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.

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

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

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!

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.

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

It is with sadness, mixed with admiration for a long paddling life well lived, that Canoe Kayak Canada recognizes the passing of Alan McCleery.

Alan’s paddling journey began in Montreal in the 1940’s, paddling at the famed Grand Truck Paddling club on the St. Lawrence River. Here, he first experienced National level success winning his first CCA Championships in Junior Men’s C-4 in 1949, lifting the John W. Black Trophy as a twenty year old.

A dynamic partnership for Al began when he partnered with Loui Lukanovich, then a member of the Sudbury Canoe Club, for the 1956 trials at Rideau. They won the 10,000m race by a half a mile, and seemed set for an Olympic nomination however,  that same evening, Alan was advised Lou was not eligible to compete for Canada. He was 10 days away from the 5 year residency requirement.

In 1957, Lou and Al reunited in Montreal with their sights set on the 1960 Olympics, and both joined Cartierville Boating Club, as Grand Trunk was greatly impacted by the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and was closing down.

With both Al and Lou moving to Cartierville, the balance of power in Montreal area clubs moved with them, with an outstanding group of paddlers developing together through the 1950s on the Rivière des Prairies (Back River) in Montreal.

McCleery reached international success as part of the 1960 Olympic Team, putting to rest the disappointment of 1956 when they competed in Rome at Lago Albano with Lukanovich in the K2 1000m.

The partnership of McCleery & Lukanovich transitioned to an incredible coach and paddler duo at Cartierville where they were key pieces of the unprecedented, and still unmatched, dynasty of the Carterville Boating Club winning 8 consecutive National Championships Overall Burgees between 1958 and 1965.

Later, Al moved with his family to Ottawa, where he became a fixture at the Rideau Canoe Club training every morning in his classic green K1. Al continued to race masters through the 1980s and 1990s. Al and his wife Joan, would also make regular trips to Indian Harbour Beach Florida, where he would join the throngs of paddlers training on the Banana River, earning an international reputation for his endurance and commitment to a daily paddle through his stay at “training camp”.

Al had many incredible stories from his long career of paddling and was quick to share these with anyone who picked up a conversation with him. These stories included a remarkable first-hand account of a piece of canoe racing history. Through the early decades of the 20^th century, Double Bladed Fours were raced in a boat very similar to a Canadian C-4 we would know today in a high kneel position, with a long paddle used to take strokes on both sides. As a young paddler, Al was competing at an American Canoe Association Regatta in the Double Bladed Fours Crew at Sugar Island in the 1000 Islands on the St Lawrence River when an American crew paddled up to the start sitting in line in the middle of the boat. The crew took off on everyone in this new configuration, and a piece of North American paddling history was made.

He also was happy to share the story of him paddling along the shore in training for the Olympic Games in 1960 and looking up to see a figure all in white looking down at them along the shores of Lago Albano, and him realizing it was the Pope, whose country residence Castel Gandolfo was located directly on the lake.

Al was an incredible figure in our sport who inspired countless other paddlers as a coach, teammate, mentor or simply as the friendly kayaker who said good morning as he paddled by in his K1.

CKC wishes to offer our condolences to Alan’s family, his dear friend and K2 partner Lou Lukanovich, and all those who were friends of Al across the paddling community.

Al will continue to inspire many for years to come.

Read Alan McCleery’s Obituary with Funeral Details here.

CKC Alumni Council Member ProfileEN

CanoeKayak Canada is looking for an individual to join the Sprint Racing Domestic Development Committee and fill the role of Chair of the committee. The Domestic Development Committee (DDC) is a sub-committee of the Sprint Racing Council. The main role of the DDC is to provide technical direction and oversight of the domestic development aspects of the discipline. The Chair of this committee is also a member of the Sprint Racing Council.

Some of the key duties of the DDC include:

• Promote and foster, for the purpose of perpetuating, sprint canoe racing in Canada
• In collaboration with CKC staff, advance the interests of domestic programs including LTAD initiatives
• Oversee the annual National Championships in the Sprint Racing Discipline

The DDC is a vital component of the Sprint Racing Discipline and requires a dynamic, experienced individual to provide the guidance necessary to ensure the ongoing development of the sport.

