022 National Championships being hosted in August by the club on the St. Maurice River.  His dedication to bringing the National Championships to Shawinigan, by showcasing what the sport has to offer to the community, and what the area has to offer to the sport, was infectious.

With a smile, amazing sense of humour and a commitment to growing the sport for all ages and abilities, Jean was an incredible part of our Canoe Kayak community and he will be terribly missed when we gather for the National Championships in a few short weeks.

Canoe Kayak Canada wishes to express its deepest sympathies to Jean’s wife Julie, his two sons, Jérôme and Jacob, and all those who he touched and work with so closely in Shawinigan and the Mauricie region.

Jean’s Obituary and Funeral details are available here.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC (June 23, 2022) – Canada’s best sprint and paracanoe paddlers will be lining up on at the Olympic Basin for the second National Team Trials event from Friday, June 24^th until Monday, June 27^th. The event will showcase the top sprint athletes in the country in the final test to determine who will represent Canada on the international stage this summer, including the ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships being held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in August.

Nearly 300 athletes, from the U16 category to the senior category, will be vying for selection to CKC’s National sprint teams – Senior World Championship team, U23 World Championship team, Junior World Championship team, and the Olympic Hopes team.

The senior sprint team is back in action this weekend following their 11 medal haul at the ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Cup in Poznan, Poland. This event serves as a final qualifier and selection requirement to be named to the Canadian Senior World Canoe Team.

“It is great to be back at the Basin here in Montreal with a full set of Team Trials after a three year break during the COVID pandemic,” said Ian Mortimer, CKC Chief Technical Officer. “I am proud of all of our athletes and coaches who push so hard to be their best here at the Olympic Basin, it will be exciting to watch the performances this weekend.”

Live streaming will be available on CKC’s YouTube channel for A finals from Friday, June 24 – Monday, June 27 with 2-time Tokyo Olympic medallist Laurence Vincent Lapointe commentating alongside former National team sprint paddler, Pierre Luc Laliberté.

This final set of trials will serve as selection for the following upcoming international events:

2022 ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
August 3-7, 2022

2022 ICF Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships
Szeged, Hungary
August 31 – September 4, 2022

2022 Olympic Hopes International Regatta
Bratislava, Slovakia
September 8-11, 2022

All CKC international teams will be announced during the week of July 4-8, 2022.

What:
CKC Sprint and Paracanoe National Team Trials #2

When:

Friday, June 24
Saturday, June 25
Sunday, June 26
Monday, June 27
Refer to schedule here

Where:
Parc Jean Drapeau – Olympic Basin
Montreal, QC

How to Follow:

Download the 2022 CKC immediaC app on your smartphone or tablet to view the athletes, the draw and live results.
Go to CKC’s YouTube channel to view all the races on Livestream.

Media Inquiries
Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Canada took home 11 medals this weekend, competing at the second and final ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Cup event of the year.

Olympic bronze medallist Katie Vincent proved her prowess winning 4 medals on Sunday, including a silver in the C1 200m. Katie also secured a gold medal in the new C4 500m event, silver in the 5km long distance event, and silver in the C2 mixed 500m with partner Connor Fitzpatrick. She finished just off the podium in 4^th place in the women’s C2 500m with partner Sloan Mackenzie.

Sophia Jensen also paddled in the gold medal winning C4 500m boat with Katie, Sloan Mackenzie and Julia Lilley Osende, rounding a successful World Cup event with a total of 3 medals. She also won gold in the C2 mixed 500m with partner Alix Plomteux and took the bronze in the C1 200m behind her teammate Katie Vincent.

One of the final podium performances of the day was from Craig Spence and Bret Himmelman in the men’s C2 1000m crossing the line in bronze medal position.

There were many notable races that fell just shy of the podium in 4^th place position including Connor Fitzpatrick (Men’s C1 1000m), Pierre Luc Poulin and Simon McTavish (Men’s K2 500m) and the men’s K4 500m team that also includes Pierre Luc, Simon, Nick Matveev, and Laurent Lavigne.

Team Canada also demonstrated great strength from within the Paracanoe program with 4 medals among three Para canoe paddlers on Saturday. Mathieu St Pierre dominated his race winning gold in the VL 200m event. Erica Scarff secured a gold medal in the VL3 200m with her teammate Brianna Hennessy capturing two medals, silver in the VL2 200m and bronze in the KL1 200m.

The Canadian team will now head home and start preparing for National Team Trials in Montreal from June 24-27. This event is a qualifier for the ICF Sprint World Championships held in Canada (Dartmouth, NS) in August.

Results:

Event Website

The first-ever Canadian female canoeists to paddle on an Olympic course have officially announced their retirement. Laurence Vincent Lapointe (Sprint) and Haley Daniels (Slalom) have recently stepped away from elite-level sport, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and inspiring a generation to come.

Women’s canoe made its Olympic debut at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games – Over 80 years after men’s canoe was introduced to the Olympic program in 1936. Haley and Laurence were among the many actively lobbying around the world for women to be able to compete on the Olympic stage.

