As of today, April 1, 2025, the new Canadian Safe Sport Program (CSSP) will replace the Abuse-Free Sport program. Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has adopted this new program committed to advancing a respectful sport culture, delivering quality, inclusive, accessible, and welcoming experiences. CKC participants affected by these changes can be found here. The CKC Independent Third-Party (ITP) mechanism remains in effect for all other participants and any other matters with jurisdiction outside of the CSSP.

The CSSP Rules set out how the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) will administer the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) for all identified participants within federally funded, national-level sport organizations.

The CCES is committed to providing a safe, timely, reliable, and procedurally fair environment for anyone involved in a report of maltreatment. Everyone connecting with the CCES team will be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion.

CKC will notify participants who are subject to the CSSP and will provide access information for the mandatory e-learning course and consent forms. For participants falling under CKC jurisdiction for national events there will be a consent form as part of the registration process. For all other participants, the current ITP reporting structure remains in effect.

Effective today, CKC has updated our Safe Sport policies to reflect these changes. For more information about CKC’s Safe Sport initiatives, click here.

For more information about the CSSP, including education and reporting, go to https://cces.ca/canadian-safe-sport-program.

Canoe Kayak Canada is thrilled to launch the 2025 Boats for All Campaign  –  to ensure our races at National Championships are inclusive for all, while growing the sport across the country!

With your help, we want to raise $15,000 to purchase a fleet of accessible boats that will be used at this year’s National Championships for our PaddleAll program. These boats will then stay with the Host Division as a legacy to promote programming in the area for those with intellectual disabilities.

WHAT IS PaddleAll?

CKC’s PaddleAll programming encourages athletes with intellectual disabilities to train and race to be their best in sport. This program provides high-quality training and competition opportunities to all athletes, regardless of ability, and is important for the growth of this sport and for the paddling community. Boats for All will leave a legacy for the future of PaddleAll Programming in Canada., it will also contribute to the global goal of inclusivity within the sport of paddling. It will promote canoeing as a fully inclusive sport as represented by the recent signing of an agreement with Special Olympics International to promote the development of canoeing in the Special Olympic World Games.

WHAT IS THE CAMPAIGN?

Our mission is that every region across the country will have the standardized equipment that meets Special Olympics rules and regulations to be inclusive for all. In achieving this, we are providing legacy resources so Divisions can grow their Special Olympics/PaddleAll programming. Each year, the region that will be targeted to receive this equipment will be the Host Division of the Sprint National Championships.

As a result of last year’s campaign, our generous community helped to raised raise a total of $11,838 that helped purchase a fleet of 10 accessible boats that were used at the 2024 CKC Sprint National Championships in Welland and will remain there as a legacy to promote programming in the area for PaddleAll competitors, our program for those with intellectual disabilities.

As a continuously progressive National Sport Organization (NSO), Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) makes every effort for our sport to be accessible to all athletes, with a vision to increase our international opportunities for our PaddleAll and Special Olympics athletes. One of our main values is inclusion, and we pride ourselves in ensuring that our activities strive to be as inclusive as possible.

Currently, CKC provides opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities at our Sprint National Championships under our PaddleAll program. Many regions and clubs provide great programming for our athletes and have those athletes compete at our National Championships.

One of our biggest challenges in the continued success of this event is to ensure we have enough boats of the same type so that races are fair for all participants. Our Tourist class singles event is an event where athletes may not all use the same equipment at their clubs, but at Nationals Championships we need to guarantee they have the same access to equipment so the race is as fair as possible across the field.

These boats are versatile and can be used for many uses at a club, not just for PaddleAll programming. They will open up opportunities for everyone to try paddling and can be used in many introductory programs.

MAKE A DONATION HERE

THE GOAL

To ensure our races at National Championships are inclusive for all and to grow the sport across the country, we want to raise $15,000 to purchase a fleet of accessible boats that will be used at this year’s National Championships that will then stay with the Host Division as a legacy to promote programming in the area for PaddleAll competitors, our program for those with intellectual disabilities.

THE DETAILS

• Funds raised as a result of this campaign will go directly towards the purchase of an additional 10 touring boats to be used at the 2025 Sprint National Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan and left as a legacy for PaddleAll races in the Prairie Division
• Wascana Canoe Club will manage the use of these boats in their region
• Contributions to the campaign over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt (please note that CanadaHelps, our fundraising platform, will issue the tax receipt)

MAKE A DONATION HERE

ABOUT WASCANA RACING CANOE CLUB (WRCC) PADDLEALL PROGRAM

The WRCC PaddleAll program, launched in partnership with Canoe Kayak Canada, Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan, and SaskSport, is breaking barriers for athletes with intellectual disabilities. In 2025, Wascana Racing Canoe Club will celebrate its third year offering athletes the opportunity to train, race, and thrive in canoe kayak.

With a focus on inclusion, equal opportunity, and social integration, PaddleAll builds self-confidence and fosters personal growth. Each athlete receives one-on-one coaching, ensuring high-quality, individualized training. The program not only strengthens athletes but also enriches the sport, promoting diversity and unity.

After racing at the 2023 and 2024 Canoe Kayak Canada Prairie Division Finals, athletes are set to compete at the 2025 Prairie Division Finals and CKC National Championships, proving the power of sport to unite and empower individuals of all abilities.

ABOUT CKC’S PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVES

Paddling is for all Canadians, whether they paddle for the leaf or for the sport.

We must continue our legacy – to ensure that paddling is available to everyone across our land so that they can experience our country in a way like no other. Paddling connects us to our history. But we’re at risk of not being able to pass down its rich tradition.

There is a crisis in sport funding in Canada. One of the major barriers in access to, promotion of, and programming in paddling is a lack of funding. But thanks to the generosity of Canadians, we can continue supporting paddling at all levels and disciplines within the sport. You can help us build paddling in Canada by making a tax-deductible charitable gift.

Hi everyone!  Allow me to introduce myself as the Chairperson of the CKC Alumni Committee – LA Schmidt, I have listed the remainder of the Committee below:

The CKC Alumni Team:

MJ Abbott
Graham Barton
Gary Barton
Leslie Ann Dempster
Ted Roworth
Kenna Robins – Staff
Casey Wade – CEO
Emmalee Nother – Staff
Tyler Lawlor – Staff/Alumni

Why an Alumni Committee?

Many of us have spent numerous years of our lives with so many family and friends paddling around our communities/provinces/country and world.  We have made lifelong friends and we feel that we should continue to stay connected through our sport organization, Canoe Kayak Canada.

Everyone who has participated/volunteered/officiated…anyone who’s contributed to our sport is an alumni!

We would love you all to continue to be part of our amazing Canoe Kayak family and to continue to share our passion for paddling. All alumni are invited to our annual Sprint Nationals Alumni Celebration which we combine with the Sprint Canadian Masters Meet and Greet each year.

We hope to continue the tradition of the silent auction as we did last year in Welland and moving forward we hope to have other alumni celebrations at various discipline events to bring us all together, throughout the year.

Our 3 initiatives for the immediate future will be:

1. We Paddle Month in June, wrapping up on June 26 with National Paddle Day in Canada

2. Continue to host our Nationals Alumni/CanMas Celebration

3. Philanthropic Plan

– build our connections/database with our Alumni members
– recommend sprint/WW members to the CKC Awards and Recognition Committee for nomination to the Canadian Sport Hall of Fame

If you have any ideas for the Committee please reach out to me at alumni@canoekayak.ca

The Club Development Award, the Coach Developer Award and Coach Recognition Awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant achievements in their communities. Nominations for the awards take place at the end of the competitive season and the awards are presented annually at the CKC Summit. This year, with the Summit being postponed in 2024, the awards were presented at the 2025 Coaching Symposium in Ottawa taking place from January 29th to 30th. 

CKC Club Development Award 

The Club Development Award is presented annually to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club.  

The 2024 recipients of the CKC Club Development Award are Phil Laliberté (Otterburn) and Océane Marchand (Club Nautique de Sherbrooke).  

Phil Laliberté
Phil has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of Otterburn Club over the past three years. His contributions, particularly in restructuring the high-performance program and his active role as a coach, have propelled the club to new heights. Under his leadership, Otterburn athletes are now excelling on provincial, national, and international stages, earning the club a reputation for producing top-tier talent. The club has also expanded its membership by embracing a diverse range of paddling activities, including paddle all, dragon boat, SUP, and a masters program. With Phil’s guidance, Otterburn is on track to not only match but surpass the golden years of the club from the 1970s. 

In addition to his work at Otterburn, Phil is pursuing a PhD in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources, focusing on the coaching profession. His research aims to bridge the gap between coaching practice and academic study, advocating for better work conditions and sustainability within the field. Through his work with Pôle Sports at HEC Montreal, Phil is addressing issues such as coach burnout and the high turnover rate, while helping to improve leadership development for coaches worldwide. As a mentor at Otterburn, he has also worked to inspire the next generation of coaches, showing them the value and potential of coaching as a legitimate, rewarding career. 

Océane Marchand
Océane is a dedicated and skilled trainer known for her ability to listen to her athletes and tailor her approach to help them achieve their best results. Her strong organizational skills and work ethic have earned her the respect of athletes, parents, assistant coaches, colleagues, and peers alike. 

Passionate about sprint paddling, Océane actively seeks to improve her own skills, participating in training camps with the Quebec team in Florida and supporting Canada’s young Olympic hopefuls in Europe. Her enthusiasm for the sport is contagious, and she excels at motivating her athletes to reach their highest potential. 

With a personalized approach to coaching, Océane creates a positive and effective training environment that has led to significant improvements in her athletes’ competitive performances. She has demonstrated great adaptability, adjusting training programs and integrating innovative techniques for both physical and mental preparation. Her leadership and team-building skills have fostered a strong sense of community, encouraging athletes to support one another and progress together. 

CKC Coach Developer Award 

The Coach Developer Award is presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties. 

The 2024 recipients of the CKC Coach Developer Award are Emily Parsons (Abenaki Aquatic Club) and Kevin McIntyre (Banook Canoe Club). 

Emily Parsons
Emily Parsons is a standout coach and mentor whose impact on both athletes and coaches has been profound. As the only female head coach in the Atlantic division, Emily has become a powerful role model, inspiring others through her leadership and positive approach to coaching. Her commitment to promoting a respectful, ethical, and athlete-centered environment has made her a trusted figure within the sport at the provincial and national levels. 

A passionate advocate for coach education, Emily plays a key role in facilitating training workshops and mentoring emerging coaches. She takes a holistic approach, helping coaches develop not only their technical skills but also their leadership, communication, and ethical decision-making abilities. Emily’s outreach efforts, including collaboration with neighboring clubs, have fostered a sense of community and knowledge-sharing across the paddling network. 

Under Emily’s guidance, athletes have seen significant success, with numerous podium finishes at the 2024 Atlantic Championships. Her coaching style focuses on developing both athletic ability and essential life skills like confidence, resilience, and respect. Emily’s commitment to continuous professional development and her dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders make her a true ambassador of the sport. 

Kevin McIntyre
Kevin is the Head Coach at Banook Canoe Club, where his dedication and leadership have been instrumental in developing youth athletes and fostering their growth both on and off the water. Under his guidance, many athletes have reached new heights, with several being selected to represent Canada internationally. Kevin is deeply committed to the holistic development of his athletes, supporting them not only in their athletic pursuits but also in their academic and personal lives. 

One of Kevin’s standout contributions is his creation of the Coach-in-Training (CiT) program, which he initiated in his first summer as Head Coach. The program was designed to provide young athletes (ages 14-15) with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to pursue coaching roles in the future. The CiT program has become a cornerstone of Banook’s coaching development, offering mentorship and training to youth from diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, female, and newcomer communities. 

Through this program, Kevin has helped build a sustainable coaching pipeline at Banook, with past CiT participants going on to become part-time coaches. In addition to overseeing the CiT program, Kevin manages the coaching schedule for all levels at Banook, supervises both seasonal and off-season coaches, and personally coaches the high-performance athlete group. His work has not only strengthened the club but also ensured the future of canoe and kayak coaching in Canada. 

2024 Canoe Kayak Canada Coach Excellence Nominees: 

CKC congratulates all who were nominated and to the 2024 recipients. For more information on the CKC Excellence Awards please click here. 

OTTAWA, ON (January 20, 2025) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is thrilled to welcome Paul Wycherley to the CKC sprint high-performance team. Paul will take on the role of men’s National Team Kayak Coach, based at the Montreal Training Centre (Olympic Basin).

Paul joins the CKC team as the Men’s Kayak Coach, working closely with National Team Head Coach, Anders Gustafsson and Women’s Kayak Coach, Chad Brooks. Paul will share responsibility for developing sprint kayak athletes into world-class performers, while also prioritizing the mental wellness of each athlete in the program.

“We are excited to have Paul join our coaching staff,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “His experience as an athlete, coach and other professional roles brings a great deal of value to our team. As we embark on the four-year push toward Los Angeles, our Men’s Kayak athletes will have a dynamic leader who matches their passion for hard work, and love for the sport.”

Paul brings a wealth of paddling experience hailing from the United Kingdom; he is a 30-time UK National Kayak Champion in K500m and 1000m distances. He holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel and Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Paul also won the Junior World Marathon Championships in the K1 in 2004 and competed at the senior world championship level from 2004-2012. In 2011, he defeated the reigning 2008 Olympic Champion, Tim Brabants, to represent Great Britain in the K1 1000m event.

“I am incredibly honoured and excited to step into this coaching role,” said Wycherley. “This opportunity represents a personal milestone and a chance to contribute to the continued success and growth of Canadian kayaking on the international stage.

Most recently Paul held the position of Head Coach at the False Creek Sprint Canoe Club, coaching several athletes of all ages to podium finishes at the CKC Sprint Nationals in 2024. Paul has previously worked in the UK business industry.

“I look forward to working with the talented athletes and staff to build on the solid foundation already in place,” Wycherley continued. “Together, I believe we can achieve great things while fostering a culture of excellence, dedication, and mutual respect.”

We will welcome Paul to the CKC team over the next few months, beginning with the National Team warm weather camps held in Chula Vista, California.

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For more information:
Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

It is with great sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Roger Parsons, a legendary member and pioneer of the Canadian whitewater paddling community.

While the paddling community remembers his enthusiasm and dedication for whitewater paddling, Roger became involved in paddling as a young man through people he met climbing and through membership in the Toronto Chapter of the Alpine Club of Canada. He was an avid climber, with many climbs in the Canadian West, as well as the Alps, Africa and Himalayas. in 1972, he had a first ascent on Mt. Ellis in the Clemenceau-Chaba Icefield in one of the most remote areas of the rockies. He also has the first documented ice climb of Eagles Nest Cliff in Bancroft, Ontario. Most of his climbing exploits remain unknown to many who knew him as a paddler. An example of this is after wrapping up as Team Manager following the 1977 Slalom and Downriver World Championships in Europe, he went off to climb the Matterhorn – solo.

Roger was a long-time scout leader and founding member of the Mohawk Rod and Gun Club and the Ontario Voyagers Kayak Club, both of which staged many whitewater races over the years including the Credit River Race and the Humber River Canoe race. He loved paddling; his passion for the sport was immeasurable. As a leader in 4th Weston Scout Troop, he introduced many Venturers (older scouts) and Rangers (older guides) not only to whitewater paddling but everything that went along with it. He was generous with his time, promoting paddling amongst other scout groups, as well as his own. He taught them to build their own boats and paddles. He held training sessions in swimming pools, hung gates, and rough camped at race sites always putting safety first. Near his home in Weston, he established a slalom training site nearby on the Humber River. He introduced many youth to the sport of whitewater paddling and racing, while also instilling his personal values and ethics into those youth. His love of the outdoors encompassed whitewater paddling and many other aspects of outdoor adventure. Some of these young people went on to race internationally. Roger himself raced in C1 slalom and downriver at World Championships. He also raced C2 mixed with his daughter, Kathy, at the 1969 World Championships. They paddled the “Centennial” C-2 he designed – one half of which hangs on a wall in the building at the Gull River. He was always seen participating in spring river runs around his Toronto area home, on the Credit, the Humber, and Oakville Creek.

He was the visionary who steered the foundation of the Canadian Whitewater Affiliation, which later merged into the Canadian Canoe Association, becoming what is now Canoe Kayak Canada. Roger organised the first Whitewater National Championships in Elora Gorge, Ontario in 1967, after having been part of the first National Team to attend World Championships in Spittal, Austria in 1965. Roger gained a seat on the ICF Slalom Committee. He helped train and maintain a core of ICF qualified judges across Canada which helped facilitate many international races being held across the country.

Today, Roger’s name is synonymous with the Minden Whitewater Preserve ( MWP). In 1977 he saw a “for sale” sign across the river on the upper rapids of the Gull River in Minden. This inspired him to fundraise to purchase the land for what was the Ontario Wild Water Affiliation. Subsequently, the river was modified and with further fundraising, he undertook constructing the building. The MWP became a paddling centre for training, camping, and hosting events both nationally and internationally. Thousands of adults and camp kids have learned whitewater paddling on the Gull River. The site has hosted dozens of events, including annual regional slalom races, Provincial, National and Pan American Championships as well as World Cups. More recently Roger was in attendance when the site was used as a venue for slalom competition in the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games.

In 2008, the Gull River training centre building was renamed the “Roger Parsons Centre” in his honour and in 2013 a book titled “Building a River…Following A Dream: The Roger Parsons Story” was published telling the story of how Roger was inspired by an idea and made it happen, creating a legacy for years to come.

After Roger retired, he and his wife Dorothy (also an ICF judge), moved to the Barrie area, building a house in nearby Midhurst. Never one to be idle, and as an avid skier, he built a network of ski trails around the neighbourhood. He became a fixture at the Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club participating in canoe and sea kayak trips.

Roger was a giant amongst the pioneers of whitewater paddling in Canada. As a result of his efforts a great many people learned and continue to learn the joys of paddling and racing whitewater. His dedication, vision, creativity, and passion for the sport have left a lasting legacy and an example of a life well lived.

Our heartfelt condolences are extended to Roger’s family, friends and everyone who knew him.

A celebration of life in memory of Roger Parsons will take place on Saturday, April 5^th, 2025 from 10am to 12pm at the Steckley Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley Street, Barrie, ON

More information at the link below.

https://www.steckleygooderham.com/obituaries/roger-parsons

Written with contributions by Gary Barton.

By: Graham Barton

It is with sadness we mourn the loss of two individuals who recently had a tremendous impact on my life, both professionally and personally.