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 a current member in good standing of a Sprint Racing Paddling Association member of CKC

In addition, the ideal candidate will have:

• Experience working on volunteer committees
• Knowledge of CKC and the Sprint Racing Discipline
• A specific skill set or expertise that would be of benefit to the DDC and SRC
• Knowledge of the Canadian sport system is an asset but not required
• Ability to commit approximately 15-20 hours per month to the work of the DDC and SRC
• Willing and able to travel if necessary

This is a volunteer position with a two year term.

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

Deadline for applications is Midnight EST on October 18, 2019.

Please send applications to Casey Wade, CEO, by email to cwade@canoekayak.ca

Canoe Kayak Canada is looking for an individual to join the Sprint Racing Council and fill the role of Chair/Commodore of the Council. The Sprint Racing Council (SRC) is a technical committee of CKC that is representative of the CKC Paddling Association members active in the sprint racing discipline. It is one of three disciplines that currently make up the Paddling Discipline class of members within CKC.

The main role of the Council is to provide technical direction of the discipline and as such it operates with a relatively high degree of autonomy on technical matters specific to the discipline and to direct the sprint paddling discipline in Canada.

The Chair/Commodore of the SRC is the chief spokesperson of the Sprint Racing Discipline. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Member clubs and of the Sprint Racing Council and shall be charged with the general supervision of the business and affairs of the Sprint Racing Discipline of CKC. As Chair/Commodore of the SRC, this person will also have a position on the CKC Board of Directors.

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 a current member in good standing of a Sprint Racing Paddling Association member of CKC

In addition, the ideal candidate will have:

• Knowledge of CKC and the Sprint Racing Discipline
• Experience working on CKC volunteer committees
• A specific skill set or expertise that would be of benefit to the SRC and CKC
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills
• Knowledge of the Canadian sport system is an asset
• Ability to work in both official languages is an asset
• Ability to commit approximately 20-25 hours per month to the work of the SRC and the CKC 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 attached form in order to be considered for the position.

Deadline for applications is Midnight EST on October 11, 2019.

Please send applications to Casey Wade, CEO, by email to cwade@canoekayak.ca

By: Andrea Waters (Corbin)

Orenda Canoe Club was founded in 1977. I began paddling in 1980 at the age of eight at this small grass-roots club in Lake Echo, Nova Scotia. Who knew that 4 years later I would be winning my first medal at Nationals and Orenda would be making their mark on the national stage? Orenda Canoe Club would finish in the top five at Nationals only a few years later (1985/86), and won the Nationals Championship Burgee in 1987, 1988, and 1989. These years marked my memories of childhood and forever ensured paddling would be a part of my identity. I was very fortunate to have had the coaching and mentoring of a fabulous group of coaches; Tony Hall, Mary Hall, Peter Fardy, Wade Farquharson, and Rob Stott all played a role in my development.

The first time I earned a spot at Nationals in K1, I was still wearing a life-belt (Bantam age) and was often training in the club’s heaviest boat and augmenting a footboard with duct tape and foam to support my short stature. I remember this moment as at Qualifying we drew for the “wooden lancer” and I won! My luck and hard work continued as despite being an underdog I earned my spot in the Midget Ladies K1 race in Toronto. This would be the first year I filled my race card at Nationals. I thrived on being the underdog and loved racing. In Calgary, I would place top five in Midget Women’s K1 1000m in a race filled with future Olympians. Orenda had three of the top finishers and we would go on to win K4 that year.  I was part of many winning teams between 1984-1989, and my favourite memories are always K-4 and war canoe. We had a special group of girls at Orenda who defined “coming together for a common goal”. We also had coaches who invested in a group of girls who had never paddled before and helped them become Champions. I learned how to work as a team, how to persevere and come from behind, the value of sport and physical activity in overall health and wellness, and the importance of comradery from a very young age. They remain ingrained today.

Many of these formative years were spent on the NS Provincial training team as we worked toward Canada Games. I would stroke the NS K4 to a silver medal in 1989. After Canada Games I began coaching at Senobe Aquatic Club, where I would eventually take on the role of Head Coach. I also completed my NCCP Level III which earned me a coaching position with the 1993 NS Canada Games Team.

In 1995, I graduated from Dalhousie University and began a career as a Recreation Therapist working in rehabilitation. I currently work at the IWK Health Centre in Kids’ Rehabilitation and started my journey at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia. I have spent almost 25 years working with adult and paediatric populations. I use sport and recreation as a modality for treatment. In 2008, I was approached to lend support to a new Canadian initiative, “Paddle All”. My experiences with canoe/kayak and rehabilitation have now merged. I have gone full circle, and it has been an amazing experience to be back in a sport community I love. I have facilitated seminars for coaches and officials sponsored by CKC and co-wrote the NCCP module “Coaching Persons with a Disability”. I also sit on the CKC Paracanoe/Paddle All Committee.