Laurence was the first-ever gold medalist in 2010 when it was first introduced at the ICF World Championships. She went on to win multiple world championship titles on her journey to Olympic silver (C1 500m) and bronze (C2 500m) with partner Katie Vincent in Tokyo. It was a unique and challenging road to success.

Laurence reflected in her retirement announcement saying, “I have accomplished everything I wanted to do by going to the Olympic Games and finally seeing women competing in canoe. Thank you to all those who contributed to my success.”

Haley Daniels is also a passionate paddling pioneer advocating for gender equality in women’s canoe and actively supporting her father’s recent decision to publicly announce his transition to a transgendered woman, named Kimberly.

“My mantra throughout the whole process is to be open and honest,” said Daniels. “I only get one family and one dad, so it was natural to support her transition and welcome this journey together.”

Kimberly became a certified international official for slalom paddling and was selected as an Olympic judge at Tokyo 2020. Kimberly was the first openly transgendered woman to judge at an Olympic Games.

“Sitting at the start line of the first Olympics that women’s canoe debuts as gender equal was the proudest moment I have ever had,” said Daniels via Instagram. “We pioneered a legacy for future women in sport to come and for that I can’t help but smile.”

CKC congratulates both Haley and Laurence on their retirements. We look forward to celebrating and featuring more Olympian retirements in the coming months.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is pleased to welcome Jessica Kenney and Emmalee Nother to the staff team. Jessica will take on the role of Project Manager, National Program Development and Events while Emmalee joins the team as Communications Coordinator.

“We are thrilled to welcome both Jessica and Emmalee to the CKC team” said Casey Wade, CEO of Canoe Kayak Canada. “Both bring tremendous experience, energy and skills that will help strengthen our continued commitment and capacity to lead and support paddling in Canada at all levels, as well as internationally.”

Jessica Kenney will be responsible for coordinating and managing the delivery of domestic development programs and events as it relates to planning, budgeting, execution, communication, tracking and evaluation of programs in partnership with other key staff. Jessica will work closely with Kenna Robins, Director of National Program Development, the Senior Leadership team and other key staff.

“I am excited to be joining CKC and the Canadian paddling community,” said Kenney. “I look forward to working with Kenna and the team to build on the great work CKC is known for, while helping develop the National programming.”

Jessica brings a wealth of experience from her most recent role at the Canadian Paralympic Committee. As Senior Coordinator of Games Operations and Delivery, Jessica has completed the delivery of Travel Services and Games Registration for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games. Jessica also held the role as Senior Coordinator of Fundraising Events at the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. Prior to joining the Canadian Paralympic Committee, she managed the satellite operation for the 2019 Red Deer Canada Games, managing the competition venue, accommodation and competition operations of three sport competition venues.

“We are really looking forward to having Jessica as part of the team,” said Kenna Robins, Director of National Program Development. “As a Certified Project Manager, she has extensive experience in project management, volunteer management, and successful event delivery. Jessica’s positive attitude and excellent customer service skills will certainly be a great asset to CKC and the broader community.”

Emmalee Nother joins the CKC team as Communications Coordinator. Working closely with the Communications Lead, Colleen Coderre and the Senior Leadership Team, Emmalee will support the delivery of CKC’s communications, including event communications, media relations, and the digital strategy.

“I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Colleen and the CKC Team,” said Nother. “With passion and purpose, I look forward to telling the incredible stories of our athletes and sport to amplify the paddling community.”

In her recent role as Digital Communications Manager at Alpine Ontario Alpin, Emmalee developed a robust digital marketing strategy that resulted in significant growth and engagement for the organization and their partner profiles. In her previous role at the Canadian Olympic Foundation, Emmalee managed all donor marketing and communications, fostering new profitable relationships that helped carry Team Canada through two Olympic Games, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Emmalee was also a key player in launching multiple marketing campaigns at the Foundation including ‘5to8’, the largest digital fundraising campaign the Foundation has ever launched with media coverage worldwide.

“Emmalee brings the perfect balance of passion and experience to this role,” said Colleen Coderre, CKC’s Communications Lead. “She is highly skilled, highly motivated and brings a wonderful energy and attitude to the table. I am really looking forward to working with Emmalee to elevate our communications strategy.”

We welcome Emmalee to the team as she officially starts in her new role on April 4, 2022. We also look forward to welcoming Jessica to the team on April 19, 2022.

Ottawa, ON (March 1, 2022) – Canoe Kayak Canada and the Canoe ’22 Society, hosts of the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe World Championships, supports the decision of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) to suspend all Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials.

We join our partners at the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee in strongly condemning the war of aggression against the sovereign state of Ukraine by the Russian government, currently being supported by the Belarusian Government.

We add our voice to calls for peace and the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people as well as with the communities of athletes, coaches, and staff who may have friends or family affected by these horrific events.

ICF Release – March 1, 2022

Canoe Kayak Canada is looking for two volunteers to join the Slalom High Performance Committee as members at large, which are voting members of the committee. The Whitewater Council recently updated the committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR) and added a 6^th voting member to the committee. The revised ToR also indicate that the committee, to the extent possible, will ensure regional and gender representation within its composition. Additionally, the committee encourages individuals from underrepresented communities to respond to this call.