Frank Garner was a mentor in my first CCA (CKC) role. As Head Coach of the National Team, I was fortunate to work with him as a National Development Coach just prior to the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. When I returned to CKC in 1999 he was the first to take me under his wing. In his role with the High Performance Committee and as an International Official, he was always there to help me and the National Team.  He will leave a legacy to the Cheema Aquatic Club, Atlantic Canada, CKC, and the International Canoe Federation.  He was a leader, a coach, a mentor and a friend.

Art Quartermain also helped influence my career, both as a coach and as a person. I worked part-time with Ontario in the early 80’s and then when I was a National Coach in 1989. Art offered me a full-time Provincial Coach position, which at the time little did I know would provide a career not only for my wife but also allow me to spend more time with our young children.  I stayed with Ontario for 10 years before returning to CKC and enjoyed thoroughly the opportunity to work with Art. Over time we developed a friendship that I cherish. The knowledge he shared and the kindness he showed me and my family will never be forgotten.

Both these men are a piece of me.  As people shape our lives, we reflect on the impact they have had on us.

Art and Frank – thank you. “Per Aqua ad Fraternitatem”.

It is with great sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Frank Garner, a legendary member of the Canadian paddling community.

Hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, Garner moved to Nova Scotia to attend St. Mary’s University in 1964. He fell in love with the east coast and swiftly developed a reputation for developing some of the best paddlers in the province. When the Cheema Canoe Club opened in 1969, Garner became its first head coach and helped bring paddling in Nova Scotia to a higher level.

In 1975, Garner left a full-time physical education teaching job to become the full-time Canadian Olympic team coach preparing teams for Montréal 1976, Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984. During his coaching tenure, Garners’ athletes won six Olympic medals at Los Angeles 1984 and over 50 international medals.

An international official, Garner was the chief official for canoeing at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He held positions on the International Canoe Federation’s Board of Directors and as Chair of Canoe Sprint he led the proposal for an Olympic program with gender equity for Tokyo 2020.

A winner of the Coaches Association Coaching Excellence Award in 1984, Garner was also named the 1985 Nova Scotia Amateur Coach of the Year and was the recipient of the CKC Edgar Gilbert Award. In 2013, the Frank Garner Boat House was named in his honour at the Cheema Canoe Club. He was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1995.

Our heartfelt condolences are extended to Frank’s family and friends, including his wife Paula and their three daughters and grandchildren.

A celebration of life in loving memory of Frank Garner on Saturday November 23, from 3:00pm-6:00pm at the Frank Garner Boat House located at the Cheema Aquatic Club – 135 Champions Way, Waverley Nova Scotia. The celebration will be available on live stream.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is proud to honour the many coaches who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, initiative and competitive success throughout the 2024 season with the CKC Coaches Recognition Award.

This award is presented annually to coaches who have coached an athlete or crew either for nomination to a CKC National Team (Senior World Championships, Junior World Championships, Carded Athlete or National Development Team) or for a gold medal at the Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint National Championships. Congratulations to all!

Below is a complete list of Coach Recognition Award recipients for the 2024 season:

2024 Sprint Coaches                                                                                        2024 Whitewater Coaches

Aaron White                                                                                                                 Anthony Colin
Adam Baird                                                                                                                  Darrell Wiebe
Adam Oldershaw                                                                                                         Gary Barton
Anna Hetzler                                                                                                                Jacob Norman
Anna Negulic                                                                                                               Jennifer Gratto
Andrea Nicholls                                                                                                           Jocelyn Taylor
Anders Gustafsson                                                                                                     Jordi Cadena
Andreas Dittmer                                                                                                          Kalob Grady
Attila Buday                                                                                                                 Michal Staniszewski
Bret Himmelman                                                                                                         Mike Holroyd
Carrie Buday                                                                                                               Pete Nor
Cayley Fortier                                                                                                             Roxanne Esch
Chad Brooks                                                                                                              Scott Feindel
Cheyanne Farquharson                                                                                             Simon Coward
Chris Chaisson                                                                                                          Stanislava Kovacova
Christian Hall
Csom Latorovszki
Dominic Gomez-Granger
Doug Ellery
Doug Tutty
Drayton Coolen
Ed Calhoun
Emma Miller
Eric Mihalovic
Fred Jobin
Frédéric Loyer
Helen Savin
Hélène Gervais
Hunter George
Jacob McKenna
Jan Kruk
Jeff Houser
KC Dalton
Kevin McIntyre
Kieran Graham
LA Schmidt
Mark Granger
Mathieu Pelletier
Matt Smith
Mihail Oghina
Mike Robinson
Morgan Pugh-Toole
Nick Paschalis
Nigel Rockett
Niklas Hansen
Olivia Pucci
Pat Lester
Paul Wycherley
Phil Laliberté
Quentin Neuls
Raphaël Nadeau
Rebecca Fanok
Rob Baert
Rob Smith
Sam Djurfeldt
Sam Raiche
Samantha Morse
Savannah Sullivan
Scott Oldershaw
Tessa Nagai

Canoe Kayak Canada is pleased to announce the nominations for the 2024-25 Sport Canada carding cycle. The Slalom High Performance Committee and Sprint High Performance Committee with Sport Canada have approved the following athletes for the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP). Athletes who qualify for the program will receive funding from Sport Canada for essential elements such as training and living expenses. Congratulations to these athletes on their determination and dedication that enabled them to achieve this support. 

Below is the list of AAP funding recipients in Sprint, Paracanoe and Slalom programs.  

Sprint and Paracanoe 

Slalom 

Canoe Kayak Canada has officially launched the nomination process for the 2024 Excellence Awards.  

The Club Development Award, the Coach Developer Award and Coach Recognition Awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant efforts or achievements in their communities. 

The Club Development Award will be presented to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club. The Coach Developer Award will be presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties.  

The awards are to be presented at Canoe Kayak Canada’s Coaching Symposium taking place in Ottawa January 29th to 30th. 

Click here to submit nominations.  

Deadline is November 1, 2024.  

For more information, contact James Cartwright.  

PARIS, FRANCE August 12, 2024) – Canada is bringing home some new hardware thanks to Katie Vincent and Sloan MacKenzie.

In only the second Olympic Games to incorporate women’s sprint canoe, Canada has won both a bronze and a historic gold medal while also smashing records in both the Women’s C2 500m and the Women’s C1 200m.

Repeating Tokyo 2020’s finish, Katie Vincent and Sloan MacKenzie paddled to the podium in the Women’s C2 500m placing third in a photo finish missing out on silver by only 0.06 of a second to claim bronze.  In the C2 heats, MacKenzie and Vincent also achieved the Olympic Record with a 1:54.16 time. Canada now holds both the World Best and Olympic Best times in the Women’s C2 500m with Laurence Vincent-Lapointe and Vincent holding the world’s best time at 1:51.42 in 2018.

Later in the competition history was made when Katie Vincent, in another incredible photo finish, achieved Olympic Champion status by winning gold in the Women’s C1 200m defeating American Nevin Harrison by just one-one hundredth of a second. With a time of 44.12, Vincent now holds both the World and Olympic record in the Women’s C1 200m. This is the first ever Olympic gold medal for Canada in a women’s canoe or kayak event.

“Honestly, I got back to my hotel and said to myself, that’s enough bronze medals for one cabinet so I wanted to come back today and try improve on that,” said Vincent. “I think I am still shaking. It’s the fastest I’ve ever raced so to have a PB and a World Record, I’m not sure I have the words.”

Sophia Jensen also raced in the C1 200m, coming in 6^th in her first ever Olympic Games.

“It’s pretty awesome,” said Jensen. “The 200m is a pretty key event and everyone in that final is a champion so this has been a great experience.”

Canada has now placed on the podium at the Olympic Games in all women’s canoe events since its inclusion in Tokyo 2020.

For full Olympic results, click here.

Photos: CKC/Vera Buscu

#PADDLETOPARIS

Livestream & Schedules

Full Paris 2024 Olympic schedule

Full Paris 2024 Paralympic Schedule

Slalom Schedule

Sprint Schedule

Paracanoe Schedule

Paris 2024 Livestream (CBC)

Teams

Slalom 

Sprint and Paracanoe

Olympic Athlete Bios

Para Athlete Bios

Venues

Vaires Sur Marnes Nautical Stadium

Merch

CKC Paddle to Paris Official Merch

Posters

Olympic and Paralympic Poster – Sprint, Slalom, Para (Digital Download)  – Black or Grey

CKC began a significant review of their Code of Safety in the first few months of 2024.  One objective of the updated Code of Safety is to include all current discipline codes in one document.  This overall CKC Code of Safety will highlight the common aspects for all participants while also indicating the specific needs of the different disciplines.

The initial review and update was done with a working group comprised of individuals from the Councils and community.

We now would like to invite feedback from the full community on the current draft of the document.  Please note that the current draft is in English only at this time.

REVIEW THE CODE OF SAFETY HERE

Opportunities for community feedback include:

1. Adding comments on specific items in the linked Google Sheet.
2. Attending one or both open zoom feedback calls (registration links below).

The general timelines for review and anticipated launch of the updated code are the following:

1. September 16^th, 2024– Community Feedback Zoom call #1: Register here
2. September 30^th, 2024 – Community Feedback Zoom call #2: Register here
3. October 8^th, 2024 – Deadline for all feedback to be received through the Google Sheet
4. November 2024 – Final draft feedback and review by Councils and Board
5. February 2025 – Final version approved by Board

For any questions, please contact Kenna Robins.

CKC will host the Sprint and Slalom Competition Development workshop in an online format with webinars taking place throughout the fall and early winter. Coaches that are interested in participating in this workshop series are invited to apply by completing the application form below. Participation in all workshops is mandatory to receive credit for completion of training. A maximum of sixteen candidates will be selected for each stream, and applications must be received by end of day November 10, 2024. Priority will be given to coaches that satisfy the prerequisites and/or that are identified by their Provincial/Territorial Organization as potential 2025 Canada Games coaches. Selected coaches must prepare bring a 2-minute video clip of a club athlete’s kayak and canoe stroke technique to share and analyze their paddling technique.

APPLICATION CAN BE FOUND HERE

OTTAWA, ON (July 28, 2024) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) announces the 2024 rosters of sprint paddlers nominated to compete at the U23, Junior, ICF Canoe World Championships and the Olympic Hopes Regatta this summer.  

 Canada will be proudly represented by 35 emerging paddlers at the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from July 17-21. 

 The Canoe Sprint Olympic Hopes Regatta will take place September 19-22 in Szeged, Hungary featuring 24 of Canada’s top U16 and U17 paddlers in the iconic event that showcases the next generation of Olympic talent. 

“Our recent National Team Trials showed the incredible depth of talented paddlers being produced by our club system in Canada, 385 athletes competed in highly contested races for spots on these teams,” said Ian Mortimer, CKC Chief Technical Officer, “we are very proud of all the athletes who lined up for a chance to race for Canada and look forward to seeing how our teams will stack up with the best in the World this summer.” 

The team selection event was held at the National Team Trials at the Olympic Basin in Montreal, Quebec from June 22-24.  

The Canadian Team Rosters: 

U23 World Championship 

Women’s Kayak  
Maren Bradley – Rideau Canoe Club
Julia Demchuk – Calgary Canoe Club
Ivy Murphy – Banook Canoe Club
Brianna Smith – Maskwa Aquatic Club

Men’s Kayak  
Jason Burkholder – Burloak Canoe Club
Ian Gaudet – Banook Canoe Club
Mathieu Gilbert – Club de canoe-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières
Nathan Koné – Club de canoe-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières 

Men’s Canoe 
Andrew Billard – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Zachary Kralik – Mississauga Canoe Club
Viktor Hardy  – Club de Canoe-Kayak Lac-Beauport

Women’s Canoe 
Evie Macdonald – Rideau Canoe Club
Jacy Grant – Cheema Aquatic Club
Julia Lilley Osende – Mic Mac Aquatic Canoe Club
Zoe Wojtyk – Rideau Canoe Club 

Junior (U18) World Championship  

Women’s Kayak  
Anna Archibald – Banook Canoe Club
Chloe Bryer – Burloak Canoe Club
Florence Hamel – Lachine Canoe Club
Maea Knights – Burloak Canoe Club
Callie Loch – Rideau Canoe Club

Men’s Kayak  
Conrad Hoogerboord – Senobe Aquatic Club
Tate Levy – Senobe Aquatic Club
Carter Naugler – Senobe Aquatic Club
Luke Enns – Toba Canoe and Kayak Club
Henrik Neuspiel  – Rideau Canoe Club

Men’s Canoe 
Cole Norman – Rideau Canoe Club
Duncan Giles – Senobe Canoe Club
Cameron Hall – Cheema Aquatic Club
Alexander MacNeil – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Justin Bokyo – Calgary Canoe Club

Women’s Canoe 
Ruby Muhl – Rideau Canoe Club
Ella Cozens – Cheema Aquatic Club
Emerson Eisener – Cheema Aquatic Club
Victoria Tran – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Charlotte C. Désy – Club de Canoe-Kayak Lac-Beauport  

Olympic Hopes Regatta

U17
Women’s Kayak 
Anna Archibald – Banook Canoe Club
Emilee Vaters – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Maea Knights – Burloak Canoe Club

Men’s Kayak 
Conrad Hoogerboord – Senobe Aquatic Club
Henrik Neuspiel – Rideau Canoe Club
Tate Levy - Senobe Aquatic Club

Men’s Canoe 
Justin Bokyo – Calgary Canoe Club
Baer Robertson – Wascana Racing Canoe Club
Liam MacDonald – Senobe Aquatic Club

Women’s Canoe 
Amélie Laliberte – Club de canotage Otterburn
Megan Thompson – Cheema Aquatic Club
Victoria Tran – Maskwa Aquatic Club

U16 
Women’s Kayak
Abigaelle Legrand – Le Club de canoë kayak de Pointe-Claire
Cassie Kenny – Burloak Canoe Club
Gaelle Bousquet  – Maskwa Aquatic Club

Men’s Kayak
Rylan Carrigan – Pisiquid Canoe Club
Michael Chaban – Mississauga Canoe Club
Aidan Kinnard – Burloak Canoe Club

Men’s Canoe
Matthew Brown – Maskwa Canoe Club
Alec MacAulay – Cheema Aquatic Club
Josh Sargant – Mississauga Canoe Club

Women’s Canoe
Emerson Eisener – Cheema Aquatic Club
Abbigail Haines – Carleton Place Canoe Club
Isabel Lowry – Carleton Place Canoe Club

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

Visit Canoe Kayak Canada’s website to get more information and make sure to follow @PlanetCanoe and @CanoeKayakCAN for more live updates.  

Subscribe to Canoe Kayak Canada’s mailing list to get all news and results directly to your email.  

 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 26 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

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca  

MONTREAL, QC (June 24, 2024) – Canoe Kayak Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee have announced the roster of Team Canada Canoe/Kayak athletes nominated to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The athletes are:

Women’s Canoe

Sophia Jensen – Cascades
Sloan MacKenzie – Cheema Aquatic Club
Katie Vincent – Mississauga Canoe Club

Women’s Kayak

Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka – Rideau Canoe Club
Natalie Davison – Rideau Canoe Club
Riley Melanson – Senobe Aquatic Club
Michelle Russell – Abenaki Aquatic Club
Courtney Stott – Balmy Beach Canoe Club

Men’s Canoe

Connor Fitzpatrick – Senobe Aquatic Club

Men’s Kayak

Laurent Lavigne – Club de canoe-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières
Nicholas Matveev – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Simon McTavish – Mississauga Canoe Club
Pierre-Luc Poulin – Club de Canoe-Kayak Lac Beauport

Para Athletes

Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa River Canoe Club
Erica Scarff – Mississauga Canoe Club
Mathieu St-Pierre – Club de canotage du Shawinigan

The athletes were selected for Team Canada based on their performances at Canoe Kayak Canada’s Sprint National Team Trials that were held at the Montreal Olympic Basin over the weekend.

Katie Vincent, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist in the women’s C-2 500m, will partner with Sloan MacKenzie, who is making her Olympic debut. Together they won bronze in the C-2 500m at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, which qualified Canada in the event for Paris 2024. Soon after, they won gold at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. Vincent and MacKenzie took home silver in the women’s C-2 500m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged, Hungary in May.

“It’s hard to find the words in this special moment,” said Vincent. “After the Tokyo Olympics, I had no idea what the road to Paris was going to look like, there were many unknowns. To be here today with new coaches and teammates going to my second Olympics gives me so much pride and joy. I can honestly say we have one of the best teams in the world both on and off the water and I can’t wait to enjoy the next six weeks with my teammates and coaches!”

Sophia Jensen a remporté la médaille d’argent du C-1 200 m à la Coupe du monde de Szeged, terminant juste derrière Vincent. À 22 ans, elle est une étoile montante qui a remporté des titres mondiaux juniors consécutifs au C-1 200 m en 2018 et 2019, puis l’or dans cette même épreuve aux Championnats du monde des moins de 23 ans en 2021. Après sa sixième place aux Championnats du monde 2023, elle a gagné le bronze au C-1 200 m féminin aux Jeux panaméricains de Santiago 2023.

In women’s kayak, Michelle Russell will make her second Olympic appearance. She competed in the women’s K-1 200m, K-1 500m and K-4 500m at Tokyo 2020. Russell, who won gold in K-1 500m at Santiago 2023, qualified Canada an Olympic spot in the K-1 500m by placing sixth at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.

Courtney Stott, Natalie Davison, Riley Melanson and Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka will all be making their Olympic debuts in the women’s K-4 500m. The foursome competed together at the 2023 World Championships, where they qualified the boat for Paris, and at Santiago 2023, where they won silver.

Tokyo 2020 Olympian Connor Fitzpatrick will compete in the men’s C-1 1000m. He claimed that spot for Canada at the Pan American Qualifier in April, six months after winning bronze in the C-1 1000m at Santiago 2023. Fitzpatrick was an A finalist at the 2023 World Championships.

Simon McTavish, Nicholas Matveev and Pierre-Luc Poulin will make their second Olympic appearance. They will be joined in the men’s K-4 500m by Laurent Lavigne, who is headed to his first Olympic Games. This crew raced together at Santiago 2023, where they won silver, and at the 2023 World Championships, where they qualified the boat for Paris 2024.

“With Paris around the corner and securing a place on this incredible Team Canada,” said Pierre-Luc Poulin. There are a lot of emotions and pride being nominated to an Olympic team. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games made a mark for me in my paddling career and I’m looking forward to making the Paris Olympics one to remember.”

Paris will be the second Paralympic Games appearance for Hennessy, Scarff and St-Pierre. Hennessy and St-Pierre competed at Tokyo 2020 while Scarff, at the age of 20, was part of the first-ever Paracanoe roster to compete at the Games, as the sport made its Paralympic debut in 2016.