In 2009, I helped classify athletes with an impairment who were participating in Paracanoe races at Worlds in Dartmouth (the first international Paracanoe event). I have been volunteering with the International Canoe Federation for the past 10 years and each year classify at international events. I have had the opportunity to apply my skills as a rehab practitioner and my knowledge of canoe/kayak. I have also built many fantastic relationships with athletes, classifiers, and sport leaders around the world. I have facilitated classifier training in Poland, Australia, Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico. I have also been filling the role of Chair of the COPAC Paracanoe Committee since 2015. Part of this role is to help develop Paracanoe in the Americas with the end goal resulting in one day Paracanoe racing at the ParaPan Games.

I have invested a lifetime of work into improving sport and recreation access and opportunities for persons with a disability. Being able to bring my love for canoe/kayak into this work by volunteering with Paracanoe sport development has been very rewarding. I hope to see Canada continue to advance Paracanoe as a priority initiative. Paddles Up!

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (July 18) – Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) and the CKC Alumni Council (CKCAC) are proud to launch the inaugural Boat Drive campaign to assist clubs across Canada with boat transportation costs for the 2019 Sprint Nationals in Wascana Lake. 100% of the funds raised will be distributed to eligible clubs. The 4-week campaign is a pilot project and first fund development campaign for the CKC Alumni Council with future plans to launch similar campaigns in other disciplines.

“We understand the high costs associated with long distance travel required for some clubs to compete at the national level,” said CKCAC Fund Development lead, Mike Scarola. “Our goal is to raise as much money as possible for the clubs needing our support and utilize this pilot fundraising campaign to build upon other fundraising initiatives among the different disciplines.”

All member clubs who have athletes attending the 2019 Sprint National Championships and are located over 1,000 kilometers from Wascana Lake will be eligible for funding. Funding will be distributed once the campaign is closed (follow the link below for more details).

“As chair of the CKCAC, I am so proud that we are able to take our first steps towards assisting clubs, athletes and coaches in achieving their goals at a national level,” noted LA Dempster. “Removing financial barriers creates opportunities for tomorrow’s champions.”

Together with our community of CKC supporters – we can remove financial barriers and ensure our clubs and athletes don’t miss the opportunity to compete at the national level!

Please click the following link and Donate Today! to make a tax-deductible contribution to the campaign.

ABOUT THE CKC ALUMNI COUNCIL

The CKC Alumni Council (CKCAC) is an external volunteer group in support of the larger community of paddling alumni’s role within Canoe Kayak Canada.  The CKCAC provides counsel to the CEO and offers advice on engaging and strengthening alumni relationships and program development pertaining to the CKC Alumni program. The CKCAC seeks to increase awareness of the many services available to alumni through CKC, to encourage a larger and more diverse participation in the programs offered through CKC, and to initiate new ways to communicate and engage with CKC’s growing alumni population.

The CKCAC is composed of paddlers from a cross section of business, professional, public and community sectors across Canada and internationally.  The mission of the CKCAC is to engage as many alumni as possible in the ongoing life of CKC in mutually beneficial ways and to support alumni initiatives that promote the goals of CKC.

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:

Laurel MacAdam

Communications Assistant

lmacadam@canoekayak.ca

Colleen Coderre

Communications Lead

ccoderre@canoekayak.ca

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (January 18, 2019) –It is with great sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has learned of the passing of CKC national official, Ken Butler.

For many years, Ken was a well-respected official who served at the divisional, provincial and national levels. He particularly enjoyed serving at the Canada Day Regatta for the Dominion Day Regatta Association (DDRA). He was well known for his photography and was an historian who wrote many articles about the DDRA and the Island paper. He lived on Toronto Island until the last few years.

Butler also well deserved the R. Edgar Gilbert Award – Official Category in 1989, award that recognize those volunteers who made significant and exemplary contributions to the Sprint Racing Discipline of CKC.

“Ken leaves a legacy of information through his many articles about the Toronto Island Canoe Club and its athletes; as well, his photography captured many well-known sites on the Island. He will be missed”, commented Judy Tutty, co-chair of Canoe Kayak Canada’s Trophies and Awards committee.