The Slalom HPC will meet at least twice per year via telephone or video conference. The main role of the Committee is to provide technical direction to the Slalom discipline and High Performance Programs and as such it operates with a relatively high degree of autonomy on technical matters specific to the Slalom discipline.

At a minimum, all candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a current member in good standing of Canoe Kayak Canada

In addition, ideal candidates will have:

• Extensive knowledge of whitewater high performance programs and the Canadian sport system as it relates to the discipline
• Experience working on volunteer committees
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• The ability to work in both official languages is an asset.

Please send completed application forms and a resumé outlining relevant skills and qualifications to James Cartwright by email at jcartwright@canoekayak.ca before March 7, 2022

Canadian athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 have the chance to be scouted by nine Team Canada sports for free, including Canoe Kayak Canada

TORONTO, January 25, 2022 — RBC Training Ground struck gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when alumni Avalon Wasteneys and Kelsey Mitchell became Olympic champions. Now, as program graduates prepare to make their debut at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, RBC Training Ground resumes its search for the next generation of Olympic talent.

RBC Training Ground is a nation-wide talent identification program dedicated to finding and funding Canada’s future Olympians. Canoe Kayak Canada –  one of nine participating National Sport Organizations – has partnered with RBC Training Ground since its inception.

“RBC Training Ground is a gamechanger and a real life example of how a Team Canada partner can change the fate of young Canadian athletes,” said David Shoemaker, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General, Canadian Olympic Committee. This amazing program quite literally makes Olympic dreams a reality. We are delighted to see the program returning for its seventh year and excited about the prospects of RBC Training Ground graduates competing at Beijing 2022 in just a few weeks. We know how Team Canada inspires Canadians to Be Olympic, and we strongly encourage young Canadians to take advantage of this free opportunity to kickstart their campaigns for Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and beyond, so they can then inspire the next generation of champions.”

Year seven of the program, beginning this Spring, features a planned return to free in-person qualifying events across the country (guided by local health and safety protocols) in addition to virtual testing options.

At each qualifying event participants will perform speed, strength, power, and endurance benchmark testing in front of the participating National Sport Organizations. Athletes deemed to have high performance potential are invited to complete further sport-specific testing. The top athletes will be selected as RBC Future Olympians and receive funding, mentorship, and other resources to pursue their Olympic dreams.

“RBC Training Ground is designed to help identify and support the next generation of Olympic talent, and provide athletes with the high-performance sport resources needed to achieve their podium dreams,” said Evan MacInnis, Technical Director for RBC Training Ground. “While some participants are looking to re-energize or boost an Olympic dream in a sport they are already pursuing, others participate with the hope of being discovered and directed toward an Olympic sport they may have never considered. But they all rely on raw athleticism and determination to attract the attention of our sport partners and are excited to see where this program can take them.”

RBC Training Ground alumni competing at Beijing 2022 include World Cup gold medallist Marion Thénault (Freestyle Skiing – Aerials), Miha Fontaine (Freestyle Skiing – Aerials) Mike Evelyn (Bobsleigh), Ryan Sommer (Bobsleigh) and Sara Villani (Bobsleigh).

Registration and event information for all local RBC Training Ground events is available at RBCTrainingGround.ca.

Since its inception in 2016, the program has tested 10,000 athletes across Canada, with over 1,300 athletes being identified by National Sport Organizations as having Olympic potential (many in a sport they had never considered).

National Sport Organization program partners in 2022 include: Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton; Canoe Kayak Canada; Cycling Canada Cyclisme; Freestyle Ski Canada, Luge Canada; Rowing Canada Aviron, Rugby Canada; Speed Skating Canada; and Volleyball Canada – all looking to identify new talent for development.

RBC Training Ground was developed in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Foundation, with support from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network. As the longest standing corporate partner of Team Canada, RBC is proud to celebrate its 75^th year proudly championing the Olympic Movement.

It is with profound sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Bill McKee on December 21st at the age of 84. Bill was a long time National and International Official, volunteer and leader within the Quebec Division of the Sprint Discipline for more than 40 years.

Bill began his life in the sport as a paddler at the Grand Trunk Canoe Club. After his paddling years, he became a director of the Chateauguay Canoe Club and then an official with his long-time friends Peter McCabe and Robin Walsh.

Bill was a certified level 5 official, and was a regular appointee to international events, officiating at the 1976 Olympic Games and 15 ICF World Championships. At home at Canadian events he was a fixture of the sport officiating at Nationals and many divisional regattas every year. Bill was the Quebec Division flag officer for more than 30 years, and was extremely knowledgeable about the Quebec Division and its history. Much of the development and modernization of the sport in Quebec can be linked to his tenure, and his dedication to the sport of Canoe Kayak was profound.

He remained aware of athlete results and was a supporter of up-and-coming and high level athletes. Bill was also an advocate of women’s canoe in our sport. Most of all he always shared a love for the sport, and every year at Nationals he was happy to watch all of the close races and performances of the athletes on the water.