Both Hennessy and Scarff reached the podium at the 2023 Paracanoe World Championships, earning Paralympic quota spots for Canada. Hennessy took silver in the women’s VL2 200m and bronze in the KL1 200m, while Scarff finished second in the women’s VL3 200m.

“I am so excited for my second Paralympic Games. Our team has been working extremely hard to become a medal potential for these Games!,” said Hennessy. “ I hope that we can make our country proud and bring home some shiny hardware! I can’t wait to wear the Canadian flag with the utmost pride!”

At the 2024 worlds last month, Hennessy secured another silver medal in the VL2 event while Scarff was fourth in the VL3.

A final Paralympic quota spot for the nation was earned by St-Pierre at the 2024 worlds following a seventh-place finish in the men’s VL2 200m.

“We are so thrilled to welcome three outstanding athletes in Brianna, Erica, and Mathieu to the Canadian Paralympic Team,” said Karolina Wisniewska, co-chef de mission, Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. “Paracanoe is still a fairly new sport at the Paralympic Games, and I cannot wait to witness it in person. I’ll be there to cheer them on!”

“The performances of the paddlers at the National Trials, held this weekend at the Olympic Basin in Montreal, highlight the strength and depth of Team Canada. The recent successes of the Canadian canoe/kayak sprint team, combined with a well-established tradition of competitiveness, have us excited for Paris 2024,” said Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s Paris 2024 Chef de Mission. “These athletes confirm their status among the world’s best, and they will undoubtedly shine on the Olympic stage this summer.”

Since the sport made its Olympic debut at Berlin 1936, 26 medals have been won by Canadians in canoe/kayak sprint, with the biggest medal haul coming from Los Angeles 1984 where six medals were won. Women’s canoe events were included on the Olympic program for the first time at Tokyo 2020. There, Canada claimed two medals, including the bronze won by Katie Vincent and former partner Laurence Vincent Lapointe in the C-2 500m. This will be the third Games Paracanoe will be on the Paralympic program, first debuting in 2016. Canada is still looking for its first medal in the sport.

Canoe/Kayak Sprint and Paracanoe will take place at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

Team Canada’s canoe/kayak team for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games also includes the following coaches, and support staff.

Coaches
Chad Brooks – Coach
Andreas Dittmer – Coach
Mark Granger – Para Coach
Anders Gustafsson  – Head Coach
Joel Hazzan – Para Coach
Anna Hetzler – Assistant Coach

Support Staff
Dr. Tina Atkinson – Physician
Nancy Botting – Para Physiotherapist
Colleen Coderre – Olympic Media Attaché
Dave Green – Massage Therapist
Emily MacKeigan – Team Manager
Shelly Malcolm Beazley – Physiotherapist
Ian Mortimer – Team Leader
Emmalee Nother – Paralympic Media Attaché
Frank Raymond – Strength and Conditioning Coach
LA Schmidt – Family & Friends Lead
Penny Werthner  – Mental Performance Consultant

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Paris 2024 roster can be found here.

The latest Team Canada Paralympic Paris 2024 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead – Paris 2024 Olympic Media Attaché
C:  613-530-6217
E: ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator – Paris 2024 Paralympic Media Attaché
C: 905-912-1322
E: enother@canoekayak.ca

Tara MacBournie
Program Manager, Sport Communications -Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca

Nicole Watts
Senior Manager, Communications & PR – Canadian Paralympic Committee
C: 613-462-2700
E: nwatts@paralympic.ca

CKC is thrilled to share that we are running both an Eastern and Western Canoe Slalom Coaching Symposium this Fall. Both Symposiums will be facilitated by Mike Druce. Mike Druce is an Olympic Canoe Slalom coach and led the Canadian Olympic teams to the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games and was also part of the Australian coaching team in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. In 2018, Mike Druce shifted towards coach education and led the revision of Paddle Australia’s Canoe Slalom coach development program. James Cartwright will support Mike at the Eastern Symposium and Micheal Holroyd will support Mike at the Western Symposium. Michael Holroyd is a retired National Team athlete, former head coach of the Alberta Slalom program and now leads the Alberta Whitewater Association. James Cartwright is a 3-time Olympian in men’s canoeing and former head coach of Ottawa River Runners and now leads the Canadian Canoe Slalom high performance program. 

All coaches, instructors, alumni, athletes and parents that are interested in advancing their technical knowledge and participating in one of the two symposiums are invited to submit expressions of interest by completing the application form below. Coaches that have previously completed Introduction to Competition or Competition Development may be invited to complete “Athletes in Training” and “Athletes in Competition” evaluations to receive NCCP certification credits.  

A maximum of sixteen candidates will be selected for each symposium, and priority will be given to participants that satisfy the prerequisites and/or have been identified by their Provincial/Territorial Organization. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

OTTAWA, ON (May 24, 2024) – Canada’s top slalom paddlers, have been named to the Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) World Cup, U23 and Junior World Championship teams this season. Fourteen athletes secured their spot throughout the selection process finalized during the National Team Selection Trials in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec held from May 10 to 12, 2024. 

“I’m excited to welcome our paddlers back to our program this summer to race internationally as we work towards Paris 2024 and the Junior and U23 World Championships,” said James Cartwright, Senior High-Performance Manager. “It’s inspiring to see the level of racing these athletes continue to demonstrate and we are all looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together this summer.” 

Daniel Parry is a familiar face on the ICF Slalom World Cup and Junior World Championship scene placing 15th in men’s canoe in 2023 and 21st in 2022.  

“I’m very happy to be selected into this year’s junior national team and I am looking forward to representing Canada this summer during the Junior World Championships in Liptovsky Mikuláš. I have done a lot of training in preparation for Worlds this year, and I am excited to see what results I can achieve in both K1 and C1.” 

Olympic paddler Florence Maheu will represent Canada proudly once again, looking forward to competing in the Prague Kayak Cross qualifier.  

“I am quite excited to compete in kayak cross in Prague. Kayak Cross has progressed a lot in the past couple years, and it has brought a new kind of energy to the sport. I am thrilled to have this chance and I will do my best to try to earn a spot on the podium.” 

The Slalom World Cup season starts off next weekend in Augsburg, Germany and continues through June with competition in Prague, Czechia and Krakow, Poland. July will be an exciting time for slalom paddlers as the beginning of the month starts off with the U23 and Junior World Championships from July 1-7 in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia.  

Slalom athletes, Lois Betteridge and Alex Baldoni, were recently nominated to the Paris 2024 Canadian Olympic Team, and will be competing at the Paris Summer Olympic Games from July 27 – August 5 at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. 

World Cup Team 

Women’s K1
Lois Betteridge – ON
Florence Maheu – QC
Léa Baldoni – ON
Alternate for World Cup 3: Béatrice Olson – ON 

Women’s C1
Lois Betteridge, – ON
Léa Baldoni – ON 

Women’s Extreme 

Lois Betteridge – ON 
Florence Maheu – QC
Léa Baldoni – ON
Béatrice Olson – ON (Replacement for Lois Betteridge in World Cup 2) 

 Men’s K1 

Alex Baldoni – ON 
Maël Rivard – ON
Trevor Boyd – AB 

Men’s C1 

Alex Baldoni – ON
Daniel Parry – ON
Isaac Zimmerman – ON 

Men’s Extreme 

Alex Baldoni – ON
Trevor Boyd – AB
Isaac Zimmerman – ON
Michal Smiesko – BC (Replacement for Alex Baldoni in World Cup 2)
Alternate: Maël Rivard – ON 

U23 World Championship Team 

Women’s K1 

Léa Baldoni – ON
Béatrice Olson – ON 

Women’s C1 

Léa Baldoni – ON 

Women’s Extreme 

Léa Baldoni – ON
Béatrice Olson – ON 

Men’s K1 

Alex Baldoni – ON
Maël Rivard – ON
Mark Zielonka – ON 

Men’s C1 

Alex Baldoni – ON  

Men’s Extreme 

Alex Baldoni – ON
Maël Rivard – ON
Mark Zielonka – ON

Junior World Championship Team 

Men’s K1 

Isaac Zimmerman – ON
Daniel Parry – ON Lachlan Faraday – ON 

Men’s C1 

Isaac Zimmerman – ON
Daniel Parry – ON
Owen McKay – ON 

Men’s Extreme 

Isaac Zimmerman – ON
Lachlan Faraday – ON
Michal Smiesko – BC
Callum Bender – QC 

You can find the list of events at Canoe Kayak Canada. 

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 26 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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MEDIA CONTACTS:
 

Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
C: 613-530-6217
E: ccoderre@canoekayak.ca 

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
C: 905-912-1322
E: enother@canoekayak.ca 

Team Canada collected four medals and a Paralympic quota at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup and Para World Championships, as we paddle closer to Paris 2024.

The Para World Championships kicked off the four-day event with Team Canada demonstrating their podium power in the lead-up to Paris. Brianna Hennessy secured Canada’s first medal, capturing the silver medal in the VL2 200m event, less than two seconds behind Great Britain. Brianna also finished 5^th place in the KL1 200m.

Para training partner, Erica Scarff, just missed the podium, finishing 4^th in the VL3 200m final with a time of 1:00.19.

Mathieu St. Pierre managed to secure the final Paralympic quota for Canada in the VL2 200m event, finishing 7^th overall and locking up a spot for Canada on the start line in Paris.

On the first day of Sprint World Cup finals, Katie Vincent and Sloan Mackenzie flexed their C2 muscle, powering down the course in silver medal position behind the gold medalists from China. Canadian training partners Sophia Jensen and Julia Lilley Osende also lined up in the A Final, narrowly missing the podium, finishing .23 hundredths of a second behind the Spanish boat to settle for fourth place.

Carrying over some momentum from the first day of finals, Katie and Sophia lined up again in separate boats, in a highly competitive C1 200m final. The racing was so tight that it did not become clear until the last 10 meters that Katie Vincent would secure the gold medal. Canadian teammate, Sophia Jensen crossing the line in a photo finish, in second place. Canada would stand 1,2 on the podium in Szeged, Hungary.

Other notable results include a 4^th place finish in the K1 500m event by kayaker Michelle Russell. The veteran paddler is certainly making her mark as one to watch for Paris 2024 with a consistent push for the podium, winning gold at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games. Simon McTavish finished 6^th overall in the men’s K1 500m event.

Both men’s and women’s K4 teams benefitted from the international experience as they gear up for the start line in Paris. The men’s K4 finished 9^th in the A final with less than 2 seconds separating them from the podium.

“World Cup Szeged was a highly competitive event and the last and best chance to test ourselves against the best in the world ahead of Paris,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Office, Ian Mortimer. “We are headed home with a final Paralympic quota, four medals and strong performances across all of our  disciplines, building us up towards Paris.”

The final Canoe Sprint qualification event for Paris will be held in Montreal, Quebec at the National Team Trials from June 21-23.

RESULTS
ROSTER

VALLEYFIELD, QUEBEC (May 8, 2024) – Canoe Kayak Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the roster of Team Canada canoe/kayak slalom athletes selected to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The athletes are:

Alex Baldoni (Pau, France)
Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, Ont.)

Baldoni and Betteridge both qualified for Paris 2024 by winning their respective C-1 events at the 2024 COPAC Canoe Slalom Americas Olympic Qualifier in mid-March. Paris 2024 will mark the Olympic debut of both athletes.

Baldoni was a finalist in men’s C-1 at the 2023 International Canoe Federation (ICF) U23 World Championships, where he placed 10th. He was a semifinalist there in men’s kayak cross, placing fifth overall. He went on to win the silver medal in men’s kayak cross and place fifth in the men’s C-1 event at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. In 2021, he achieved Canada’s best-ever performance in men’s canoe slalom when he placed sixth at the ICF Junior World Championships.

“The last four years have been incredible, but also very hard while training. I have worked really hard and spent countless hours on the water trying to improve on every possible aspect, whether technical, psychological, physical preparation, relaxation and recovery. Now I have finally qualified for my first Olympic Games! I am very much looking forward to experiencing such a great event and to becoming an Olympian!”

After gaining a great appreciation for Canadian values and culture while spending a month each year in Canada throughout his childhood, Baldoni, who was born and raised in France but holds dual citizenship, chose to represent his mother’s home country as part of Team Canada on the international stage.

Betteridge, who has been representing Canada at the senior ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships since 2017, continues to build on her road to Paris after winning two silver medals at Santiago 2023 in women’s C-1 and women’s kayak cross. The day after she earned her Olympic qualification, she won gold in the women’s K-1 and silver in the women’s C-1 at the 2024 Pan American Championships.

“I just returned from a training camp at the Olympic course in Paris and the venue is very impressive!” said Betteridge. “I’m really excited to see some of my friends and family sitting in the stands, cheering for Team Canada, in a country that is very passionate about canoeing. The energy at this event is going to be wild!”

In addition to competing in the women’s C-1 event in which Betteridge earned her Olympic quota spot, the 26-year-old will also compete in the inaugural Olympic women’s kayak cross competition, as well as the women’s K-1 event. Baldoni will compete in both the men’s C-1 and kayak cross events.

“We are thrilled to be racing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where canoe slalom has a huge fan base!” said Team Leader and three-time Olympian, James Cartwright. “The atmosphere at the slalom venue is going to be enormous and our team has become very comfortable training and racing in France. We have been preparing in France since 2021 and it has become our second home and we are looking forward to the big show!”

Paris 2024 will mark the Olympic debut of kayak cross – an exciting new competition format in which four athletes race head-to-head through a whitewater course. Kayak cross was on the competition program for both the Lima 2019 and Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Canada has been competing in canoe/kayak slalom at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut at Munich 1972. While a Canadian has yet to win an Olympic medal in canoe/kayak slalom, David Ford came closest with his fourth-place finish in the men’s K-1 event at Athens 2004. Women’s canoe was included on the Olympic programme for the first time at Tokyo 2020, making the sport gender balanced.

Canoe/kayak slalom will take place July 27 to August 5 (Day 1 to 10) at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. 

“A huge congratulations to Alex and Lois for their first Olympic selection on the canoe/kayak slalom team. Their speed, ability and precise boat control allowed them to overcome challenges and push their limits rapid after rapid. I am very proud of them,’’ said Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s Paris 2024 Chef de Mission. ’’Experiencing the atmosphere of the Games is unique and I wish them a rich and successful journey.“

Team Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following coaches and support staff:

James Cartwright (Ottawa, Ont.) – Team Leader
Anthony Colin (Pau, France) – Coach
Ian Mortimer (Ottawa, Ont.) – Chief Technical Officer
Michal Staniszewski (Gatineau, Que) – Coach

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.

The latest Team Canada Paris 2024 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Colleen Coderre, Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
C: 613-530-6217
E: ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Tara MacBournie, Program Manager, Sport Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca

Canoe Kayak Canada has made the difficult decision to move the 2024 Canada Cup scheduled to take place in Shawinigan, QC from June 30 to July 1, to a combined event with the planned National Team Trials #2 in Montreal.

This combined Canada Cup and National Team Trials competition will run from Friday, June 21 to Monday, June 24.

One of CKC’s objectives around holding a Canada Cup includes the participation of our Provincial and Territorial partners in a high-caliber event serving as preparation of the 2025 Canada Games. Due to low participation, CKC has chosen to move the event from Shawinigan to align with National Team Trials to better meet the objectives for this event.

CKC wishes to thank the Club de Canotage de Shawinigan for their efforts in their bid and preparations for the event.  CKC knows that Shawinigan, its volunteers, and the commitment from the city is second to none and looks forward to events happening there in the future.

Further details, including the preliminary race card will be shared soon.

For any questions, please reach out to Kenna Robins, Director National Program Development at development@canoekayak.ca.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (April 11, 2024) – Over 20 Sprint and Paracanoe paddlers from across Canada have booked their tickets to the next stage of 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic qualification.

The National Team Trials, held at the Chula Vista Elite Training Centre, served as a selection regatta for the ICF Canoe Sprint and Para World Cup, the ICF Para World Championships and the Americas Continental Olympic Qualifier where Canada aims to secure additional quota spots for Paris 2024.

Eight Olympic and Paralympic paddlers from Tokyo were selected for the team, including Tokyo Olympian and 2022 World Champion, Connor Fitzpatrick, heading to both the Olympic quota qualifier and ICF World Cup Szeged.

“Heading into the upcoming critical events we strongly believe in the program that our coach, Andreas has built for us,” said Fitzpatrick. “We are excited for what’s ahead this year and we are all pushing as hard as we can to hopefully bring some really good results for the team this summer!”

Para paddler Erica Scarff is looking forward to more racing opportunities at the ICF Para Sprint World Championships in May, building towards Paris 2024.

“I am happy to be selected to the Para World Championship team and compete at my 9^th World Championships,” said Scarff. “I am grateful for the leadership of our coach Mark Granger and trust that the preparations will lead to exciting performances for the entire team!”

“The strength of our paddlers was very evident on the racecourse over the last three days of competition,” said Ian Mortimer, Chief Technical Officer for Canoe Kayak Canada. “We are building towards a big summer and this was an important step for the team as we push towards our top performances in Paris.”

You can tune into live World Cup coverage on the ICF website. Stay tuned for Olympic and Paralympic team selections culminating at the second set of National Team Trials in June at the Olympic Basin from June 21-23.

KEY DATES:

AMERICA’S CONTINENTAL OLYMPIC QUALIFIER & PAN AM CHAMPIONSHIPS – APRIL 23-25

ICF PARACANOE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MAY 9-11

ICF CANOE SPRINT WORLD CUP SZEGED – MAY 10-12

NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS #2 MONTREAL – JUNE 21-23

Paracanoe World Championships                                                                     Club

Americas Continental Olympic Qualifier and Pan American Championships

Women’s Kayak                                                                                                    Club

Men’s Kayak                                                                                                         Club

Men’s Canoe                                                                                                         Club

2024 Sprint World Cup Team

Women’s Canoe                                                                                                   Club

Men’s Canoe                                                                                                         Club

Women’s Kayak                                                                                                    Club

Men’s Kayak                                                                                                          Club

 Visit Canoe Kayak Canada’s website to get more information and make sure to follow @CanoeKayakCAN for social updates.

Subscribe to Canoe Kayak Canada’s mailing list to get all news and results directly to your email.

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 26 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

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is thrilled to be a recipient of Community Sport For All grant from the Government of Canada (Sport Canada). 

The Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI) supports NSOs in establishing more accessible and locally organized sport programs aimed at reducing barriers to participation, particularly among Black, Indigenous and racialized communities as well as 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, people with low incomes and newcomers.  