Butler leaves behind his wife Florence of 53 years, his children Shirley, Joyce and Bruce, and seven grandchildren.

On behalf of the entire paddling community, Canoe Kayak Canada would like to send its deepest condolences to the Butler family.

A full obituary and funeral details are available online 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 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 :

Joannie Verret

Communications Coordinator

jverret@canoekayak.ca

(418) 271-3785

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (January 9, 2019) – It is with great sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has learned of the passing of CKC Sprint National Team Alumni, Jean-Pierre Bertrand.

Jean-Pierre paddled with Cartierville Boating Club in Montreal and will be fondly remembered within the Canoe Kayak community as a talented paddler and valued teammate.

Al Thomson, his crewboat partner at the National Trials and World Championships added “JP was the consummate athlete and teammate.  He led by example with a strong work ethic and passion for the task at hand and encouraged everybody around him to be better.  Always fully prepared for training sessions and for races, he was super focused on the prize and had the discipline and work ethic required to see it through. These qualities endeared him to his teammates and made him a fierce competitor.”

Jean-Pierre raced at the national level in the late 1970s and 80’s with Cartierville, winning Canadian Titles in K4, first in Junior in 1976 and then in the Senior event in 1978. At the 1980 Canadian Championships, Jean-Pierre was a key member of the Burgee winning Cartierville team, winning Gold in Junior Men’s K1 500 and 1000m, and partnering with Gord Brown for another win in Junior Men’s K2 500m.

Jean Pierre made his international debut at home in Montreal in 1977, racing as a U18 at the North American Championships, where he would win the K2 10,000m event. Jean Pierre would go on to represent Canada at the Senior World Championships in 1981 and 1982.

Sue Holloway, a Canadian Teammate of Jean-Pierre on those 1981 and ’82 teams, shared high praise for his approach to sport and his value as a teammate, “JP was my favourite teammate. He was easy going and chill in a stressful and intense environment. His laugh came so easily and his smile genuinely lit up the room, both made many days better for me. JP was the epitome of taking life seriously but never taking himself seriously. “

Jean-Pierre’s later on-water accomplishments were earned at the same time as he was working towards a law degree, which would form the foundation of a distinguished career as a Senior Partner at McCarthy Tétrault, practicing in Montreal.

Bertrand leaves behind his wife, Kathleen, and three sons,Nicolas, Mathieu, and Jean-Philippe.

On behalf of the entire paddling community, Canoe Kayak Canada would like to send its deepest condolences to the Bertrand family.

A full obituary and funeral details are available online 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 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 :

Joannie Verret

Communications Coordinator

jverret@canoekayak.ca

(418) 271-3785

I am sharing this post in honour of our own Sheila Kuyper who ignited a vision for women to paddle Canoe in the Olympics – just as men do.

She is an extraordinary paddler. In 1995, Canada was the first country to include women-in-canoe at its Nationals. Sheila set records that were unrivalled at the time and is known as Canada’s most decorated female canoeist, (8 Golds in 1997 alone) and she began to champion inclusion for women in canoe at the Olympics.

What a long road it proved to be! I am proud to have helped a wee bit along the way, and more proud that many others, including the mighty Pam Boteler continued the hard work and championed the cause – the sport will debut at the 2020 Olympic Games. Canadian Canoe Association awards the Sheila Kuyper trophy annually – a trophy that Sheila named the ‘Naomi Morris’ Trophy in honour of the Canadian woman who dressed as a man in order to compete at the Nationals in the 1930’s. Please read Pam’s notes on the picture below.

Pam: It has been 100 years since Miss Elizabeth Smith’s photo was first taken in a Canadian (high-kneel) canoe. She raced with Harry Knight for many years in the Tandem canoe (C2) and was quite good.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (June 4th, 2018) – Canoe Kayak Canada is proud to announce   that its long standing ‘Paddles Up’ Magazine will be re-launched as an online paddling magazine.

“We are excited to officially announce the return of the Paddles Up Magazine, ten years after its last publication”, said Casey Wade, Chief Executive Officer at Canoe Kayak Canada. “The new Paddles Up is an online magazine about canoe and kayak culture. Whether you paddle as a competitive paddler or you are more generally passionate about paddle sports, this addition to the Canoe Kayak Canada website is for you!”