Bill was the honoured recipient of the R. Edgar Gilbert Award for his contribution to officiating in 1986. The Quebec Division also donated a National Championships trophy named in his honour, which Bill presented to the winner of the Senior Women’s C1 200m for the first time in 2018.

Canoe Kayak Canada wishes to express our condolences to Bill’s wife Frances, his family and all of his friends and colleagues in the canoeing community. We also are compelled to thank Bill, and his family for his lifetime of contribution to the sport of canoeing.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is the recognized authority by the International Canoe Federation on all aspects of paddling in Canada including the Olympic disciplines of sprint and slalom, and the Paralympic discipline of Paracanoe. Our vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions.

 
JOIN OUR TEAM:

Project Manager, National Program Development and Events

Application deadline: January 14, 2022

Communications Coordinator

Application deadline: January 14, 2022
 
If you possess the passion and qualifications for this position, please submit your resume along with a covering letter clearly outlining why you believe you are a good fit for our organization. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Apply to cwade@canoekayak.ca

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is proud to welcome KC Dalton (nee Fraser) to our staff team as an Assistant Coach working in the Atlantic Centre.

KC Dalton previously led high performance programming at the South Niagara Canoe Club as the Head Coach. As a Sprint National Team alumna, Dalton is a Pan American Games champion in K4 500m in 2015, and a member of the 2016 Rio Olympic Team.

In this coaching role, KC will work with all disciplines at the Atlantic Sport Centre to continue elevating it to a world class training environment.  KC will collaborate closely with CKC coaches, Chad Brooks and Andreas Dittmer in Halifax, as well as the broader high performance team at the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic.

“After a great experience working at the club level I’m excited for this new opportunity to work with the top athletes in Canada and share my knowledge,” added Dalton.

KC will be a key leader within our CKC Sprint coaching staff and a critical piece of ensuring a world-class centre environment year round in Halifax, while also coaching a various international competitions and camps through out the year.

“KC’s high level of technical knowledge, experience in the sport, coaching education and her positive and performance focused mindset will be a true asset to our CKC community and all the athletes,” said CKC Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “We look forward to her joining the team in January.”

This position was made possible through the collaboration of the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic, and we thank them for their ongoing partnership and collaboration.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is thrilled to announce the return of world-class coach Andreas Dittmer to lead Canada’s canoe sprint program towards Paris 2024 and beyond.

Dittmer coached the Canadian men’s sprint canoe team for over two years before returning to his home country to coach the German men’s canoe team in fall 2020.

During his career as an athlete, Dittmer dominated sprint canoeing by winning five medals at the Olympic Games, including gold in C-2 1000m, C-1 1000m and C-1 500m, and accomplishment unmatched in the history of the sport. He is also an 8-time World Champion and won a total of 22 medals at the World Championship between 1991 and 2004.

In his previous role as Men’s Canoe coach in Canada Dittmer led the team to a successful qualification for the Olympic Games in C-2 1000m, including the setting of a Canadian record in the C-2 1000m at the World Championships in 2019. During his stint with the German team during the 2021 season, Dittmer coached athletes to a Bronze Medal in Tokyo in Men’s C-2 1000m, as well and Senior World Championships Titles in C-1 1000m.

“We are very excited to have Andreas rejoin our program in this new role leading the Canoe program. He is a leader whose experience and impactful coaching helps our entire team elevate their training, while bringing a love and passion for the sport that is equally inspiring,” said Ian Mortimer, Canoe Kayak Canada Chief Technical Officer.

Dittmer is looking forward to returning to Canada saying, “I’m very grateful to be able to continue this great job for the canoe and kayak family in Canada and I’m really looking forward to working with motivated athletes who will join us on the pathway to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. I’m also excited to be working with very professional coaches and staff and I’m especially looking forward to coming back home.”

While Dittmer will contibute to program training for our athletes in the Fall, he will officially join the team on January 1, 2022 and work closely with CKC Head Coach Anders Gustafsson and the entire canoe kayak sprint coaching team in the lead up to Paris 2024.

Call for Candidates

Domestic Development Committee – Athlete Representative

and

National Sprint Officials Committee – Athlete Representative

Canoe Kayak Canada is looking for two individuals to join two committees in the organization as Athlete Representatives:

1. one individual to join the organization’s Sprint Domestic Development Committee (DDC) as the Athlete Representative, and
2. one individual to join the organization’s National Sprint Officials Committee (NOC) as the Athlete Representative.

These positions are instrumental in providing an athlete’s perspective to the discussions and decision-making of the organization.

Interested candidates are required to complete the attached form in order to be considered for the position.

Please send applications to Chair of the CKC Athlete Committee, care of Ben Russell by email to benruss@gmail.com  by October 27^th, 2021.  The Athletes Committee will be responsible for the final selection of the candidates.