The funding has been allocated to 24 organizations, clubs and communities including: 

Provincial Sport Organizations: 

• Alberta Whitewater Association (AWA) 
• Canoe Kayak BC (CKBC) 
• Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan (CKS) 
• Manitoba Paddling Association (MPA) 

Clubs: 

• Banook Canoe Club 
• Club de Canotage de Shawinigan 
• False Creek Racing Canoe and Kayak Club 
• Gananoque Canoe Club 
• Greater Edmonton Racing Canoe and Kayak Club 
• Mississauga Canoe Club 
• North Bay Canoe Club 
• Orenda Canoe Club 
• Ottawa River Canoe Club 
• Ottawa River Runners 
• Otterburn Boating Club 
• Petrie Island Canoe Club 
• Pisiquid Canoe Club 
• Rideau Canoe Club 
• South Niagara Canoe Club 
• Sudbury Canoe Club 
• Sydenham Canoe Club 
• Wai Nui Canoe Club 
• Wascana Racing Canoe Club 
• Yorkton Canoe and Kayak Club 

These clubs and communities successfully applied for the CKC CSAI program, called ‘We Paddle’. With this funding, several communities across the country will be better equipped to increase participation in their sport at the community level while removing barriers for equity-deserving groups. 

“Canoe Kayak Canada is thrilled to be working with so many partners on our piloting of the We Paddle program and coach training,” says Kenna Robins, Director of National Program Development at CKC.  “We have great provincial and club projects underway, including Alberta Whitewater’s project, Adaptive Paddling programming for individuals with different needs and abilities, Wai Nui Canoe Club’s introduction to paddling program for new Canadians, and many more.  We are excited to be able to share all the activity going on across the country in the coming months.”  

The Government’s Community Sport for All Initiative supports National Sport Organizations (NSOs) in establishing more accessible and locally organized sport programs aimed at reducing barriers to participation. Through an investment of $16.7 million, 39 NSOs can give Canadians access to and stay involved in sport. 

CKC will be featuring the benefits of the CSAI program at our clubs in the coming months. For more information on the Sport Canada program, click here.  

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (March 14, 2024) – Canadian slalom paddlers win the 2024 Olympic qualifier at COPAC Canoe Slalom Pan American Championships, securing an Olympic quota spot for Canada in both women’s and men’s canoe (C1 events).

Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, ON) was the first Canadian down the course, dominating her races in both semifinals and finals, winning the event to cement a women’s C1 quota spot for Canada in Paris.

“I am over the moon excited,” said Betteridge. “I was aiming for Tokyo 2020 and didn’t make it there so being the one to secure this spot for Canada means everything.”

Alex Baldoni (Pau, France) also topped the leaderboard in the C1 event finals, locking up another quota for Canada on the men’s side.

“I’m very relieved and now the pressure is off for the rest of this event,” said Baldoni. “There were good options on the course and it worked out well for me today. Now I can focus on the work I need to do over the next couple of months.”

CKC’s High Performance Senior Manager, James Cartwright is looking forward to building upon the success in Brazil. “It was a great day for Team Canada! We have now secured both men’s and women’s canoe quotas here in Rio and we can celebrate this achievement with appreciation for all the hard work the athletes and coaching team have put forth over the last year.”

Athlete selections and nominations to Team Canada are still forthcoming for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Team Canada will compete in canoe-kayak slalom competition in Paris from July 27-August 5 at the new whitewater stadium in Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

For full results click here.

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 26 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

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca

It is with great sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Fred Heese, a Tokyo 1964 Olympian and passionate paddler.

Fred passed away on February 28 in his 81^st year after a brave battle with colon cancer.

A dedicated paddler, Fred spent his career at many clubs including Cartierville, West Rouge and Mississauga.

In 1964, he was a part of the Olympic team in Tokyo where he came back with 7^th place in C2. After his incredible sprint career, he took on a love for marathon paddling and represented Canada at the Marathon Canoe World Championships in his mid 40s.

Leading his life with his love for being on the water, into his later years he turned to competing in dragon boat where he founded the Toronto Dragon Boat Festival.  Fred was both an athlete and coach, and competed at many Dragon Boat World Championships, leading Team Canada to gold. He took great pride in the sport and throughout the years recruited many athletes into the paddling community.  Fred’s dedication, passion and positivity will live on throughout the future of our sport.

One of Fred’s many quotes, which he said to his son, Mark, and to those around him was “somebody’s got to win, why not you?” – a wonderful mentality for both athlete and coach alike.

Canoe Kayak Canada staff and board wishes to express our deepest sympathies to Fred’s family and all those affected by this devastating loss.

Details on the service and donations on Fred’s behalf can be found here.

OTTAWA, ON / REGINA, SK (February 28, 2024) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is pleased to announce Wascana Racing Canoe Club has been awarded the 2025 Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint National Championships and Canadian Masters Championships taking place on Wascana Lake, Regina, August 26 to August 31. 

 
“This marquee event brings the community together each summer for all of our Canadian sprint athletes,” said, Kenna Robins, CKC’s Director of National Program Development. “It is a showcase of the best of our sport; the emotion, the club pride and the amazing performances on the water. We’re looking forward to bringing that excitement to Wascana Lake and Regina in 2025.” 

 
Paddlers from over 40 canoe clubs across the country will be setting their sights on Wascana Lake in 2025. The Championships – most recently hosted in Dartmouth, NS and set to be hosted in Welland, ON at the end of the summer of 2024, draws over a thousand athletes of all ages. It is anticipated that participants will include National, Olympic, Paralympic team athletes and upcoming paddlers competing in age group categories. The Championships were last hosted in Regina in 2019 at the world class venue on Wascana Lake which also hosted the 2005 Canada Games Canoe Kayak Competition, Canada Cup West 2022 and 2023. 

“We are delighted to host this pre-eminent event in Regina”, said Dave Robertson, co-chair of the 2025 CKC Sprint National Championships Host Organizing Committee.  “It will showcase our sport and audiences will be treated to best in Canada performances by athletes from across the country.  The event will bring immense excitement to Regina, and hosting the event will bring the community together and demonstrate, once again, Regina’s hospitality and community spirit.”  

“The City of Regina is thrilled to have been selected to host the 2025 Canadian Sprint Canoe Kayak Championships and Canadian Masters Championships,” said Mayor Sandra Masters, City of Regina. “Our city, having successfully hosted the event in 2019, is excited to welcome over 1,000 athletes from across Canada to compete for the title of National Champions on our beautiful Wascana Lake. We celebrate the importance of sport in our community and will ensure that every athlete, coach, and fan visiting our city for these championships has an exceptional experience.”

Athletes will compete for club pride, national champion titles and historic trophies in sprint canoe and kayak events across several distances. Included in the program will be Paracanoe events with athletes with physical disabilities competing in kayak and outrigger canoe competition, as well as the Paddle All races between competitors with intellectual disabilities. Burgees are presented to the overall top-ranking clubs in a tradition that began at the first Championship in 1900. 

About Canoe Kayak Canada 

Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 26 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 : 

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca  

Dave Robertson
Nationals Event Co-Chair, Wascana Racing Canoe Club
daverobertson80@hotmail.com

OTTAWA, ONTARIO/SHAWINIGAN, QUEBEC (February 26, 2024)– Paddlers from across Canada will be welcomed by Le Club de canotage de Shawinigan (CCS) as Shawinigan, QC is announced as host of the 2024 CKC Canada Cup from June 30 to July 1, 2024. 

The event is set to attract over 200 competitors, including provincial and national team members, creating a high-level competition showcasing some of Canada’s best paddlers. The 2024 edition of Canada Cup will once again shine on the course installed on an arm of the Saint-Maurice River, along Avenue du Capitaine Veilleux. 

“We are excited to be going back to Shawinigan for the 2024 Canada Cup. The area has a strong passion for canoeing, which was evident most recently at the 2022 Nationals. The Canada Cup is targeted at provincial/territorial, international, and club teams to compete in a high-quality competition specifically targeting the Train to Compete stage of Long-Term Athlete Development.  It’s a great opportunity for all our developing athletes in Canada to get a chance to compete at a high-level competition,” says Kenna Robins, Director of Development. “We hope to see strong participation from clubs and provincial and Territorial teams from across the country at this great event.” 

Le Club de canotage de Shawinigan is no stranger to national paddling events, most hosting Canada Cup in 2016 and 2017, as well as the 2022 Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint National Championships. 

“The CCS volunteers are excited to once again welcome the larger sprint canoe-kayak community,” says Hélène Gervais, Chair of the Host Organizing Committee. “The event will have a positive impact on the community of Shawinigan which has already been hard at work to ensure that the teams enjoy their time in Mauricie with a WOW!” 

CKC will be going back to hosting one Canada Cup each year in the build up towards Canada Games to align with the Team Red program, athlete development, and club objectives.   We are announcing that there will be an opportunity for any CKC member organization to bid for Team Red Cup events to enhance their competition and to benefit athletes inside and outside of their organization to participate when they may not have had previous access.  Team Red Cups can be multi-disciplinary and creative with respect to the host region.  CKC is committed to supporting high-quality and maximum participation opportunities for all athletes.   

More information will be released in the upcoming months and will be showcased on the CKC events page on our website. 

About Canoe Kayak Canada  

Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 26 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
Communcations Lead
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca 

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca 

Hélène Gervais
Team Relations
clubdecanotagedeshawinigan@gmail.com 

Following collaborative discussions with Maskwa Aquatic Club and Rideau Canoe Club, Canoe Kayak Canada has determined the Maskwa Aquatic Club and the Rideau Canoe Club are declared co-winners of the 2023 Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint National Championships held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia between August 29, 2023 to September 2, 2023.

Each club will be awarded an overall Burgee for the 2023 Championships, as a result of an ambiguity in points allocation and tabulation the result of which could have resulted in either club being named the winner.

This announcement is made by Canoe Kayak Canada as part of its commitment to inclusiveness and broader participation in all National Championship events.

Canoe Kayak Canada affirms its commitment to review and strengthen the Sprint Racing Discipline Competition Rules to ensure the full participation of all athletes, and further commits to ensure competition rules are clear and reflective of these objectives.

Canoe Kayak Canada is thrilled to launch  the 2024 Boats for All – a campaign to ensure our races at National Championships are inclusive for all while growing the sport across the country!

With your help, we want to raise $15,000 to purchase a fleet of accessible boats that will be used at this year’s National Championships for our PaddleAll program. These boats will then stay with the Host Division as a legacy to promote programming in the area for those with intellectual disabilities.

WHAT IS PaddleAll?

CKC’s PaddleAll programming encourages athletes with intellectual disabilities to train and race to be their best in sport. This program provides high-quality training and competition opportunities to all athletes, regardless of ability, and is important for the growth of this sport and for the paddling community. Boats for All will leave a legacy for the future of PaddleAll Programming in Canada., it will also contribute to the global goal of inclusivity within the sport of paddling. It will promote canoeing as a fully inclusive sport as represented by the recent signing of an agreement with Special Olympics International to promote the development of canoeing in the Special Olympic World Games.

WHAT IS THE CAMPAIGN?

Our mission is that every region across the country will have the standardized equipment that meets Special Olympic rules and regulations to be inclusive for all. In achieving this, we are providing legacy resources so divisions can grow their Special Olympics/PaddleAll programming. Each year the region that will be targeted to receive this equipment will be the Host Division of the Sprint National Championships.

As a continuously progressive National Sport Organization (NSO), Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) makes every effort for our sport to be accessible to all athletes, with a vision to increase our international opportunities for our PaddleAll and Special Olympics athletes. One of our main values is inclusion, and we pride ourselves in ensuring that our activities strive to be as inclusive as possible.

Currently, CKC provides opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities at our Sprint National Championships under our PaddleAll program. Many regions and clubs provide great programming for our athletes and have those athletes compete at our National Championships.

One of our biggest challenges in the continued success of this event is to ensure we have enough boats of the same type so that races are fair for all participants. Our Tourist class singles event is an event where athletes may not all use the same equipment at their clubs, but at Nationals Championships we need to guarantee they have the same access to equipment, so the race is as fair as possible across the field.

These boats are versatile and can be used for many uses at a club, not just for PaddleAll programming. They will open opportunities for everyone to try paddling and can be used in many introductory programs.

MAKE A DONATION HERE

THE GOAL

To ensure our races at National Championships are inclusive for all and to grow the sport across the country, we want to raise $15,000 to purchase a fleet of accessible boats that will be used at this year’s National Championships that will then stay with the Host Division as a legacy to promote programming in the area for PaddleAll competitors, our program for those with intellectual disabilities.

THE DETAILS

• Funds raised as a result of this campaign will go directly towards the purchase of an additional 10 touring boats to be used at the 2024 Sprint National Championships in Welland, ON and left as a legacy for PaddleAll races in the Western Ontario Division (WOD)
• WOD will manage the use of these boats in their region
• Contributions to the campaign over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt (please note that receipts will be issued post campaign)

MAKE A DONATION HERE

ABOUT CKC’S PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVES

Paddling is for all Canadians, whether they paddle for the leaf or for the sport.

We must continue our legacy – to ensure that paddling is available to everyone across our land so that they can experience our country in a way like no other. Paddling connects us to our history. But we’re at risk of not being able to pass down its rich tradition.

There is a crisis in sport funding in Canada. One of the major barriers in access to, promotion of, and programming in paddling is a lack of funding. But thanks to the generosity of Canadians, we can continue supporting paddling at all levels and disciplines within the sport. You can help us build paddling in Canada by making a tax-deductible charitable gift.

Being an athlete has been a big part of my identity since I started playing sports and when people ask what I do, I say I am an athlete. It is something I have always been proud of being, however, when talking about mental health it is important to separate that part of your identity. As someone who has struggled with mental health and still does, it can be incredibly difficult to recognize what your mental health needs if I don’t separate what Bret the athlete needs versus what Bret the person needs. Being a high-performance athlete and in the pursuit of excellence we are always told we need to push ourselves to the limit, but how can we push ourselves 100% if we are at a 20% mentally? In my experience, mental health has always been the hardest thing to recover from and the easiest thing to ignore. I started to open up about my own personal struggles with mental health approximately 5 years ago with the goal that if I can help one person with my story and experiences, it was worth it to be vulnerable about them. I have now lived close to half of my life with an obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety diagnosis and last year I realized the coping strategies that worked for me when I was 13 do not work the same today.

Throughout last year I recognized that I was filled with anxiety, and I was being consumed by obsessive thoughts, which at first, I was able to bottle up and say I will deal with this later, became overwhelming and affected me on and off the water. When ignoring my mental health started to affect my practices on the water, it led to a further spiral and pushing through it was counterproductive to my training and mental state. I kept telling myself that I am an athlete and I need to just keep getting through the day to get to my goals. Every athlete trains at a higher level when they are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy compared to when they are not, and despite knowing this, I had the tendency to gaslight myself by saying everything is okay when it is not. After struggling with this for longer than I needed to, I decided to separate what I need as a person and what I need as an athlete. I am a goal-oriented athlete and for this year I have decided to prioritise my mental health goals, and I am certain that working on these will help me get closer to my goals in training and racing. As mental health is unique to everyone, what I may give for advice may not work for everyone, but here are some things I have implemented that have been working for me.

1. When the training day is done, be done with thinking about training. Especially at training camps, the sport can be consuming and living in that mindset 24/7 can make the training blocks more exhausting than they need to be. Doing this has helped my mind relax more at night while allowing me to attack morning practice the next day more.

2. When the days are harder to get through, intervene with a favourite.
Whether that is watching a favourite movie, eating a comfort meal, or even changing a practice to one you love, a simple intervention in the middle of a difficult week can change the course for the rest of it.

3. It is okay to not be okay, camps are hard, this sport is gruelling, and there is no way to completely avoid that. This is where I have learned to focus on what I can control rather than what I can’t as we only have so much energy and attention, directing it towards what we can impact is the best use of energy.

Most of what I listed above is not ground-breaking advice, but if what I shared can help one person, either with managing their own mental health or to open up themselves, we create a conversation without stigma we can all learn and grow from. My hope is that we can have a hundred athletes in our sport share what they do to help their mental health and the more we have open conversations, the more everyone gets out of it.

Written and submitted by Bret Himmelman.

Our story is not unique. There have been many National Champions in numerous events, disciplines and age classes over the years and many of them still connect as lifelong friends.

Many of us, like most Canadians at a young age, hoped we would play in the NHL one day.  Then my brother invited some of our hockey team down to the West Rouge Canoe Club to do some off-season training. The rest is history.  Canoeing was immediately a first love.  It was a community, a social club, and a sports club all rolled into one.  It challenged us.

For a lot of us our first Nationals experience was in Winnipeg in 1972, not long after we started paddling and we thought for a brief minute or two that we had won a bronze medal but soon found out we had been disqualified.  It might have discouraged many, but most of this ragtag group of teenagers came back the following year to form a Junior Men’s War Canoe.

The crew had no real stars, well maybe one, Steve Coupland who in 1971 won Juvenile C1 silver, then won gold in the same event in 1972.

1973 was a great year. Not only were we an amazing crew, but the camaraderie I think helped us squeak out the win over a strong Banook crew.

Fifty years have passed since that win, and the friendship that connects us because of those shared experiences in 1973 still brings us together annually.  There is much laughter, teasing and friendly jabs at each other. The memories have taken on a life of their own as we repeat the same stories over and over again as if we were telling them for the first time.  With enthusiasm we add details that were missing from the last rendition of our accomplishment. Quickly we fall into old habits and start calling each other by our old nicknames.  Mine shall go unrecorded in this article.

There is no question that paddling continues to be an important part of many of our lives, as well as some of our children’s, and even life partners.  Active on and off the water, there are World Champions in Dragon Boat, National Officials, Volunteers, an Olympic Coach and High Performance Director, Committee Chairs and even a Past President of Canoe Kayak Canada.

All this would not have been possible had it not been for that day we walked into the West Rouge Canoe Club and met our mentor Glen Benison who is still competing today. He was an awesome coach and friend who managed to instill a sense of pride and direction to a bunch of skinny kids, that we still carry today.

We have lost a few members over the years, but they are not forgotten.  RIP Randy and Jim. Of the remaining 13 crew members six to eight of us still get together annually.

Our 50th was no exception. To our fellow crew members whose paths have taken them elsewhere in life, let it be known that we still talk about you and remember you fondly…ok there is some laughter and some friendly jabs in your absence 😀

The motto of Canadian Canoe Association / Canoe Kayak Canada is “per aqua ad fraternitatem” (through the waters to friendship) and never has it been more true than our initiation to this amazing sport and the opportunity to start a lifelong friendship with this great group of guys.   Thanks for your friendship and thanks for the memories.

Written and submitted by Graham Barton

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is proud to honour the many coaches who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, initiative and competitive success throughout the 2023 season with the CKC Coaches Recognition Award.

