As of May 1st, 2015, John Edwards will finish his duties as Domestic Development Director at CanoeKayak Canada. John will continue to work with CKC on a part-time basis as part of CanoeKayak Canada’s commitment to the international Paracanoe programme and to be a special advisor to the CEO. He will continue his work with Club Excellence and act as a consultant to coordinate strategic initiatives for the betterment of CKC.
John Edwards shares his life-long love of paddling with his granddaughter Harmony.
“At my core, I have always been passionate and enthusiastic about the simple visceral experience of quietly gliding over a mirror-like surface propelled by a paddle,” John described. “All I have ever wanted to do was share this experience with others. I thank all those who have given me this opportunity.”
John grew up paddling at the Carleton Place Canoe Club and became the club’s first Olympian in the1972 and 1976 Olympic Games. He started as CKC’s Domestic Development Director in 1999. He led the largest growth ever in CKC’s Sprint Racing Clubs and membership. John also expanded opportunities for more Canadians to paddle. He initiated CKC’s Aboriginal Paddling Initiative, the PaddleALL program for paddlers with disabilities and championed women in canoeing as a means to ensure the sport was truly a family and community based sport.
In addition to his domestic role, he is a Board member of the International Canoe Federation and is the Chair of the ICF’s Paracanoe Committee which seeks to expand the accessibility of the sport on a world-wide basis. He was instrumental in putting Paracanoe on the Paralympic program for 2016 and 2020.
“On behalf of CKC I’d like to thank John for his years of dedication and enthusiasm for the sport,” said Casey Wade, CEO of CanoeKayak Canada. “He has made an extraordinary contribution. I know he’ll continue to stay involved and build upon that legacy that has welcomed so many paddlers into the sport.”