Call for Candidates – Sprint Racing Discipline, Sprint Racing Council Chair/Commodore, Domestic Development Committee Chair, and High Performance Committee Chair

Canoe Kayak Canada is looking for three individuals to join three committees in the organization:

1. one individual to join the Sprint Racing Council and fill the role of Chair/Commodore of the Council,
2. one individual to join the Sprint Racing Council and fill the role of Chair of the Domestic Development Committee, and,
3. one individual to join the Sprint Racing Council and fill the role of Chair of the High-Performance Committee.

These positions are instrumental in providing leadership to the discussions and decision-making of the organization.

Interested candidates are required to complete the form in order to be considered for the position.

Dear CKC Members,

We would like to take a moment to recognize this first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This Day honours the lost children and Survivors of the residential Schools, their families and communities.

In 2021 Canoe Kayak Canada and working with it’s Indigenous Advisory Council developed the : Starting the Conversation: Paddling, Indigenous Peoples, and Reconciliation, resources to encourage our membership to  engage in conversations around paddling, Indigenous Peoples, and reconciliation in our sport.

Today we encourage all our members to take action by Starting the Conversation in their own communities. For those who do use the Starting Conversation resource and complete the activities, we would further encourage you to send what you have learned and the outcome of your conversations in to us at CKC so that we can post them on the CKC website to be shared for all to learn from. The conversations, and sharing this education is an initial step forward on the long path of reconciliation.

We would like to sincerely thank our Indigenous Advisory Council for their time and council.

For more information or questions: please contact Tyler Lawlor tlawlor@canoekayak.ca

CKC: Starting the Conversation: Paddling , Indigenous Peoples, and Reconciliation.

Document can be found here.

For more information please visit:

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation Sport:

Sport

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

OTTAWA, ON (September 28, 2021) — Canoe Kayak Canada Marathon team is racing at the 2021 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships this week in Bascov, Romania.

The Canadian team will compete from September 30 – October 3, led by Team Leader and CKC President, Chris Helyar.

The World Marathon Championships is a lap-format race with the start, finish and portage in the same area.

Canadian athletes will take part in the short distance events on September 30 (approximately 9km) in the C1 and K1 classes. There is a set of heats with the qualifying boats going to the finals. There are three laps for all competitors.

Athletes will also compete in the long distance events from October 1-3 (approx. 13 km to 28km). The number of laps ranges from 4-8 depending on the race category. The senior athletes are expected to complete the distance in a time of approximately two hours fifteen minutes.

Meet the Canadian team:

K1 Men – Andrii Kkainatskyi
Andrii paddles for the Viking Canoe Club (Morin-Heights), lives in Montreal, Quebec. Andrii was born in Ukraine, where he started to paddle in a kayak at the age of 11 years old. At the junior age (1999-2004), he became the champion of the various national championships in sprint and marathon kayak races. Later, with the Ukrainian National Dragon boat team and Canadian Dragon boat team.

C1 Men – Bret Himmelman
Bret paddles for Maskwa Aquatic Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is on the Canadian National Sprint Team. Bret has previously raced internationally for Team Canada at World Cups and CANAM MEX. Bret will be racing at his first World Marathon Championships this year.

C1 Women – Marlee MacIntosh.
Marlee paddles for Maskwa Aquatic Club in Halifax, NS. Marlee participated in the 2018 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships, winning gold in the Jr Women’s C1 event. She has also represented Canada six times internationally for sprint canoe and has won numerous medals at the national championship level.

Congratulations to the Canadian Masters athletes who competed at the 2021 ICF Canoe Marathon Masters World Championships on September 27-28. Canada had 3 entries and four medals at this event.

C1 Men – 65-69 – Chris Helyar – GOLD
K1 Women – 55-59 – Edit Fried – BRONZE
K2 Women – 35+ – Edit Fried/Larisa Antonova (Russia) – GOLD
K2 Mixed – 55-59 – Edit Fried/Alain Buliard – SILVER
K1 Men – 55-59 – Alain Bulaird – 10^th place

For more information on the event click here.

Katie Vincent wins gold in the C1 200m at the 2021 Senior World Championships. Vincent had never won a senior world championship medal in the women’s C1 200m before Sunday, having watched teammate and C2 partner Laurence Vincent-Lapointe take six of the past eight titles.

Vincent broke through on Sunday, out-sprinting Spain’s Antia Jacome and Poland’s Dorota Borowska.

“All this hard work for the past few years to get to this point, and now I’m looking forward to the future,” Vincent said.

“I really feel like this is the beginning, there is a long road to go for me. I’m really looking forward to worlds next year at home, to be the reigning world champion added into a home world championships will be super exciting.

“I have ups and downs since Tokyo, there were a lot of emotions and things to process, and there still is. It kept me going and I reconnected with my love for this sport.”

Excerpt from International Canoe Federation
Photo: Bence Vekassy

MONTEMOR-O-VELHO, (September 7, 2021) – Team Canada returned to Junior/U23 international competition this weekend earning three World titles and a total of nine medals at the ICF World Championships.

Sophia Jensen (Cascades Canoe Club) led the medal haul for Canada, earning two gold medals, a silver and a bronze medal in women’s and mixed canoe events.