This award is presented annually to coaches who have coached an athlete or crew either for nomination to a CKC National Team (Senior World Championships, Junior World Championships, Carded Athlete or National Development Team) or for a gold medal at the Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint National Championships. Congratulations to all !

Below is a complete list of Coach Recognition Award recipients for the 2023 season:

2023 Coaches

Adam Baird

Adam Mayo

Adam Oldershaw

Aidan Martell

Alexa Irvin

Andrea Nicholls

Andreas Dittmer

Andy Parry

Anna Hetzler

Anna Negulic

Ava Carew

Bethany Baert

Blake Hara

Bret Himmelman

Cayley Fortier

Chad Brooks

Cheyenne Farquharson

Chris MacPherson

Christian Hall

Csom Latorovszki

Daniel Winter

Dave Waters

Dominic Gomez-Granger

Doug Ellery

Doug Tutty

Edward Colhoun

Elliot Smith

Eric Mihalovic

Evan Landry

Frédéric Loyer

Helen Savin

Hélène Gervais

Hunter George

Igor Nikitovic

Jacob McKenna

Jacob Price

Jan Kruk

Jeff Houser

Jennifer Gratto

Jerome Seremak

Jessica MacKay

Joel Hazzan

Jocelyn Taylor

Jordi Cadena

Josh Nowen

Kalob Grady

Karen Furneaux

Karen Lukanovich

KC Dalton

Kevin McIntyre

LA Schmidt

Leeya Nagpal

Liam Smedley

Marc Creamer

Marie Rousseau-Demers

Maris Jacobs

Mark Granger

Marlee MacIntosh

Mathieu Pelletier

Michael Holroyd

Mike Kerrivan

Mike Robinson

Morgan Pugh-Toole

Nick Lamontagne

Niklas Hansen

Ornmadee Baxter-Lovo

Patrick Gagne

Patrick Lester

Peter Lombardi

Peter Nor

Philippe Laliberté

Rob Smith

Rob Stott

Robert Baert

Romy Chamberland

Rowan Hardy-Kavanagh

Sam Raiche

Samantha Morse

Savannah Sullivan

Simon Coward

Scott Feindel

Scott Oldershaw

Stan Marek

Tessa Nagai

Tony Hall

It is with deep sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Bill Trayling, a long-time member and head coach at the Mississauga Canoe Club.

Bill passed away on November 21 after a courageous battle with the devastating disease, ALS.

The former Sprint National Team athlete and six-time world Dragonboat champion was a passionate paddler who gave so much back to the sport. Since 2012, Bill played a significant role in support of both coach and athlete development on numerous CKC projects. He contributed his expertise as a certified Master Coach Developer, Educator and Evaluator of Canoe Kayak Canada coaching courses for well over a decade. CKC most recently awarded Bill with the prestigious Gilbert Award, which recognizes volunteers who have made significant and exemplary contributions to the Sprint Racing Discipline of Canoe Kayak Canada.

Bill also valued the importance of athlete development, focusing a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise, through his own personal coaching passion to support athletes and coaches in leading a healthier, balanced and rewarding life. His commitment to the sport and passion for championing others’ success was unmatched.

Canoe Kayak Canada staff and board wishes to express our deepest sympathies to Bill’s family, his wife Julia, their three children, and all those affected by this devasting loss.

Details about a service or donations will be published soon and updated here.

OTTAWA – Canoe Kayak Canada is delighted to announce the 2023 recipients of the Club Development Award and Coach Developer Award. The awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant achievements in their communities. This year, 14 coaches were nominated and the winners of this year’s awards were announced during the 2023 CKC Annual Meeting of Members on November 18, 2023.

“Coaches and club leaders across Canada are an instrumental part of the success of our sport and make an impact in the lives of our athletes and our sport system each and every day,” said James Cartwright, Senior Manager of High Performance and Coach Development. “We’re proud to recognize all of this year’s nominees. Taking time to formally recognize the accomplishments of our great coaches goes a long way to say thank you and to recognize the impact these individuals have in within paddling community.”

CKC Club Development Award

The Club Development Award is presented annually to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club.

Marie Rousseau-Demers – CKC Club Development Award

Marie is very committed to the overall development of CCKLB athletes at all levels. She is viewed as a dynamic and committed coach that takes great care to develop life skills such as confidence, self-discipline and respect for others. She encourages the older athletes to get involved with the younger ones, for example, by mixing groups and inviting them to encourage each other. Marie has worked with a nutritionist to publish a collection of healthy recipes for athletes. Her positive leadership is contagious. In addition, Marie has re-built the at CCKLB masters program, to our knowledge, this category had not existed for several years at CCKLB. Initially, about five masters athletes were enrolled. Thanks to her kindness, charisma, human approach and, above all, her sense of humour, this category has now grown to 15 paddlers.

Marie organized a training camp in Temple-sur-Lot, France, in the spring of 2023. The camp had not been held for several years. For this camp, Marie once again demonstrated her fairness and passion for the sport. To encourage everyone to participate, even those with more limited financial means and even other clubs in the region, she encouraged the youngsters to get involved in fund-raising activities. For 14 days, they benefited from an exceptional training environment on her part. We saw many benefits from this camp, including team-building, an unforgettable club dynamic for the youngsters, and the achievement of the goals of surpassing oneself and training hard. Of the youngsters Marie coached, some 30 went on to compete in the Canadian Championships in summer 2023. The Club came 4th overall (out of 42 clubs), participated in 51 finals and won a total of 32 medals.

CKC Coach Developer Award

The Coach Developer Award is presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties.

Igor Nikitovic – CKC Coach Developer Award

Igor has done so many things for Wascana Racing Canoe Club in the short time that he has coached at this club. He has guided many athletes to exceed in provincial national and international success. he has helped tremendously with growing the club and making it a safe and welcoming yet competitive environment for everyone who joins. In the past couple of years he has mentored a lot of our young summer camp coaches and while connecting with all the summer camp paddlers. Igor makes the club a great place to be around and is inspiring both new and old paddlers every day!

In the past two years Igor has sent two athletes to Olympic Hopes. At this year’s National Championships with only 8 athletes, we brought home 13 medals. In addition, Igor works with remote clubs, for example flat water north out of the Yukon so that they can have racing experience in our divisional regattas. He also works with international clubs such as Oklahoma Canoe Club and clubs in Seattle, to develop partnerships for future training and racing opportunities.

He has 29 years of coaching and had been in Richmond Hill for 10 years and Nanaimo for 6 years prior to coming to Wascana.

2023 Canoe Kayak Canada Excellence Nominees:

Brent Beck                              Georgian Bay Kayak Club
Lawrence Chin                     False Creek Racing Canoe Club
Wayne Donison                  Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers
Douglas Ellery                     Maskwa Aquatic Club
Dominic Gomez                  Lachine Racing Canoe Club
Sarah Kennedy                    Petrie Island Canoe Club
Phil Laliberté                         Otterburn Boating Club
Jacob McKenna                   Maskwa Aquatic Club
Igor Nikitovic                        Wascana Racing Canoe Club
Josh Nowen                           Cheema Aquatic Club
Mike Robinson                    Calgary Canoe Club
Marie Rousseau-Demers  Club de canoe kayak de Lac-Beauport
Savannah Sullivan             Maskwa Aquatic Club
Diane Tam                              False Creek Racing Canoe Club

CKC congratulates all who were nominated and to the 2023 recipients. For more information on the CKC Excellence Awards please click here.

Canada’s top Sprint paddlers are ready to race to the podium in Concepcion, Chile for the 2023 Pan American Games! From Wednesday November 1 until Saturday, November 4, this event will showcase the top Sprint athletes on their journey to Paddle to Paris. Please find below important information including schedules and how to watch live.

Quick Links:

Official Santiago 2023 Website
Day to Day Schedules
RESULTS

Team Canada Pan Am Games Hub

Live Coverage of the Sprint events :
Pan Am Sports Channel
CBC Coverage

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.)

RACE SCHEDULE (subject to change):

Day to Day Schedules
Wednesday & Thursday – Heats and semifinals

Friday & Saturday – Finals and medals

Canada’s top slalom paddlers captured five medals at the Pan American Games in Los Andes, Chile yesterday.

Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, ON) secured Canada’s first slalom medal of the day in the women’s C1 event.  Betteridge made quick work of a very challenging course and weather conditions in Río Aconcagua to secure the silver behind Brazil with a time of 119.69.

“I’m super stoked. This is my second Pan Am medal, as I also won a silver at the Pan Am Games in Lima,” shared Betteridge.  “It would have been nice to finish in first but being second behind one of the best in the world is pretty exciting. It was a challenging course, there were not a lot of white-water features so you need to pull really hard to get some of the moves but I dug deep today and got the job done.”

Mael Rivard (Ottawa, ON) was next up on the podium in the men’s K1 event, securing the bronze medal behind USA and Brazil. “It was a really hard race, the course was pretty hard and very shallow but I really just went for it and it worked out.”

Léa Baldoni (Pau, France) also won bronze in the women’s K1 event with USA and Brazil taking gold and silver respectively. “There was a lot of fighting right until the end with some touch penalties but I still had the third fastest time of the day so I’m pretty happy to bring home a medal for Canada.”

The highly anticipated Kayak Cross events marked an exciting end to the Slalom competition with four boats simultaneously launching off a ramp, placed more than two metres above the water, splashing onto the course, and battling through the course as a full-contact sport.

Alex Baldoni (Pau, France) breezed through the semi-finals to fight in the finals against Brazil. Baldoni crossed the line in 2^nd place, feeling redeemed from his disappointment of just missing the podium in the K1 event earlier that day.

“It was really hard after my K1 race to get back into focus for this race but my sister (Léa Baldoni) helped me a lot and she was there for me and that’s what makes the difference in the end,” he said.
“It wasn’t my best start off the ramp but it was really tight with Brazil and it was a very good fight so I’m really happy with this silver medal.”

Betteridge added another silver to her medal count in the women’s kayak cross event. She crossed the line in 4^th, however, once the penalties were applied against her competitors, the outcome was a 5^th medal for Canada. “To be able to stand on the podium twice today is pretty exciting. I met my goals here in Los Andes, which was to medal in both my categories. It feels unreal.”

Tokyo Olympian Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.) was unfortunately knocked out in the Kayak Cross time trials on Friday.

RESULTS

TEAM CANADA PAN AMERICAN SLALOM TEAM

Alex Baldoni (Pau, France) – C1 and Kayak Cross
Léa Baldoni (Pau, France) – K1 and Kayak Cross
Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, Ont.) – C1 and Kayak Cross
Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.) – Kayak Cross
Maël Rivard (Ottawa, Ont.) – K1 and Kayak Cross

Canada’s top Slalom paddlers are ready to ride the waves in Río Aconcagua, Los Andes, Chile for the 2023 Pan American Games! Starting Friday October 27 until Sunday, October, 29, this event will showcase the top Slalom athletes who are currently on their journey to Paddle to Paris. Please find below important information including schedules and how to watch live.

Quick Links:

Official Santiago 2023 Website
Day to Day Schedules
RESULTS

Team Canada Pan Am Games Hub

Live Coverage of the Slalom events :
Pan Am Sports Channel
CBC Coverage

TEAM CANADA PAN AMERICAN SLALOM TEAM

Alex Baldoni (Pau, France) – C1 and Kayak Cross
Léa Baldoni (Pau, France) – K1 and Kayak Cross
Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, Ont.) – C1 and Kayak Cross
Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.) – Kayak Cross
Maël Rivard (Ottawa, Ont.) – K1 and Kayak Cross

RACE SCHEDULE (subject to change):

FRIDAY OCTOBER 27

SATURDAY OCTOBER 28

Event                                                                                                                 Athlete

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29

Event                                                                          Athlete

It is with profound sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) mourns the loss of Mike Scott.

Mike was an iconic part of the Ottawa sports community with a strong connection and focus on padding for over 70 years. He served as a pillar in the community through being an athlete, coach, commodore, sport administrator, manager, writer and much more.

Rideau Canoe Club was where it all started in 1949. Mike raced for 11 years and as a Masters paddler he won 30 canoe titles in five different age classes. Not just giving his time as an athlete, Mike also took on roles within Rideau and was part of the board of directors for 33 years while acting as their longest serving Commodore – an incredible 25 consecutive years. Building on an extraordinary tenure at Rideau, he also served as chair of the host organizing committee for the Canadian Sprint National Championships eight times. He eventually met his late wife Lola at Rideau Canoe Club in the 1950s and were together for 60 years.

Being a place where Mike spent so much of his time and energy, while holding such a passion for the sport and the community, Rideau Canoe Club honoured Mike with a room in the club named after him – “the Mike Scott Lounge”, where he celebrated his 60th anniversary of volunteerism within the club. With such a strong connection to Rideau and all he had achieved there, Mike penned a book titled “The Rideau Canoe Club, A Century of Paddling 1902-2002”, and with his textbook sense of humour, he jokingly said “it would be his first and his last”.

Mike actively gave so much back to his community, more than just his time but also through fundraising to better the community and the infrastructure within it. He was a builder in so many ways which led to him receiving the R. Edgar Gilbert award in 1984 in the builder category, celebrating his significant and exemplary contributions to the sport of canoe and kayak.

Mike will be remembered for his generosity, compassion, friendship, humour, and contributions to the Ottawa sport community for many, many years to come.

The paddling community has truly lost an integral part of their family. The CKC staff and board of directors express and extend our deepest sympathies to Mike’s family, friends and the paddling community.

For visitation and funeral information please click here.

*with excepts taken from Ottawa Sports Pages: High Achievers by Martin Cleary

Canoe Kayak Canada announces the departure of Marc Creamer, CKC’s High Performance Para Coach. Marc shared his leadership and passion for Paracanoe and the sport as a whole for the last 7 years.

“Marc has provided strong leadership in our Paracanoe program over his seven-year tenure. Under his leadership, our Paracanoe athletes have risen to consistent world-level performance, and through positive collaboration with our partners across Canada, have seen our number of Para athletes grow,” said Ian Mortimer, CKC Chief Technical Officer, “We will certainly miss Marc as part of our leadership team, but wish him well in his new role with the Canadian Paralympic Committee”.

Marc has been an integral part of the Para paddling program within Canoe Kayak Canada, growing the National Paracanoe program and preparing the team for success through countless international competitions, including the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He was also the Team Leader for the 2016 Paralympic Team in Rio, where he supported Canada’s first Paracanoe Team in the sport’s debut.

Marc consistently went above and beyond in his role, bringing exceptional technical and leadership skills to the team. He has played a critical role in the growth and expansion of Paracanoe in Canada. His passion and excitement for the sport will be missed here at Canoe Kayak Canada, but we look forward to seeing what the future holds as he makes his transition into his new role at the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

In the upcoming months, CKC will be shaping a plan to ensure both the Paris pathway athletes have complete support, as well as planning for the next two quadrennials ahead.

Thank you to Marc for your contribution to our sport and congratulations on your new role!

TORONTO (September 28, 2023) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) have announced Canada’s canoe/kayak sprint team nominated to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The Team Canada canoe/kayak sprint team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is:

Athletes:

Women’s Canoe
Sophia Jensen – Cascades
Sloan MacKenzie – Cheema Aquatic Club
Katie Vincent – Mississauga Canoe Club

Women’s Kayak
Toshka Besharah – Rideau Canoe Club
Natalie Davison – Rideau Canoe Club
Riley Melanson – Senobe Aquatic Club
Michelle Russell – Abenaki Aquatic Club
Maddy Schmidt – Rideau Canoe Club
Courtney Stott – Balmy Beach Canoe Club

Men’s Canoe
Connor Fitzpatrick – Senobe Aquatic Club
Alix Plomteux – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac Beauport
Craig Spence – Cheema Aquatic Club

Men’s Kayak
Ian Gaudet – Banook Canoe Club
Laurent Lavigne – Club de canoë-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières
Cameron Low – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Nick Matveev – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Simon McTavish – Mississauga Canoe Club
Pierre-Luc Poulin – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac Beauport

The 18 athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their performances at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships and the CKC Pan Am trials held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia earlier this month.

Following a very successful world championship in late August, nine-time world champion Katie Vincent is looking forward to a new experience.

“This is my first Pan Am Games team! I’m really excited to have this opportunity, to be part of the atmosphere around Team Canada, and compete against some of the best in our sport,” said Vincent. “This is also an important stepping stone for our team on our road to Paris 2024, and to have this experience in a multi-sport environment will be invaluable next summer at the Olympics.”

Vincent is no stranger to success on the international stage, winning bronze at her first Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020 with partner Laurence Vincent Lapointe. She most recently won three gold medals and a bronze at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg, Germany. The bronze came in the women’s C-2 500m with partner Sloan MacKenzie, securing an Olympic spot for Canada in that event for Paris 2024.

“I can’t wait to share this experience with my teammates and other Team Canada athletes. Multi-sport Games have a unique ability to unite athletes from all sports around the world, so I’m really grateful to be part of this team,” Vincent added.

The Pan Am Games canoe/kayak sprint team includes two athletes who stood on the podium on home soil at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. Kayaker Michelle Russell contributed to Canada’s first medal of those Games –gold in the women’s K-4 500m – and captured silver in both the K-1 200m and K-1 500m events. Russell made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, finishing 11th in the K-4 500m.

Olympian Pierre-Luc Poulin is looking forward to representing Canada at his second Pan American Games following his bronze medal performance in the K-2 200m event at Toronto 2015.

“Toronto 2015 was my first major Games experience so I’m excited to get back to this kind of environment and build upon our season as a lot of great things have been happening,” said Poulin.  “I am hoping for some good racing and performances in Santiago and will look to pull from my experience in Tokyo to hopefully build on more great results this year.”

The team packs a significant amount of experience heading to Santiago, collecting seven medals as well as 12 Olympic quota spots across five events at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships last month in Duisburg, Germany.

“We are heading to Santiago with a strong team looking to cap off a successful 2023 season with top performances against a formidable Americas field”, said Ian Mortimer, CKC Chief Technical Officer. “Climbing onto the podium at the Pan American Games will be a big accomplishment in itself, while coupling that goal with the opportunity to use these events as a jumping off point into the 2024 Olympic season, we will be dialed in and ready for a strong competition in Chile.”

Canoe/kayak sprint will take place November 1-4 (Days 12 to 15) at the Laguna Grande de San Pedro de la Paz in Concepción.

“Welcome to Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 canoe/kayak sprint team! I can’t wait to witness your fearless adventures at the Pan Am Games,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “May every stroke propel you closer to your dreams and may the river of success flow your way!”