Published from the 1980’s until 2008, the original “Paddles Up” was the official print publication of Canoe Kayak Canada, known then as the Canada Canoe Association. Published five times a year and distributed to the membership, Paddles Up provided organizational updates, results, announcements and first-person story telling from the community.

Canoe Kayak Canada is reviving Paddles Up in 2018 in the spirit of the original publication through a complete new platform for sharing the stories of our Canoe Kayak Canada community.

The magazine will be a complementary addition to CKC’s current website, which will be used to bring the community together by sharing stories, while the CKC website will remain the main source of news, results and documentation for our members.

“Everyone involved with Canoe Kayak Canada is passionate about paddling, canoe or kayak, and all have unique and inspiring stories to tell”, Joannie Verret, Communications Lead at Canoe Kayak Canada. “Which is why the Alumni Council and CKC decided to bring the Paddles Up back to life again and created this platform to share inspiring paddling stories, memories, athletes’ dreams, adventures, pictures, videos and way more!”

WWW.PADDLESUP.CANOEKAYAK.CA

Powered by CKC’s Alumni Council

At the 2017 Annual Summit in November, Canoe Kayak Canada was proud to announce the official launch of the Canoe Kayak Canada Alumni Council (CKCAC). Following close to 200 Alumni survey responses and many expressions of interest to join the Alumni Council, CKC named LA Dempster as Chair of the council and invited members based on geographical and discipline representation to join the CKCAC.

The CKCAC is an external volunteer group in support of the larger community of paddling alumni’s role within Canoe Kayak Canada.  The CKCAC provides counsel to the CEO and offers advice on engaging and strengthening alumni relationships and program development pertaining to the CKC Alumni program. The CKCAC seeks to increase awareness of the many services available to alumni through CKC, to encourage a larger and more diverse participation in the programs offered through CKC, and to initiate new ways to communicate and engage with CKC’s growing alumni population.

“Engaging the alumni has been an initiative that has been talked about for many years,” says LA Dempster. “I am thrilled to be a part of this very important first step and I look forward to what the future holds, working together with a great group of passionate people and a big paddling family.”

The CKCAC is composed of twelve members representing various regions and disciplines. Under the leadership of LA Dempster, the Alumni Council works to create a more meaningful and better-connected relationship with the paddling community.

Meet the CKCAC team by exploring the new edition of the Paddles Up online! Read about our Alumni, learn about inspiring stories from Canoe Kayak Canada, get to know our canoe kayak athletes from all of our eleven disciplines and share your love for paddling with the whole Canadian community!

If you are interested in becoming a Paddles Up contributor, contact us with the content you would like to submit. The Paddles Up team will get in touch with you after reviewing your submission. We can’t wait to learn more about our community and share your stories!

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 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 :

Joannie Verret

Communications Coordinator

jverret@canoekayak.ca

(418) 271-3785

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (May 3, 2018) – It is with great sadness that Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has learned of the passing of Ontario Conservative MP and CKC Alumni Gordon Brown. Gordon passed suddenly after suffering a fatal heart attack in his Parliament Hill office Wednesday morning.

The 57-year-old MP, who had represented the eastern Ontario riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes since 2004, was remembered as a tireless advocate, a passionate politician and a devoted family man.

Mr. Brown’s home town club, of which he was a proud alumni, honoured him with a Facebook post on Wednesday, “Gord was always a huge supporter of The Gananoque Canoe Club. Countless times he would lend his voice to our cause and praised the club for its role in his youth in shaping the man he became. He will be deeply missed.”

Brown raced at many national events in the 1970s and 80’s with the Gananoque, highlighted by back to back Juvenile Men’s K-4 titles at the Canadian Sprint Canoe Kayak Championships in 1976 and 1977. He also climbed to the top of the podium with Team Ontario as part of the K-4 crew at the 1977 Canada Games in St. John’s.

Going on to race for Canada, Brown was a two-time medalist at the 1977 North American Championships in Montreal where he won gold in the Junior Men’s K-2 500 meter event, as well a silver medal in the Junior Men’s K-4 500 meter race.

Later, he competed at the 1988 ICF World Marathon Championships with longtime friend and team mate Peter Patasi in the Men’s K-2 42 km event.

Brown leaves behind his wife, Claudine, and two sons, Chance and Tristan.

On behalf of the entire paddling community, Canoe Kayak Canada would like to send its deepest condolences to the Brown family.

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 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 :

Joannie Verret

Communications Coordinator

jverret@canoekayak.ca

(418) 271-3785