Jensen trained with Tokyo Olympic medalists, Laurence Vincent Lapointe and Katie Vincent in the lead up to Tokyo, reinforcing the strength and depth of the Canadian women’s canoe program leading into Paris 2024 and beyond.

“It felt absolutely amazing,” said Jensen. “It was an honour to race with such a strong group of athletes and it was also super fun! I can’t wait to keep training hard and seeing what next year has to offer!”

Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe Aquatic Club) was also crowned World Champion in the U23 C1 500m event. That result tops his silver medal performance in the C1 1000m event from the previous day.

“Being back in the boat and racing post-Tokyo was so amazing,” explains Fitzpatrick. “We had an amazing team and I was very happy to be able to put down some good races that earned me a spot on the podium. To win my first world title this weekend was a feeling like no other. The biggest thing for me was my parents and home club coach were able to be here with me this weekend and enjoy the moment as well.”

“I was very proud of this team both on and off the water,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Graham Barton. “It has been a tough 18 months and we had little opportunity to prepare due to a late selection event.  The nine medals demonstrates potential for the Paris and Los Angeles Olympic Games but there were also many close 4th and 5^th place finishes. The team was supported by club coaches many of whom were at their first international competition and they did an amazing job along with the many coaches at home contributed to this best ever Junior and Under 23 World Championship performance.”

Team Canada stood on the podium in the following events:

Gold – Sophia Jensen – C1 200m (U23)

Gold – Sophia Jensen & Alix Plomteux – C2 Mixed 500m (U23)

Gold – Connor Fitzpatrick – C1 500m (U23)

Silver – Connor Fitzpatrick – C1 1000m (U23)

Silver – Sophia Jensen, Anna Cyr, Sloan Mackenzie & Anne Parent – C4 500m (U23)

Bronze – Sophia Jensen & Anna Cyr – C2 500m (U23)

Bronze – Ella Hodgson-Pageau – C1 200m (Jr)

Bronze – Toshka Besharah – K1 200m (Jr)

Bronze – Ian Gaudet – K1 500m (Jr)

Team Canada Entries:

U23

Junior

Results:

https://timetable.canoesprintportugal.com/

Canoe Kayak Canada is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Orlick, professor of Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Ottawa, renowned Mental Performance Coach, author and long-time member of the support team for CKC National Team athletes.

Terry was a noted leader in the development of the field of Sport and Performance Psychology and generations of CKC athletes benefited from his teaching and guidance to support them in their pursuit of excellence, while also encouraging them to maintain and nurture a love of the sport and a joy in daily experience as a team and community. Notably, Terry was part of the CKC Olympic Teams in this support role for the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games.

“Terry was a one in a million guy. He shared the ‘simple joys’, as he would fondly say,” said LA Schmidt, CKC Commodore Sprint. “Thank you Terry for teaching us all how to excel at living.”

Beyond his professional connection with our CKC community, Terry was a paddling dad, father to Jewelia and Skye Orlick, both paddlers at the Cascades Canoe Club in Chelsea, Quebec. CKC offers its deepest sympathies to the Orlick family and all the friends and loved ones mourning at this time.

Obituary

“The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, or gives you a sense of meaning, joy, or passion.”

Terry Orlick, “In Pursuit of Excellence – 5th Edition”

Ottawa, August 6, 2021 – Canada’s Para canoe team for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will see three athletes make their first Paralympic appearances, as the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and Canoe Kayak Canada announced today the selection of Brianna Hennessy (Ottawa, ON), Andrea Nelson (Markham, ON), and Mathieu St-Pierre (Shawinigan, QC).

Hennessy started Para canoe only last year, and has made an impact right away. She earned her Tokyo spot thanks to her performance at the World Cup event in Hungary in May, finishing fourth in the women’s VL2 category race. It was Hennessy’s first international competition.

“I’m so honoured to be part of the Tokyo Paralympic Games team, and to push beyond my limits, to fight for excellence, to represent Canada on the world stage, to compete with the best of the best, and above all, to inspire others with disabilities,” said Hennessy.

Nelson qualified a place for Canada with a fifth-place finish in the KL2 race at the 2019 world championships before securing her spot in the boat at the Canoe Kayak Canada Olympic and Paralympic Trials earlier this year. She entered the Para canoe world for the first time in 2017 after discovering the sport at the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Paralympian Search event in Toronto.

“I’m extremely proud of how far I’ve come,” said Nelson. “I’m very excited to be a part of the 2020 Paralympic Games.”

St-Pierre also secured his place on the Tokyo team with his result at the recent World Cup in Hungary in May, a fifth–placefinish in the men’s VL2 race. A member of the national team since 2017, St-Pierre has two world championship appearances to his name, finishing seventh in 2018 and 11th in 2019 in the men’s VL2 200m.

Para canoe competition in Tokyo will take place September 2-4.

“I am very proud of the team we have going to Tokyo and know they have prepared for performance,” said Para Head Coach Marc Creamer. “We have a mix of international experience however this will be the first Paralympic Games for everyone. The support from their teammates and home clubs will fuel the fire for their best performances as we compete on the biggest stage.”