Team Canada’s canoe/kayak sprint support team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Coaches
Chad Brooks (Lake Echo, N.S.) – Coach
Andreas Dittmer (Dartmouth, N.S.) – Coach
Anders Gustafsson (Jönköping, Sweden) – Coach
Samuel Raiche (Lachine, Quebec) – Coach

Support Staff
Emily MacKeigan (Ottawa, Ont.) – Team Manager
Ian Mortimer (Ottawa, Ont.) – Team Leader
Katie Smith (Mississauga, Ont.) – Physiotherapist

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Colleen Coderre, Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
C: 613-530-6217
E: ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Emmalee Nother, Communications Coordinator
Canoe Kayak Canada
C;905-912-1322
E: enother@canoekayak.ca

Tara MacBournie, Team Canada Santiago 2023 Sport Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca

 Canoe Kayak Canada has officially launched the nomination process for the 2023 Excellence Awards.  

  The Club Development Award, the Coach Developer Award and Coach Recognition Awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant efforts or achievements in their communities.   

The Club Development Award will be presented to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club. The Coach Developer Award will be presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties.  

The awards are presented yearly at Canoe Kayak Canada’s Special Meeting of Members. The Summit will take place this year virtually on November 18, 2023.  

Click here to submit nominations.  

Deadline is October 18, 2023.  

For more information, contact James Cartwright

Canada’s top Sprint and Paracanoe paddlers will be at the start gates in Germany for the first round of Olympic Qualifiers for next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Paris, France. Starting Wednesday, August 23 until Sunday, August 27, this event will showcase the top sprint athletes in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines who are competing for the goal of a quota for Paris 2024.    

Quick Links:

Official ICF Event Link
Live streaming on Recast  (video recaps will be posted on Planet Canoe YouTube at a later time)
Photos from the Event 

How Qualifications work*: 

Sprint Kayak: 

K1 – Top 6 qualify (host country gets 1 quota) – (7 athletes total, 7 boats) 

K2 – Top 6 qualify (12 athletes total, 6 boats) 

K4 – Top 10 qualify (40 athletes total, 10 boats) – (4 Continents must be represented in the Top 10, if they are not, the 10th to 8th spots could be reallocated to the next ranked boats from the next ranked continents to meet this requirement). 

Sprint Canoe: 

C1 – Top 5 qualify (host country gets 1 quota) (6 athletes total, 6 boats) 

C2 – Top 8 qualify (16 athletes, 8 boats) 

Paracanoe 

 – Top 6 in each of the 10 events, only one quota per country per event 

*This is not qualifying the athletes themselves, this qualifies Canada for country quota spots. Athlete qualifications come at a later date. 

K2 F UNIFIED FINAL                  RACHEL COHEN AND MADDY SCHMIDT
DEMO II H K1 200M                   MATTHEW CASEY
II F K1 200M DEMO                   RACHEL COHEN
K2 H UNIFIED FINAL                 MATTHEW CASEY AND LAURENT LAVIGNE

Race Schedule: 

CanoeKayak Canada is looking for two individuals to join the organization’s Board of Directors.  This position is representative of the Paddling Association members of CKC and will be instrumental in providing a member perspective to the discussions and decision-making of the organization.

The Board of Directors is comprised of a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 11 people.  Below outlines how these positions are elected or appointed by the two classes of membership within CKC:

• Each of the 3 Paddling Disciplines have 2 positions which they elect or appoint from their discipline members for a total of 6 positions
• The Paddling Association members elect 4 positions from amongst the entire CKC membership

Candidate must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older,
• Have the power under law to contract,
• Be a resident of Canada,
• Have not been declared incapable by a court in Canada or in another country,
• Do not have the status of bankrupt, and
• Satisfies the requirements of the Income Tax Act in relation to the eligibility to serve as a director of a registered charity
• Be a current member in good standing of a Paddling Association member of CKC

In addition, the ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in serving on Not For Profit Boards of Directors
• Knowledge of CKC and its member disciplines
• A specific skill set or expertise that would be of benefit to the organization
• Knowledge of the Canadian sport system is an asset but not required
• Ability to commit approximately 10 – 15 hours per month to the work of the Board
• Willing and able to travel if necessary

This is a volunteer position with a term of three years.

Interested candidates are required to complete this form  (scroll to the bottom section) in order to be considered for the position.

Deadline for applications is midnight EST on September 5, 2023.

Please send applications to Chair of the CKC Nominating Committee, care of Kathy Hare by email to khare@canoekayak.ca

OTTAWA, ON (July 20, 2023) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is thrilled to announce the athletes nominated to the Sprint Canoe World Championship team to compete in the PaddleALL events (ICF Intellectual Impairment II events).

Rachel Cohen (Balmy Beach Canoe Club) and Matthew Casey (Cheema Aquatic Club) have been selected to the World Championship team based on their winning K1-200m performances at the Canada Cup East event in Ottawa, Ontario.

PaddleALL  programming in our Canoe Kayak community in Canada has, for nearly two decades, encouraged athletes with intellectual disabilities to train and race to be their best in sport. Last year, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) in partnership with Canoe Kayak Canada hosted its first-ever PaddleALL (Intellectual Impairment II) exhibition races at a world championship event. Canoe Kayak Canada continues to work with its partners and members across Canada to push for Special Olympics Canada recognition and to have the opportunity to send our Canadian athletes to the Special Olympics World Games.

“Rachel and Matthew are strong additions to our team heading into the World Championships,” said Ian Mortimer, Chief Technical Officer of Canoe Kayak Canada. “In both the K1 and Unified Events we will be targeting podium performances, which is a reflection of not just these two athletes, but the strength of our PaddleALL community across Canada, who deserve this chance to compete on the world stage.”

Rachel Cohen started her paddling journey in 2017 with the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club in 2017 and currently paddles with the Balmy Beach Canoe Club in Toronto, Ontario. Capitalizing on her multi-sport experience, Rachel found swift enjoyment and success in the kayak, winning a silver medal at the 2022 ICF World Championships exhibition race. As captain of her swim team, Rachel has also been selected to compete in the Special Olympics Provincial Summer Games in 2024. She was also inducted into the Toronto Sport Hall of Honour in 2022 as the Special Olympics Athlete of the Year.

Hailing from Fall River, Nova Scotia, Matthew Casey has been paddling at the Cheema Canoe Club for over 11 years now and also brings a wealth of sports experience, including hockey, golf and cycling. Qualifying for this World Championship team holds extra meaning for Matthew as he was sidelined by a broken arm at the 2022 World Championships, preventing him from competing on home waters. Off the water, Matthew loves volunteering his time with the PaddleALL program, supporting the next generation of athletes.

Rachel and Matthew will compete amongst the world’s best sprint paddlers at the ICF Canoe and Para Canoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany from August 23-27.

The Rosters:

ICF Canoe World Championships

Intellectual Impairment II

 Matthew Casey – Cheema Aquatic Club
Rachel Cohen – Balmy Beach Canoe Club

Men’s Kayak

Vincent Jourdenais – Club de canoë-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières
Laurent Lavigne – Club de canoë-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières
Cameron Low – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Brian Malfesi – Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club
Nicholas Matveev – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Simon McTavish – Mississauga Canoe Club
Pierre-Luc Poulin – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac-Beauport

Men’s Canoe

Andrew Billard – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Connor Fitzpatrick – Senobe Aquatic Club
Alix Plomteux – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac-Beauport
Tyler Laidlaw – Sackawa Canoe Club
Craig Spence – Cheema Aquatic Club

Women’s Kayak

Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka – Rideau Canoe Club
Natalie Davison – Rideau Canoe Club
Riley Melanson – Banook Canoe Club
Michelle Russell – Abenaki Aquatic Club
Maddy Schmidt – Rideau Canoe Club
Courtney Stott – Balmy Beach Canoe Club

Women’s Canoe

Jacy Grant  – Cheema Aquatic Club
Sophia Jensen – Cascades
Julia Lilley Osende – Mic Mac Aquatic Canoe Club
Sloan MacKenzie – Cheema Aquatic Club
Katie Vincent – Mississauga Canoe Club

ICF Para Canoe World Championships

Men Kayak

Gabriel Ferron-Bouius – Rideau Canoe Club

Men Va’a

Mathieu St.Pierre – Club de canotage du Shawinigan
Benjamin Brown – Maskwa Aquatic Club

Women Kayak

Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa River Canoe Club

Women Va’a

Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa River Canoe Club
Erica Scarff – Mississauga Canoe Club

Visit Canoe Kayak Canada’s website to get more information and make sure to follow @PlanetCanoe and @CanoeKayakCAN for more live updates.

Subscribe to Canoe Kayak Canada’s mailing list to get all news and results directly to your email.

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

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca

It is with deep sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the tragic passing of Dima Buzdugan, member of the Richmond Hill Canoe Club.

Dumitru passed away on Monday July 10^th, at the Welland General Hospital.  Canoe Kayak Canada wishes to express its deepest sympathies to Dima’s family, his wife and two children, and all those affected by his sudden loss.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made through a GoFundMe that has been set up in Dumitru’s honour.

MINDEN, ONTARIO (JULY 6, 2023) – Canada’s best whitewater paddlers will be gathering at the Minden Whitewater Preserve on the Gull River from August 21st to 27th to compete for National titles in Canoe and Kayak Slalom, Freestyle, Downriver, and Kayak Cross. International athletes will be present to compete for International Canoe Federation ranking points at the Minden Open Race which will run concurrently.  

More than a hundred athletes will be competing in multiple disciplines over the course of the week, keeping competition fierce as the provinces battle for points towards the Brian Greer Cup, the Provincial Team title. With International Canoe Federation ranking points also up for grabs, athletes from other nations are expected to attend, further deepening the field and adding to the excitement.

All are invited to this free event, which includes the thrilling new whitewater discipline of kayak cross. Pitting four athletes head-to-head, kayak cross is a must see as it is set to make its Olympic Games debut next year in Paris.

“We are excited to welcome athletes from across the country and around the world to Minden,” said Eric Betteridge, Organizing Committee Co-Chair. “This world class venue has been the site of many National Championships as well as the 2015 Pan Am Games and three World Cup events. This will be a great opportunity for our younger athletes to gain valuable experience competing against national and international athletes, as it is an international ranking race.”

“I am beyond excited to see that Nationals are being held in Minden after a four-year hiatus. It is such a great venue with a challenging whitewater course. I have many  memories from Minden either from attending team selection or Nationals and it is always a lot of fun competing there. Good luck to everyone!” – Florence Maheu, National Whitewater Slalom Team, Olympian.

Location: Minden Whitewater Preserve, 1020 Bethel Rd, Minden, ON

Schedule:

Aug 23: AM – Kayak Cross Time Trial; PM – Kayak Cross Elimination 

Aug 24: AM – Freestyle; PM – Development Race 

Aug 25: AM- Down River Classic;  PM – Down River Sprint

Aug 26: Slalom Age Group Races  (Heats 1 and 2)

Aug 27: Slalom Open Races (Semi-finals and Finals)

For updates and more information follow  Whitewater Ontario on  Instagram and Facebook or visit the event 2023 Whitewater Nationals website.

About Whitewater Ontario

Whitewater Ontario is a volunteer-driven organization uniting, supporting, and sustaining the inclusive development of the whitewater paddling community and resources within the province. The Minden Whitewater Preserve, where the 2023 Nationals are being held, is one of the many focal points for recreational and competitive paddling in the province. Ontario is well represented on national teams by Slalom, Freestyle and Downriver athletes. Most recently Ontario Slalom athletes brought home two silver medals from the 2023 Pan Am Championships  and are representing Canada on the World Cup Circuit. Canadian Freestyle athletes are some of the best in the world – recently, Freestyle athletes brought home 5 silver medals from the 2022 World Championships and World Cups. Ontario Slalom, Freestyle and Downriver athletes comprise a large proportion of the National teams representing Canada at Senior, Junior and U23 World Championships.  

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For more information :

Eric Betteridge 

Co-Chair 2023 Whitewater Nationals Organizing Committee

613-806-2532

Eric.Whitewater@gmail.com

Tokyo teammates Andréanne Langlois and Alanna Bray-Lougheed are packing up their paddles and announcing their official retirement from competitive sprint paddling following successful careers representing Canada on the world’s largest sporting stages.

Andréanne and Alanna have a combined 20 years of paddling experience racing at an elite level and even more national and international medals to showcase their successes. In 2019, the kayaking duo brought home gold in the women’s K-2 500m and K-4 500m at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Alanna Bray-Lougheed (30) grew up in Oakville, Ontario and kick started her paddling career at the Burloak Canoe Club. She was named to the national team for the first time in 2015 after winning the K-2 200m and K-2 500m national titles with Lizzy Bates and going on to win multiple national titles in the years to come. In 2017, Alanna broke into the international scene, competing in both World Cup and World championships in multiple K-2 distances with Natalie Davison.

In 2019, she raced to gold at the 2019 Pan Am Games with Langlois in the K-2 500m, and helped the women’s K-4 500m team paddle to their third consecutive gold.

Alanna made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 where she competed in the K-2 500m with Madeline Schmidt and in the K-4 500m with Langlois.

“Making the Olympic team after a year with big ups and downs and having them postponed, was definitely a highlight of my career,” shared Bray-Lougheed. “But it was the training camps leading up to big competitions that are memories I will cherish the most. Joking around in the boat bays, completing a hard practice and chatting about it afterwards over dinner with teammates, and the feeling of working together towards the big goal.”

Hailing from Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Andréanne (30) first represented Canada as a 16-year-old at the 2009 ICF Junior World Championships. She continued to climb up the ranks to compete at the World Cup level in 2016. Andréanne qualified for her first Olympic Games in Rio finishing 8^th in the K-4 500m and 14^th in the K-1 200m events.

“My first Olympics is my most cherished memory,” said Langlois. “I had the opportunity to be surrounded by my heroes and idols. It was an amazing experience to be with people with so much experience. I will never forget it.”

She went on to compete at the world championships in 2017 and qualifying for Pan American Games in 2019, bringing home an impressive 4 medals for Canada.

In her second Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, Langlois reached the A final of the K-1 200m and the B final of the K-4 500m.

At the 2022 ICF World Championships, held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, she wrapped up her paddling career with a bronze medal finish in the K2 200m final with partner Toshka Besharah – Hrebecka.

“The highlight of my career was winning a medal in my own country with my girl, Toshka. It was an amazing experience to share it with new eyes and be able to do my favorite distance with a friend. It was an opportunity of a lifetime.”

While both Alanna and Andréanne are starting new chapters in their life working in healthcare, they both intend on staying connected to the community that helped shaped them into the people they are today.

“I plan on staying involved in the sport in some capacity, such as a mentor and volunteer and I hope to continue competing at Nationals,” said Bray-Lougheed. “I just recently moved from Halifax to Toronto to start a new job as a Registered Dietitian in the NICU at Sunnybrook Hospital. I’m really excited to start a new chapter and know my time as an athlete will serve me well in this new career.”

CKC wishes Andréanne and Alanna all the best on their new journeys and look forward to seeing them on the dock cheering on the next generation of Canadian paddlers!

OTTAWA, ON (July 29, 2023) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) announces the 2023 rosters of sprint paddlers nominated to compete at the Senior, Junior, U23 ICF Canoe World Championships and the Olympic Hopes Regatta this summer.

The world’s best sprint paddlers will contest for 2024 Olympic and Paralympic quota spots at the ICF Canoe and Para Canoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany from August 23-27.

“As a team we are looking to qualify as many quota spots as possible and we intend to work really hard to be ready to do just that,” said Connor Fitzpatrick, 2022 World Champion in C-2 mixed 500m event. “I hope to put myself in the fight for a quota spot against the best in the world.”

Olympic bronze medallist Katie Vincent, will look to reclaim and defend her world championship titles, winning three gold medals and a bronze at the 2022 ICF Worlds in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Team Canada took home a total of eight medals last year including a silver and bronze from 2020 Paralympian Brianna Hennessy. Canada also ranked 4^th overall in the country medal standings.

Canada will be proudly represented by 32 emerging paddlers at the Junior and U23 World Championships team, including siblings Peter, Maren and Stuart Bradley from the Rideau Canoe Club.

“Being able to race alongside my two brothers internationally is something I never would have imagined when we got into this sport,” said Maren Bradley. “The three of us are each other’s biggest fans so I am really looking forward to cheering them on and also having them there to motivate me at showtime! Such an amazing opportunity for our whole family.”

The ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships will take place from July 5-9 in Auronzo, Italy.

The Olympic Hopes Regatta will take place September 7 – 10 in Poznan, Poland featuring 24 of Canada’s top U16 and U17 paddlers in an iconic event that showcases the next generation of Olympic talent.

“We are proud of the efforts of all of the athletes who raced for nominations this past weekend and look forward to working with those athletes nominated to compete on the world stage,” said CKC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “The events this summer are an exciting opportunity for us to showcase our talent as a nation, and we know the entire community at home will be cheering them on.”

The selection event was held at the National Team Trials at the Olympic Basin in Montreal, Quebec from June 23-26.

The Rosters:

Senior ICF Canoe World Championships

Men’s Kayak

Vincent Jourdenais – Club de canoë-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières
Laurent Lavigne – Club de canoë-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières
Cameron Low – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Brian Malfesi – Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club
Nicholas Matveev – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Simon McTavish – Mississauga Canoe Club
Pierre-Luc Poulin – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac Beauport

Men’s Canoe

Andrew Billard – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Connor Fitzpatrick – Senobe Aquatic Club
Tyler Laidlaw – Sackawa Canoe Club
Alix Plomteux – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac Beauport
Craig Spence – Cheema Aquatic Club

Women’s Kayak

Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka – Rideau Canoe Club
Natalie Davison – Rideau Canoe Club
Riley Melanson – Senobe Aquatic Club
Michelle Russell – Abenaki Aquatic Club
Maddy Schmidt – Rideau Canoe Club
Courtney Stott – Balmy Beach Canoe Club

Women’s Canoe

Jacy Grant  – Cheema Aquatic Club
Sophia Jensen – Cascades
Julia Lilley Osende – Mic Mac Aquatic Canoe Club
Sloan MacKenzie – Cheema Aquatic Club
Katie Vincent – Mississauga Canoe Club

ICF Para Canoe World Championships

Men’s Kayak

Gabriel Ferron-Bouius – Rideau Canoe Club

Men’s Va’a

Benjamin Brown – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Mathieu St.Pierre – Club de canotage de Shawinigan

Women’s Kayak

Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa River Canoe Club

Women’s Va’a

Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa River Canoe Club
Erica Scarff – Mississauga Canoe Club

ICF U23 Canoe World Championships

Men’s Kayak

Alex Canning – Banook Canoe Club
Ian Gaudet – Banook Canoe Club
Jérémy Lantz – Club de canoë-kayak de vitesse de Trois-Rivières

Men’s Canoe

Peter Bradley – Rideau Canoe Club
Viktor Hardy – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac Beauport
Zachary Kralik – Mississauga Canoe Club

Women’s Kayak

Maren Bradley – Rideau Canoe Club
Sarah Nagy  – Richmond Hill Canoe Club
Brooklyn Wodehouse – Richmond Hill Canoe Club

Women’s Canoe

Marlee MacIntosh – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Jessica MacKay – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Evie McDonald – Rideau Canoe Club

ICF Junior (U18) World Championship 

Men’s Kayak

Thomas Beauregard – Rideau Canoe Club
Carson Corey – Burloak Canoe Club
Braden Lawrence – Senobe Aquatic Club
Ryan Naroditsky – Rideau Canoe Club
Carter Naugler – Senobe Aquatic Club

Men’s Canoe

Stuart Bradley – Rideau Canoe Club
Jack Chambers – Mississauga Canoe Club
Nikita Ciudin – Calgary Canoe Club
Étienne Gamache – Club de canotage Otterburn
Nicholas Shirokov – Mississauga Canoe Club

Women’s Kayak

Chloe Bryer – Burloak Canoe Club
Florence Hamel – Club de canoë de Lachine
Callie Loch – Rideau Canoe Club
Ivy Murphy – Banook Canoe Club
Alina Tverie – Club de canoë de Lachine

 Women’s Canoe

Élizabeth Desrosiers-McArthur – Club de Canoë-Kayak Lac Beauport
Ruby Muhl – Rideau Canoe Club
Julia Price – Rideau Canoe Club
Zoe Wojtyk – Rideau Canoe Club
Abby Wojtyk – Rideau Canoe Club

Olympic Hopes Regatta 

Men’s Kayak

 U17

Luke Enns  – Toba Canoe and Kayak Club
Carter Naugler – Senobe Aquatic Club
Henrik Neuspiel  – Rideau Canoe Club

 U16

Conrad Hoogerboord – Senobe Aqautic Club
William Jennings – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Dyllan Redwood-Wheeler – Carleton Place Canoe Club

Men’s Canoe

 U17 

Duncan Giles  – Senobe Aquatic Club
Alexander McNeil  – Maskwa Aquatic Club
Cole Norman –  Rideau Canoe Club

U16 

Justin Boyko  – Calgary Canoe Club
Shawn Ge –  Burloak Canoe Club
Baer Robertson  – Wascana Canoe Club

Women’s Kayak

U17

Chloe Bryer  – Burloak Canoe Club
Florence Hamel  – Club de canoë de Lachine
Callie Loch  – Rideau Canoe Club

U16

Marie Chamberland  – Club de canotage du Lac-Sergent
Amelia Frank  – Pisquid Aquatic Club
Maura Macumber  – Maskwa Canoe Club

Women’s Canoe

U17

Isabel Lowry  – Carleton Place Canoe Club
Ruby Muhl  – Rideau Canoe Club
Julia Price – Rideau Canoe Club

U16

Abbie Haines – Carleton Place Canoe Club
Emma Marshall – Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Victoria Tran – Maskwa Aquatic Club

Visit Canoe Kayak Canada’s website to get more information and make sure to follow @PlanetCanoe and @CanoeKayakCAN for more live updates.

Subscribe to Canoe Kayak Canada’s mailing list to get all news and results directly to your email.

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

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca

Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom team announced for Santiago 2023 

OTTAWA (June 28, 2023) – Canoe Kayak Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom team selected to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The Team Canada slalom paddlers for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Athletes
Alex Baldoni (Pau, France)
Léa Baldoni (Pau, France)
Lois Betteridge (Ottawa, Ont.)
Florence Maheu (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.)
Maël Rivard (Ottawa, Ont.)

The five athletes qualified for Team Canada at the Pan American Championships held in Três Coroas, Brazil in late April where they collected a total of five silver medals.

“Being named to the Santiago team is very exciting,” said Lois Betteridge, silver medallist in the women’s C-1 at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. “Getting to compete for the second time, as part of Team Canada is something very special. It feels amazing to be going as part of a strong team and I hope to be able to contribute to the success of Canada at the Pan American Games!”

No stranger to the major Games atmosphere, Florence Maheu competed in the women’s K-1 event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, finishing 23rd overall. Santiago 2023 will be her first Pan American Games appearance. It will be the first major Games for Maël Rivard as well as siblings Alex and Léa Baldoni. Dual citizens reigning from Pau, France, the brother and sister duo are proud to be representing their mother’s side of the family as a part of Team Canada on the international stage.

Canoe/kayak slalom made its Pan American Games debut at Toronto 2015. Canada has since won seven Pan Am Games medals in the sport. Kayak cross, an exciting new competition format in which four athletes race head-to-head through a whitewater course, made its Pan American Games debut at Lima 2019 and will make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

Team Canada will have athletes competing in all of the canoe/kayak slalom events.

“The whole team is delighted for the opportunity to represent Canada in Santiago this fall,” said Canoe Kayak Canada Senior High Performance Manager and three-time Olympian in canoe slalom, James Cartwright. “This season is going to be a marathon with our Olympic qualifications starting in September in London and I know our athletes will also be very motivated to perform as part of Team Canada in Santiago!”

Canoe/kayak slalom will take place October 27-29 (Day 7 to 9) at the Río Aconcagua, Los Andes.

“I’m truly excited to welcome five new athletes on Team Canada who will represent us in canoe/kayak slalom,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “With a good mix of experienced and newer athletes, the team will surely take our breath away on the whitewater course! An amazing venue and opportunity to showcase this thrilling sport.”

Team Canada’s canoe/kayak slalom coaching staff for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:

Coaches
Anthony Colin (Mansle, France) – International Coach
Michal Staniszewski (Gatineau, Que.) – Next Gen Coach

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Colleen Coderre, Communications Lead
Canoe Kayak Canada
C: 613-530-6217
E: ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

Emmalee Nother, Communications Coordinator
Canoe Kayak Canada
C: 905-912-1322
E: enother@canoekayak.ca  

Tara MacBournie, Team Canada Santiago 2023 Sport Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca

Paddling brings people of all backgrounds and ages together, it waves away our differences and connects us to the water, land, and nature that surrounds us. It’s hard to describe the feeling you have in your boat, but we all know exactly what that feeling is.

Today, on Indigenous Peoples Day, it is important to remember that paddling is far more than competition, it is a pillar of life for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples on Turtle Island and Indigenous peoples all over the world. We are all incredibly fortunate to share in the benefits and beauty of this sport on a cultural, spiritual, physical, and emotional level.

One organization that is leading the way to empower Indigenous youth and their communities through canoe-based outdoor recreation programs is Waterways Canada (Waterways). Waterways is an indigenous-led non-profit organization based in Manitoba that was created in the summer of 2020 by a group of individuals, two of which are indigenous competitive paddlers themselves. Their mission is to connect indigenous youth with their culture, lands and community while nurturing their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Through their collaborative canoe programs, they provide indigenous youth with the tools they need to lead healthy lives and conquer any challenges they may face.

The programming Waterways provides enables Indigenous youth to connect to the water and rekindle their connection to elements of their culture that are critically endangered, such their indigenous languages. Many of their programs have grown exponentially since they began, with a high demand within Indigenous communities to get outside and embrace paddling while enriching their souls with their culture that was once lost. Waterways is proud to have programming in over 20 communities across Manitoba, celebrating and connecting Indigenous youth and communities through the sport of paddling.

To continue to grow this empowering and essential programming it requires significant funding. This year, Waterways was fortunate enough to receive a donation from a donor through the GiftPact Foundation that CKC helped facilitate that will enable this year’s programming to flourish and encourage Indigenous youth in Manitoba to continue to engage in their culture and identity through paddling. From supporting year-round planning to purchasing equipment, every dollar helps empower Indigenous youth to get out on the water and discover what they love about themselves, their culture, and canoeing.

There is a huge importance for indigenous youth and their communities to have an outlet and a place to connect with the land, their families, and their communities to rekindle their connection to their culture. For indigenous peoples, paddling is a way of life, a way of discovering their ancestry, learning powerful life lessons, and passing on their knowledge for generations to come. Waterways is an organization that is building a space for indigenous peoples to do just that, and it is something to celebrate today and every day.

For more information on Waterways and the work that they do, please visit Waterways Canada. You can also support Waterways through the Ultimate Canoe Tripping Raffle until July 4^th, 2023. Tickets are available here.

We encourage you to take the time today to honour, reflect, learn, and celebrate the history, culture, and resistance of all Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.

Photos Provided by: Waterways Canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, ON (May 25, 2023) – Canada’s best under-23 and junior slalom paddlers have been named to the CKC World Championship teams this season. Fourteen athletes secured their spot throughout the selection process competing in international races in France and Spain and at the Kananaskis selection race in Alberta, Canada.

“I’m excited to welcome our paddlers back to our program and to kick off the 2023 season” said James Cartwright, Senior High Performance Manager. It’s inspiring to see the level of paddling in these young athletes, our junior and U23 team is competitive, and I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish in Krakow.”

Rising U23 slalom star Maël Rivard (Ontario) is looking forward to the big season ahead saying, “I am stoked to be returning to Krakow for U23 World Championships this summer. The venue is great for racing and I know it well. Excitement levels will be high with the European Games wrapping up in Krakow just before. This event will be an important competition in my preparation for the Senior World Championships in September.”

Béatrice Olson (Ontario) will represent Canada in her last year of eligibility as a junior this upcoming season. “I am very excited to be part of the team that will be going the 2023 Junior World Championships,” shared Olsen. “I have been to Krakow a few times before and have always enjoyed racing there because of the challenging stoppers on the course. This will be my last year as a junior so my focus will be on delivering my best performance of the season.”

Members of the team will attend several international competitions in Slovenia, Czech Republic and Slovakia alongside the development squad in the lead up to the world championship event. The development athletes will attend the international competitions and return to Canada before the U23 and Junior World Championships. The International Canoe Federation Slalom U23 and Junior World Championships will take place from August 16-20 in Krakow, Poland.

You can find the list of events at Canoe Kayak Canada.

*Qualified for both U23 and Junior teams, competing at Junior World Championships.

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

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca

CKC is committed to protecting the health, safety, and physical and mental well-being of every individual that is involved in the Canadian paddling community.  CKC takes any situation involving misconduct, maltreatment, and prohibited behaviour very seriously.  As part of our programming, we are offering to our community a series of workshops.

These sessions will be led by Allison Forsyth, COO, Partner ITP Sport & Recreation, Olympian, and World Championship bronze medalist skier.  Allison is a survivor of abuse in the Canadian sport system and is passionate about providing audience relevant education in a real, conversational, and interactive ways. These sessions will provide you with real life scenarios and help all participant groups work through the realities and challenges of Safe Sport implementation, behaviour shifts, and identifying potential predatorial abuse. If you have taken online training before, rest assured that training is considered and these sessions will elevate your knowledge, your duty to protect and be protected, and how to navigate the nuances from commonly seen micro-aggressions and when and how to report maltreatment.

Allison does not take sides. She believes in Safe Sport for all, and whether you are a parent, athlete, coach, official, or administrator, she leads with empathy for your position in this movement and is positive and supportive in her approach.

Safe Sport is a critical component of the future of sport in our country and in every sport organization. These sessions will also support you in your understanding of the why behind that and how you can contribute to this new, safer era of sport.

We look forward to welcoming you to learn more!  Please share with all your members to encourage participation in the session that best speaks to the role you/they play in our community!

* Note that the sessions will be run in English but slides will be sent in both languages.  Simultaneous interpretation will be offered for the sessions as indicated above (please note that this will only be for anything offered in the main discussion and presentation and not in any potential breakout rooms).  Should this change, participants will be notified.

Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 26 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.

The Events Officer will be responsible for assisting with the delivery of domestic canoe kayak events playing a key role in planning, coordinating, monitoring, executing, and reporting on National level competitions. Additional responsibilities will include developing task charts for event execution, administrative, travel support, coordination and implementation of hosting guidelines for National events and servicing relationships with Host Organizing Committees (HOC).

If you or someone you know is interested in this role and would like to apply, please check out the full job description here.

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MAY 10, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (April 27, 2023) – Over 20 sprint paddlers from across Canada have booked their tickets to the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint and Para World Cup in Szeged, Hungary.

The World Cup team trials, held at the Chula Vista Elite Training Centre, served as a selection regatta for the ICF Canoe Sprint and Para World Cup running from May 11-14.

“The sprint competitive season is off to a strong start with strong performances from our squad at our selection trials,” said Chief Technical Officer, Ian Mortimer. “With World Championships and Pan Am Games ahead this season, the World Cup will be an exciting opportunity for us to test ourselves on the International stage.”

Eight Olympic and Paralympic paddlers from Tokyo were selected to the team, including 2022 two-time world champion, Katie Vincent.

“We are really excited to be heading over to Hungary for the World Cup,” said Vincent. “With lots of veterans on our team, I think our experience will be our strength in this pre-Olympic year. Everyone on the team has learned a lot from each other in the past year and this world cup event will be a great representation of our collaboration and growth as we continue to develop on the road to Paris!”

Paralympian Brianna Hennessy is looking forward to another powerful paddling season, following a busy winter season and cross-training with the National wheelchair rugby team.

“I am extremely grateful for the winter training with my coaches and teammates who have supported and helped me push through some difficult times for my family recently,” said Hennessy. “I am honoured to have been selected for the team and am humbled to have another opportunity to compete on the world stage alongside so many phenomenal athletes that I admire in both kayak and canoe.”

You can tune into live World Cup coverage on the ICF website. Stay tuned for World Championship team selections happening at the second set of trials in June at the Olympic Basin from June 23-25.

To learn more about selection criteria, click here.

2023 Sprint World Cup Team

Para                                                                                                                        Club

Women’s Canoe                                                                                                    Club

Men’s Canoe                                                                                                         Club

Women’s Kayak                                                                                                     Club

Men’s Kayak                                                                                                           Club

Visit Canoe Kayak Canada’s website to get more information and make sure to follow @CanoeKayakCAN for social updates.

Subscribe to Canoe Kayak Canada’s mailing list to get all news and results directly to your email.

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 26 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

Emmalee Nother
Communications Coordinator
enother@canoekayak.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, ON (April 5, 2022) – Canada’s top slalom paddlers have been named to the CKC Senior World Cup and World Championship teams this season. Seven athletes secured their spot at the Pyrenees Cup selection races in Pau, France and La Seu d’Urgell, Spain.

“I’m excited to welcome our paddlers back to our program this summer to race the world cups and world championships,” said James Cartwright, Senior High Performance Manager. “We have what is going to be the longest international competition season ahead of us this summer ending with the Pan American Games in Santiago in late October. Our team is very motivated to return to another full season of international racing as we move right back into Olympic Qualification for the Paris 2024.”

There are many familiar faces returning to the international circuit including slalom siblings, Alex and Léa Baldoni from Ontario.

“I’m very glad I will have the chance this year again to represent Canada in the international events,” shared Léa Baldoni. “The 2023 season means a lot to me because it’s the first step towards 2024 Olympic qualification.”

Tokyo Olympian, Florence Maheu is also returning to competition in the women’s kayak as well as the new and exciting event, slalom kayak cross. The extreme event is slated to make its’ Olympic debut at 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“Im really looking forward to competing in two disciplines on the World Cup circuit,” said Maheu. ”I’m starting to feel more comfortable in the new kayak cross discipline and I’m looking forward to seeing how the recent equipment changes I have made in kayak cross are displayed on the international scene ahead of Olympic qualification.”

The U23 and junior World Championship teams will be announced following the 2023 Kananaskis selection event in May. Additionally, any remaining senior quota positions may be filled at that time.

The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup circuit begins on June 2 in Augsburg, Germany.

You can find the list of events at Canoe Kayak Canada.

2023 CKC Senior Slalom Team

Visit Canoe Kayak Canada’s website to get more information and make sure to follow @CanoeKayakCAN for social updates.

Subscribe to Canoe Kayak Canada’s mailing list to get all news and results directly to your email.

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

Emmalee Nother

Communications Coordinator

enother@canoekayak.ca

Thanks to our incredible community, our Boats for All campaign closed on Monday, raising $15,657! This campaign had 72 donors, the highest amount of support we’ve seen in a campaign and beat our goal of $15,000, allowing us to purchase at least 10 touring boats that will be used at this year’s National Championships in Nova Scotia. This fleet of accessible boats will stay with the Host Division as a legacy to promote programming in the area for PaddleAll competitors, our program for those with intellectual disabilities.

“You have truly supported us in building the Paddle All/Special Olympic programming for this nation-wide initiative. Our athletes will have boats that they will be proud to paddle in because of your generosity,” said LA Schmidt, Commodore. “Thank you, Canoe Kayak donors from across Canada.  We are building our Paddle All program through your generous donations and the matching assistance from First Lake Solutions – thank you all so much. When we work together as a team, great things happen!”

A special thank you to First Lake Solutions who came forward with a matching challenge that helped us surpass our goal!

“First Lake would like to thank all of the donors for their generosity in making this campaign a success,” said Rob LeForte, Founder of First Lake Solutions. “We applaud CKC for taking the initiative to make canoe kayak accessible to people from all backgrounds.”

Our sincerest gratitude in helping us create an inclusive and welcoming community for all paddlers and creating a legacy for years to come.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is proud to honour the numerous coaches who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, initiative, and competitive success throughout the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the CKC Coach Recognition Award.

This award is presented annually to coaches who have coached an athlete or crew to either the nomination to a CKC National Team (Senior World Championships, Junior World Championships, Carded Athlete, or National Development Team) or a gold medal at the Canadian Canoe Kayak Championships. A big congratulations to all!

Below is a full list of the Coach Recognition Award recipients for the 2021 and 2022 season:

CKC Ramping up the season to win!

What is it?

This is a campaign to encourage all individuals (please see “Who?” below) to complete their CKC Safe Sport Screening in the beginning of 2023, well in advance of the 2023 competitive season, so that nothing will impact participation in any CKC activity.

There are a few steps involved in completing the screening process.  Please see the section “How?” to review those steps.

Who needs to complete the Safe Sport Screening?

1. All individuals who are members of CKC Staff, Board, Councils, and Committees.
2. All CKC Officials.
3. Any individual from a CKC member club or organization (PTSO, Division)
   • that has adopted CKC Policies, and/or
   • who will participate in a CKC sanctioned event in 2023 (including but not limited to: Nationals, Trials, Canada Cup, Time trial event, Training Camp, Project Coach position, International CKC team event), and/or
   • will be a member of an HOC for a CKC event

Why?

To ensure all participants have completed their CKC Safe Sport Screening in advance of the 2023 season. Please note, that if you’ve completed the screening in 2022 and it is still valid, you will fall under the “renewal” process below.
When?