Para canoe is a new sport within the Paralympic program, making its debut five years ago at the Rio 2016 Games. The program has been expanded for Tokyo to include both kayak and va’a boats and additional athlete slots. Canada is looking for its first Paralympic medal in the sport.

“Congratulations to Brianna, Andrea, and Mathieu on qualifying for their first Paralympic Games!” said Stephanie Dixon, chef de mission, Tokyo 2020 Canadian Paralympic Team. “This is a remarkable accomplishment, and I am so happy to welcome them to the team. Competing in the Paralympic Games for the first time is a dream come true for any athlete, and all of Canada will be behind them as they race in Tokyo.”

TOKYO 2020 PARALYMPIC GAMES PARA CANOE TEAM:  

Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa, ON

Andrea Nelson – Markham, ON

Mathieu St-Pierre – Shawinigan, QC

The postponed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place August 24 to September 5, 2021 in Japan. Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 130 athletes, and audiences across the country will be able to follow all the action live through coverage from the Canadian Paralympic Media Consortium, including broadcast partners CBC/Radio-Canada, AMI, and Sportsnet, and digital partners Twitter, Facebook, and MXZN.  

CLICK HERE to see the complete list of athletes currently named to the Canadian Paralympic Team. The Canadian Paralympic Committee will announce the official full team heading to the Games later this month.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympic.ca

About Canoe Kayak Canada: CanoeKayak.ca

MEDIA CONTACTS

Nicole Watts
Manager, Public Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
nwatts@paralympic.ca or 613-462-2700

Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca or 613-530-6217 (via WhatsApp)

TOKYO, JAPAN (July 25, 2021) – Olympic competition officially kicked off today at the Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre with the women’s kayak and men’s canoe heats.

Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC) was the first Canadian down the course, paddling a strong first run, positioning herself well leading into the second run. Florence cementing her spot into the semi-finals following the second run and will compete on Tuesday July 27.

“I am really proud to perform at my best today,” said Maheu. “I was definitely nervous, and you put that pressure on yourself to deliver a good performance and I felt I did that today. Sometimes you are able to have some good moves but you are not able to put everything together in the race but today I was able to do that in my first run and that is all I can ask for.”

Cameron Smedley (Dunrobin, ON) had a tough day on the Olympic course and did not find his form on either of the qualification race runs, taking several punishing penalties that set him back in the rankings. Smedley needed to deliver a strong second run in order to move up into the top 15 cut-off in order to advance to the semifinals. The second run proved to be faster but unfortunately it was not enough to make the semi–final cut-off.

“I feel like I could have competed with the top contenders in the field and that obviously didn’t happentoday,” said Smedley. “I took some penalties and paddled too cautiously and I think the nerves got the better of me. I will have to reassess where things went wrong here.”

Canada will compete next in the women’s kayak semifinals on Tuesday (Tokyo Time), along with the Olympic debut of women’s canoe at the Olympic Games. Men’s kayak heats start on July 29.

For full results click here.

The Canadian entries are listed below.

About Canoe Kayak Canada

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 24 Olympic medals, and a leader in the Paralympic movement. Canoe Kayak Canada is a member-based organization that includes an intricate network of clubs as well as provincial, territorial and divisional paddling associations. Elite National Team athletes proudly represent Canada at various competitions around the globe – most notably the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, ICF World Cups as well as Junior, Under 23 and Senior World Championships. Follow Canoe Kayak Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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For more information:

Colleen Coderre

Communications Lead

ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

While we all have the right to express an opinion, it is vitally important that we also recognize how hurtful our comments can be, and that we must take responsibility for educating ourselves to ensure those opinions are well-founded.

In response to this situation, we felt it important to put out a timely message to make clear a few important points.

First, any cases of alleged violations of CKC’s Safe Sport policies are dealt with thoroughly and objectively through the Independent Third Party. We cannot comment on the specifics of any case without consent from the parties involved as confidentiality is a cornerstone of any safe sport program.

Confidentiality also promotes the integrity of the process by allowing for an independent investigation and by respecting voluntary agreements between the parties. Discipline decisions are published to ensure transparency for the sporting community.

Second, spreading unfounded gossip is harmful and hurtful for everyone involved. There is also the potential for a negative ripple effect that could distract our Olympic athletes and coaches as they make final preparations for Tokyo.

Third, CKC has one of the most advanced and progressive safe sport policies among national federations. Widely adopted by paddling clubs across the country, we are constantly looking for ways to better protect participants and to proactively create the conditions for positive athlete experiences. Sport Canada’s announcement this week about a new independent safe sport office is further reason to feel confident about the power of Canada’s safe sport movement and the strength of CKC’s approach.

It’s clear there are members of our paddling family who are struggling with some difficult issues. Let’s commit to supporting each other with kindness and compassion so that the necessary healing can take place and we can move forward with a collective commitment to making canoe kayak safe, welcoming and fun for everyone involved.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to either of us should you have questions or concerns. Queries about the complaint process canbe directed to Brian Ward, Independent Third Party for Canoe Kayak Canada, at: safesport_wwdrs@primus.ca.