Target completion date for all individuals (for this campaign): March 31, 2023.
Prizes will only be available to those who complete their screening by March 31, 2023.
(But note that the screening process can be completed at any time during the year!)

How to Enter?

How to enter:

1. Contact your club or organization registrar for your RAMP login page
   • (Note for clubs/organizations: Instructions for RAMP setup can be found here)
2. Once signed in, complete your Safe Sport Screening!
   • (All instructions for individuals can also be found on our website here.)

How to get set up in RAMP?

Setup  >>>  Clubs/Organizations: Instructions for Ramp setup for Clubs and organizations can be found here.

Step 1-3: INDIVIDUALS: All instructions for individuals can also be found on our website here.

* for the components of a CRC or where to get one, please see the website under Step 2

PRIZES!

Yes, individuals having completed their safe sport screening for 2023 in RAMP will be entered into a draw for a prize. A total of 50 prizes will be given out.

To be eligible, you must have completed the full screening process prior to March 31, 2023.

If you have any questions please reach out to: development@canoekayak.ca

Good luck everyone and let’s get ready to WIN!!

It is with profound sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Don May on January 27^th, 2023 at the age of 93. Don was a treasured member of the paddling community and a leader in sport with over 60 years of service provincially, nationally, and internationally.

Don took part in every element of paddling. He started as an athlete, often sharing stories about his past endeavors, replaying each and every stroke while relishing in some of his favourite races including paddling in War Canoe with his lifelong friend and teammate, Ray Knight as coxswain in 1953 when they won Senior Men’s War Canoe 1-Mile at Nationals in Ottawa. Don often recounted these memories with friends, family, and members of the community with pride and joy.

Don leaves a legacy of passion, dedication, and leadership in the sport of canoeing. He served as the Canadian Canoe Association (CCA) Commodore, Western Ontario Division Flag Officer, national official, was a founding member of the West Rouge Canoe Club and Ak-O-Mak Canoe Club, long-time member of the Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club, including winning the CCA Burgee in 1952 and past president of the Dominion Day Regatta Association (DDRA).

He received many well-deserved accolades which he was honoured to accept including winning captain of the first ever official Senior Women’s C15 at CCA in 1965 with Sudbury/Ak-O-Mak, receiving the R. Edgar Gilbert Award as a Builder in 1985, DDRA Achievement Award in 2005 for his over 50 years of contributions, along with donating the Don May Trophy to CKC for U16 Men’s C4 1000m in 2006.

Don had an insatiable enthusiasm for paddling and many in the community, both young and old, looked up to him for his knowledge, praise, and a good story. He will be dearly missed by all.

Canoe Kayak Canada wishes to express our deepest condolences to Don’s family, his friends and colleagues in the canoeing community. We also want to thank Don for his incredible lifetime contribution to canoeing.

Visitation and funeral information can be found here.

RAMP SUPPORT SESSIONS

As we begin to work within RAMP and become more and more familiar, we wanted to establish an area where Registrars or Club admin can collaborate or ask questions. Since each club is going through the same systems, we thought it would be helpful to discuss with your colleagues. To sign up please see registration links below.

* After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

ZOOM RECORDINGS:

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 – RAMP Training/Refresher for Clubs – System Questions And Information (ENGLISH)
Passcode: .HAt9=#&

 Wednesday Feb 19, 2025 – RAMP Training/Refresher for Clubs – System Questions And Information (ENGLISH)
Passcode: 86d?3ZCQ

February 2024 – February Q&A With RAMP Staff – System Questions And Information

Passcode: .sAZ2Unh

April 2024 – Q&A with RAMP Support Staff

Passcode: ^7d6BiqM

Effective today, Friday, December 16, 2022, Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has access to services provided by the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport

Complaints will now be filed with either Abuse-Free Sport or the Independent Third Party for CKC. A complete overview on how to file a complaint to either Abuse-Free Sport or The ITP is outlined in this section of the CKC website.

CKC has also adopted the most recent version (6.0) of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). Member organizations who have already adopted the CKC Policy Suite are not required to make any updates to their Safe Sport Policies at this time.

Safe Sport Policy

There is more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and on CKC’s page HERE.

For questions related to CKC Safe Sport, contact Kenna Robins.

UPDATE!

Thanks to your support, we’ve raised just over a third of our goal for our Boat For All campaign! We are excited to announce that we will be extending the campaign thanks to First Lake Solutions who has come forward with a matching challenge to help us reach our goal of $15,000. For every donation made in the next 2 weeks, First Lake Solutions will match it 100% up to $5,000. Please consider supporting our goal to make our sport more accessible to ALL athletes.

Canoe Kayak Canada is thrilled to launch Boats for All  – a campaign to ensure our races at National Championships are inclusive for all while growing the sport across the country!

With your help, we want to raise $15,000 to purchase a fleet of accessible boats that will be used at this year’s National Championships that will then stay with the Host Division as a legacy to promote programming in the area for those with intellectual disabilities in our PaddleAll program.

WHAT IS PADDLEALL?

CKC’s PaddleALL programming encourages athletes with intellectual disabilities to train and race to be their best in sport. This program provides high-quality training and competition opportunities to all athletes, regardless of ability, and is important for the growth of this sport and for the paddling community. Boats for All will leave a legacy for the future of PaddleAll Programming in Canada., it will also contribute to the global goal of inclusivity within the sport of paddling. It will promote canoeing as a fully inclusive sport as represented by the recent signing of an agreement with Special O International to promote the development of canoeing in the Special O World Games.

THE CAMPAIGN

Our mission is that every region across the country will have the standardized equipment that meets Special Olympics rules and regulations to be inclusive for all. In achieving this, we are providing legacy resources so Divisions can grow their Special Olympics/PaddleAll  programming. Each year the region that will be targeted to receive this equipment will be the Host Division of the Sprint National Championships.

As a continuously progressive National Sport Organization (NSO), Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) makes every effort for our sport to be accessible to all athletes, with a vision to increase our international opportunities for our PaddleAll and Special Olympics athletes. One of our main values is inclusion, and we pride ourselves in ensuring that our activities strive to be as inclusive as possible.

Currently, CKC provides opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities at our Sprint National Championships under our PaddleAll program. Many regions and clubs provide great programming for our athletes and have those athletes compete at our National Championships.

One of our biggest challenges in the continued success of this event is to ensure we have enough boats of the same type so that races are fair for all participants. Our Tourist class singles event is an event where athletes may not all use the same equipment at their clubs, but at Nationals Championships we need to guarantee they have the same access to equipment so the race is as fair as possible across the field.

These boats are versatile and can be used for many uses at a club, not just for PaddleAll programming. They will open up opportunities for everyone to try paddling and can be used in many introductory programs.

MAKE A DONATION HERE

THE GOAL

To ensure our races at National Championships are inclusive for all and to grow the sport across the country, we want to raise $15,000 to purchase a fleet of accessible boats that will be used at this year’s National Championships that will then stay with the Host Division as a legacy to promote programming in the area for PaddleAll competitors, our program for those with intellectual disabilities.

THE DETAILS

• Funds raised as a result of this campaign will go directly towards the purchase of 10 touring boats for the Atlantic Division to be used at the 2023 Sprint National Championships and left as a legacy for PaddleAll races in the Atlantic Division
• ADCKC will manage the use of these 10 boats in their region
• Contributions to the campaign over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt (please note that receipts will be issued post campaign)

ABOUT CKC’S PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVES

Paddling is for all Canadians, whether they paddle for the leaf or for the sport.

We must continue our legacy – to ensure that paddling is available to everyone across our land so that they can experience our country in a way like no other. Paddling connects us to our history. But we’re at risk of not being able to pass down its rich tradition.

There is a crisis in sport funding in Canada. One of the major barriers in access to, promotion of, and programming in paddling is a lack of funding. But thanks to the generosity of Canadians, we can continue supporting paddling at all levels and disciplines within the sport. You can help us build paddling in Canada by making a tax-deductible charitable gift.

For the sport. For the leaf.

OTTAWA – Canoe Kayak Canada is delighted to announce the 2022 recipients of the Club Development Award and Coach Developer Award. The awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant achievements in their communities. This year, 16 coaches were nominated and the winners of this year’s awards were announced during the 2022 CKC Annual Summit.

“Coaches and club leaders across Canada are an instrumental part of the success of our sport and make an impact in the lives of our athletes and our sport system each and every day,” said James Cartwright, Senior Manager of High Performance and Coach Development. “We’re proud to recognize all of this year’s nominees. Taking time to formally recognize the accomplishments of our great coaches goes a long way to say thank you and to recognize the impact these individuals have in within paddling community.”

CKC Club Development Award

The Club Development Award is presented annually to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club.

Jessica Riley has had a tremendous impact on both her community and the sport of Canoe Kayak. Jessica’s commitment to her programs have garnered growth and excellence at Yorktown Canoe and Kayak Club.

Through Jessica’s commitment, Yorkton Canoe and Kayak Club is a thriving community-based club that has regained its foothold as a training facility with high performance athletes who train year around. By developing and coaching a diverse range of competitive, recreational, and adaptive programs, Jessica has rebuilt the membership into a club that enrols over 500 people in programs annually.

CKC Coach Developer Award

The Coach Developer Award is presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties.

Jerome Seremak is an incredible force in coaching at the Manitoba Canoe and Kayak Club. He is described by many as one of the most motivating, caring, and hard-working coaches in the community. With a deep passion for paddling, he not only aids in athlete progression but truly cares for each athlete he leads.

Patrick Lester is a mentor and leader in the Ontario Coaching community serving various roles on the CKO Sprint High Performance Committee, as the Eastern Ontario Divisional Coaching Representative, as a 2022 Canada Games Coach and an integral part of Carleton Place Canoe Club (CPCC).

As a coach, Pat inspires all athletes, young and young at heart at Carleton Place Canoe Club. He believes in his athletes and cares about them both professionally and personally. From the parents on the shoreline watching their children to those on the water, Pat has made CPCC a second home for all

2022 Canoe Kayak Canada Excellence Nominees:

Sébastien BETTEZ – CANOE KAYAK TROIS-RIVIÈRES

Laura CLEMENHAGEN – COLLINGWOOD PADDLING CLUB

Lori DAVIS  – ROCKY CANOE CLUB

Kim GAUDET – BANOOK CANOE CLUB

Peter HODGSON – COLLINGWOOD PADDLING CLUB

Jeff HOUSER  – PISIQUID CANOE CLUB

Patrick LESTER  – CARLETON PLACE CANOE CLUB

Kevin McINTYRE – BANOOK CANOE CLUB

Jessica RILEY – YORKTON CANOE AND KAYAK CLUB

Graham SCHIEBEL – CALGARY CANOE CLUB

Angie SCHRODERUS – ROCKY CANOE CLUB

Jerome SEREMAK -MANITOBA CANOE AND KAYAK CLUB

François St.AUBIN -WHITEWATER ONTARIO

Katy STEWART – RICHMOND HILL CANOE CLUB

Savannah SULLIVAN – MASKWA AQUATIC CLUB

Robin THOMSON – ATLANTIC DIVISION CANOE KAYAK CANADA

CKC congratulates all who were nominated and to the 2022 recipients. For more information on the CKC Excellence Awards please click here.

CKC wants to provide an overview of all the Committee/Council Openings that will be fulfilled during the Summit Time Frame (Nov/Dec).

WHITEWATER:

* Contact Scott Best if you have any questions sbest@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Scott Best if you have any questions sbest@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Scott Best if you have any questions sbest@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Scott Best if you have any questions sbest@canoekayak.ca

SPRINT:

* Contact Jessica Kenney if you have any questions jkenney@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Jessica Kenney if you have any questions jkenney@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Jessica Kenney if you have any questions jkenney@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Jessica Kenney if you have any questions jkenney@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Jessica Kenney if you have any questions jkenney@canoekayak.ca

* Contact Jessica Kenney if you have any questions jkenney@canoekayak.ca

CKC COMMITTEES:

* Contact Sam Rogers if you have any questions philanthropy@canoekayak.ca

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to join Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.

CKC and its stakeholders will have access to the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, following a transition period which will end no later than December 16, 2022.

“CKC recognizes that safe sport is everyone’s responsibility. We’re fully committed to doing our part to support a growing national movement that is changing the culture of sport in this country. As part of that commitment, we’re pleased to sign on to Abuse-Free Sport and to soon have the OSIC to administer our safe sport complaints,” said Casey Wade, CKC’s Chief Executive Officer said. “The sport community has been asking for just this kind of consistent national program. It’s an important step forward for everyone involved in sport in Canada.”

Canoe Kayak Canada has adopted the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), which is a requirement before it can become part of the Abuse-Free Sport program, and is making the required policy changes. The transition period will include further updating of our safe sport policies, information sharing to our members, and completing consent forms from individuals designated as UCCMS Participants.

Prior to December 16, 2022, participants who have experienced or witnessed abuse will continue to have access to independent third-party services through W&W Dispute Resolution Services – safesport_wwdrs@primus.ca.

There is more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and on CKC’s page HERE.

About Canoe Kayak Canada

Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 26 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. 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.

– 30 –

MEDIA CONTACT:

Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
613-530-6217
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

More info and the application form can be found here

Sprint Competition Development Coach Pathway can be found here

Canoe Kayak Canada has officially launched the nomination process for the 2022 Excellence Awards.

The Club Development Award, the Coach Developer Award and Coach Recognition Awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club leaders who have made significant efforts or achievements in their communities.

The Club Development Award will be presented to a coach, club leader or volunteer who has clearly demonstrated his or her abilities at developing a club or the sport through grassroots programs such as creating a new club or program or promoting the sport through the club. The Coach Developer Award will be presented to a coach who contributes to the training of new Canoe Kayak coaches outside of, or in addition to their regular coaching duties.

The awards are presented yearly at Canoe Kayak Canada’s Annual Summit. The Summit will take place this year virtually on November 18-19, 2022.

Click here to submit nominations.

Deadline is November 7, 2022 

For more information, contact James Cartwright.

Canoe Kayak Canada is pleased to announce the 2023 National Freestyle Team, who will represent Canada at the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Columbus, Georgia from October 9^th – 14^th, 2023.

Twenty-one athletes were named to the 2023 National Freestyle Team who will represent Canada on their quest for the podium. For full list of the Canada Cup results, which were used for the 2023 Team Trials qualification, you can visit here.

Additionally, this fall our Freestyle athletes will be competing at the ICF Freestyle World Cup events from October 3 to 5 and 7 to 9, 2022, also taking place in Columbus, Georgia. These events are open to both National Team members and non-National Team members.

Athletes will be supported at both the World Cups and World Championships by National Team Coach Kalob Grady.

2023 National Freestyle Team:

For more information on the 2023 World Freestyle Championships, click here.

Those interested in competing at the World Cup events should contact Scott Best at (sbest@canoekayak.ca).

For any additional questions regarding Freestyle kayaking in Canada, please contact Canoe Kayak Canada Freestyle Chair Lee Vincent at (freestylechair@canoekayak.ca).

This is a permanent position, based in Canoe Kayak Canada’s Montreal National Training Centre. The intended start date of this position is October 1^st, 2022.

As a reflection of CKC’s commitment to Inclusion, as one of the core values committed to in our 2024 Strategic Plan, we continue to look to fill technical roles within our organization with individuals from underrepresented groups within our technical leadership team. Furthermore, our commitment to adherence to our Safe Sport standards and policies often requires key persons of authority who identify as Male and Female in coaching situations. Any and all questions about this permanent position should be directed to Ian Mortimer, Chief Technical Officer – imortimer@canoekayak.ca

The CKC Men’s Kayak Coach hereinafter referred to as ‘The Coach” is part of a coaching team 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. This position will be based out of Montreal, Quebec at the National Training Center and requires extensive travel to meet international training and competition commitments.

Skills / Background

• 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 programing as part of a team in close collaboration with other coaches and IST, with the HC making final decisions on programing, 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
• Have good written and oral communication skills
• The ability to work in both official languages is considered an asset
• Evidence of the ability to think innovatively and use experience and knowledge from other sports or fields to accomplish excellence
• Key personal qualities include adaptability, commitment, drive, innovation
• Strong computer literacy and coaching software

For the full job description and how to apply, please click here.

Deadline is September 23, 2022.

Canoe Kayak Canada is looking for one individual to join the organization’s Board of Directors.  This position is representative of the Paddling Association members of CKC and will be instrumental in providing a member perspective to the discussions and decision-making of the organization.

The Board of Directors is comprised of a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 11 people.  Below outlines how these positions are elected or appointed by the two classes of membership within CKC:

• Each of the 3 Paddling Disciplines have 2 positions which they elect or appoint from their discipline members for a total of 6 positions
• The Paddling Association members elect 4 positions from amongst the entire CKC membership

Candidate must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older,
• Have the power under law to contract,
• Be a resident of Canada,
• Have not been declared incapable by a court in Canada or in another country,
• Do not have the status of bankrupt, and
• Satisfies the requirements of the Income Tax Act in relation to the eligibility to serve as a director of a registered charity
• Be a current member in good standing of a Paddling Association member of CKC

In addition, the ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in serving on Not For Profit Boards of Directors
• Knowledge of CKC and its member disciplines
• A specific skill set or expertise that would be of benefit to the organization
• Knowledge of the Canadian sport system is an asset but not required
• Ability to commit approximately 10 – 15 hours per month to the work of the Board
• Willing and able to travel if necessary

This is a volunteer position with a term of three years.

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

Application Form can be found here.

Deadline for applications is midnight EST on September 5, 2022.

Please send applications to Chair of the CKC Nominating Committee, care of Kathy Hare by email to khare@canoekayak.ca

Canoe Kayak Canada is looking for one individual to join the organization’s Board of Directors as the Athlete Director-at-Large.  This position is instrumental in providing an athlete’s perspective to the discussions and decision-making of the organization.

As a full member of the Board of Directors, the Athlete Director-at-Large will have all of the duties and responsibilities of a Director and will participate in all Board meetings, discussions and decisions.

Candidates must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older,
• Have the power under law to contract,
• Be a resident of Canada,
• Have not been declared incapable by a court in Canada or in another country,
• Do not have the status of bankrupt, and
• Satisfies the requirements of the Income Tax Act in relation to the eligibility to serve as a director of a registered charity
• Be an active or retired (within the last five years) member of a senior national team in any of the canoe racing disciplines

In addition, the ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in serving on Not For Profit Boards of Directors
• A specific skill set or expertise that would be of benefit to the organization
• Knowledge of the Canadian sport system is an asset but not required
• Ability to commit approximately 10 – 15 hours per month to the work of the Board
• Willing and able to travel if necessary

This is a volunteer position with a two year term.

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

Application form cane be found here.