Casey Wade, Chief Executive Officer  

Kenna Robins, Senior Manager National Program Development

—————

March 14, 2020

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the CKC-Sprint Racing Discipline (CKC-SRD) Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials scheduled for April 16-19, 2020 in Gainesville, Georgia.

This decision has been made in light of the rapidly changing landscape related to the COVID-19 health pandemic and in the interest of ensuring the health and well-being of all of our athletes, coaches and staff.

Due to the updated Government of Canada recommendation to “avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada”, CKC believes it is in the best interests of our athletes, coaches, officials, staff and the many volunteers and spectators to cancel this event.

We recognize that this is a tremendously disappointing decision for paddlers and coaches who have been training and preparing for months and years to be at their best for these trials. While it was a difficult decision, CKC considers that it is the right decision for the safety of our paddling community and the public at large.

It should also be mentioned that the Government of Canada has issued a recommendation for all Canadians to “avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada” and that Canadians currently outside the country should determine which commercial options are still available and consider returning to Canada earlier than planned if these options are becoming more limited. Athletes, coaches and staff returning from locations outside of Canada should also consult local public health reasources at their destination and in destinations through which they may need to travel to return home to understand the isolation protocols that they should follow.

CKC will be making the arrangements in the coming days to progressively wind down our Sprint National Team Training Camp in Indian Harbor Beach, Florida so that athletes, coaches and staff can return home to Canada.

CKC recommends that all Provincial and Club camps taking place outside of Canada understand the above-mentioned Government of Canada travel recommendation as an indication to begin to carefully plan the return of athletes, coaches and other staff to Canada in a manner which minimizes risk to their health and safety.

“This was an extremely difficult decision for the leadership team at CKC,” said Graham Barton, CKC Chief Technical Officer. “I have been in the training environment and seen first-hand the dedication and commitment of our athletes, but what I admire most is the professionalism, understanding and belief that we, as team, must do what is best for the health and safety of all.  I am confident we will adapt and plan for all the contingencies in the coming months and that our Team will be ready.”

CKC distributed information to the paddling community concerning the spread of COVID-19 last week and will continue to do so on a regular basis. Please understand that the sport, medical and public authority understanding of COVID-19 continues to evolve and that decisions, recommendations and guidelines may change as new information emerges. In this regard, we expect that further updates could be forthcoming within the next 24-48 hours.

CKC is keenly aware of the community concern and disruptions related to the COVID-19 outbreak and recognize that these disruptions particularly affect our athletes and their competitive aspirations for the upcoming season. CKC will do everything within its control to ensure that disruptions to selection and Olympic qualification opportunities are minimized to the greatest extent possible and will communicate any further information in relation to selection and Olympic qualification as soon as possible.

In this regard, athletes and coaches should expect that modifications will be made to the currently published Olympic and Paralympic Selection Criteria. Please note that modifications will be made as soon as possible, and, specifically, once further information is available regarding the status of Olympic qualification events, as well as other events, including domestic trials and international competitions that will be used for Olympic and Paralympic selection.

In the meantime, athletes should feel comfortable reaching out to CKC coaches, staff, parents or other trusted individuals to share their concerns and any issues arising from this situation.

A CKC Mental Health resource document is available here.

PENRITH, AUSTRALIA (February 24, 2020) – Michael Tayler (Ottawa, ON) will be headed to his third consecutive Olympic Games following a top Canadian finish in the men’s K1 slalom event at the 2020 Australian Open in Penrith this weekend.

“Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years,” reflected Tayler. “I’m so proud to have another opportunity to represent Canada on the Olympic stage!”

Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB) was also vying for Olympic selection in the men’s K1 event finishing 29th in the semi-finals, behind Tayler in 21st. Both Canadian kayakers have been in a tight battle for Olympic selection in a point-based, best two-out-of-three event qualification system.

Team Canada had previously qualified the men’s K1 boat for Tokyo 2020 at the 2019 World Slalom Championships in La Seu D’Urgell, Spain.

“Olympic selections always deliver high-pressure racing and I’m really proud of our team for embracing the challenge and performing when it counts in international competitions,” said James Cartwright, Senior High Performance Manager. “We now have three paddlers selected to Tokyo and we will be going to Brazil next month with an important job to compete for the last spot in women’s canoe.”

In the women’s C1 event, Haley Daniels (Calgary, AB) finished top Canadian in 21^st position overall, moving her into a tie in overall points standings with Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, ON) in the women’s C1 Canadian Olympic selection process. Lois Betteridge finished 27^th and will also look to the next qualification event that will be held at the Olympic whitewater park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 3-5 to contest for the women’s C1 Olympic entry.

Other notable Canadian results include Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC) placing 26^th in the women’s K1 event and Cameron Smedley (Ottawa, ON) finishing 30^th in men’s C1.

The next Tokyo qualification opportunity to take place at the 2020 Pan-Am Championships scheduled in Rio de Janeiro from April 3-5, 2020.

Visit the event website and results here.

To view Canada’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team Criteria, click here.

photo credits: JRG images