Educational Workshops

Winter Pool Sessions

For all you new and experienced whitewater paddlers, we have rented Albert Campbell CI swimming pool in Scarborough again for winter pool training sessions. This is a great opportunity to practice your paddling technique and your roll, or just plain work-out so you're in shape when you hit the spring rivers. OC-1, C-1, or kayaks welcome. I have a few spare boats (open canoe, C-1, and kayak) for newbies or paddlers just wanting to try something different from their usual boat. They're available on a first come; first served basis. If you are having problems with your roll, we can help you. We have 10 rentals of 1.5 hours from Sunday January 10 to Sunday March 13.Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m. For just $130 for your share of the rental cost, you can have a whole winter of learning and paddling fun. Please contact me to register as soon as possible as space is limited.

Cheques should be payable to me as I'm paying the rental fee; not the club.

Sorry, but you can't register on-line. You have to contact me personally if you want to join in so I can manage the organization effectively. Thanks.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Albert Campbell Collegiate swimming pool
Date(s) & Time: 
Sunday, January 10, 2016 - 17:30
Registration Cut Off: 
Book as soon as possible as registration is limited.
Event Duration: 
10 Sunday sessions of 1.5 hours ending March 13.
Difficulty Rating: 
Novice
Itinerary
Recommended Items to Bring: 

If you want to practice your roll, we recommend you bring your PFD, nose plugs, and goggles or swim mask. A light synthetic top like a rash guard can be good as the water is occasionally a little chilly. You can change in the change rooms, but there is no guard watching your things, so bring them out to the pool deck where they are safe.

How to Get There
Event Directions: 

Pool is just northwest of Finch Avenue & McCowan Road in Scarborough. Get off HWY 401 at McCowan (At Scarborough Town Centre). Drive north on McCowan to Finch, and turn left (west) onto Finch. You'll see Woodside Square Mall with Macdonald's on the northwest corner. Go west one block, and turn right at the lights onto Sandhurst Circle. Go north about 100 meters, and you will see the school on your left. Keep going. The pool is at the north end of the building, where the parking lot is. Park here and carry your boat through the pool doors- super convenient access. Our rental starts at 5:30 pm, but normally the staff will let us in around ten minutes early, so you can get changed and ready to hop in your boat right at 5:30.

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Bill Ness
Phone: 
416-321-3005
Email: 

Winter Pool Training Sessions

For all you new and experienced whitewater paddlers, we have rented Albert Campbell CI swimming pool in Scarborough again for winter pool training sessions. This is a great opportunity to practice your paddling technique and your roll, or just plain work-out so you're in shape when you hit the spring rivers. OC-1, C-1, or kayaks welcome. I have a few spare boats (open canoe, C-1, and kayak) for newbies or paddlers just wanting to try something different from their usual boat. They're available on a first come; first served basis. If you are having problems with your roll, we can help you. We have 10 rentals of 1.5 hours from Sunday January 4 to Sunday March 8.Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m. For just $110 for your share of the rental cost, you can have a whole winter of learning and paddling fun. Please contact me to register as soon as possible as space is limited.

Cheques should be payable to me as I'm paying the rental fee; not the club.

Sorry, but you can't register on-line. You have to contact me personally if you want to join in so I can manage the organization effectively. Thanks.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Albert Campbell Collegiate swimming pool
Date(s) & Time: 
Sunday, January 4, 2015 - 17:30
Registration Cut Off: 
Book as soon as possible as spaces are limited.
Event Duration: 
Ten sessions of 1.5 hours each.
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Itinerary
Recommended Items to Bring: 

If you want to practice your roll, we recommend you bring your PFD, nose plugs, and goggles or swim mask. A light synthetic top like a rash guard can be good as the water is occasionally a little chilly. You can change in the change rooms, but there is not guard watching your things, so bring them out to the pool deck where they are safe.

How to Get There
Event Directions: 

Pool is just northwest of Finch & McCowan in Scarborough. Get off HWY 401 at McCowan (At Scarborough Town Centre). Drive north up McCowan to Finch, and turn left onto Finch. You'll see Woodside Square Mall with Macdonald's on the northwest corner. Go west one block, and turn right at the lights onto Sandhurst Circle. Go north about 100 metres, and you will see the school on your left. Keep going. The pool is at the north end of the building, where the parking lot is. Park here and carry your boat through the pool doors- super convenient access. Our rental starts at 5:30 pm, but normally the staff will let us in around ten minutes early, so you can get changed and ready to hop in your boat right at 5:30.

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Bill Ness
Phone: 
416-321-3005
Email: 

Intermediate Whitewater Clinic

This is the sixteenth year of our clinic, which is designed to help improve your basic skills. We will paddle the Lower Mad on Saturday and practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday. The emphasis will be on front ferries, eddy-outs, and peel-outs. Your paddle strokes will be critiqued. You will also have an opportunity to practice self-rescue techniques. Open to properly fitted solo and tandem canoes. Tandem boats must have centre air bags. Wetsuits or drysuits will be needed. We will camp at our cottage.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Lower Madawaska River, Palmer Rapids
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, May 25, 2013 (All day)
Registration Cut Off: 
May 18, 2013
Event Duration: 
2 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Intermediate
Participant Info
Maximum Group Size: 
6 boats
Itinerary
Itinerary description: 

We will paddle the Lower Mad from Aumond's Bay to Buck Bay on Saturday, and then practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday.

Required Items to Bring: 

Drysuit/Wetsuit. Full flotation for boat.

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
John & Sharon Hackert
Phone: 
416-438-7672

Winter Pool Sessions

For all you new and experienced whitewater paddlers have rented Albert Campbell CI swimming pool in Scarborough again for winter pool training sessions. This is a great opportunity to practice your paddling technique and your roll, or just plain work-out so you're in shape when you hit the spring rivers. OC-1, C-1, or kayaks welcome. I have a few spare boats (open canoe, C-1, and kayak) for newbies or paddlers just wanting to try something different from their usual boat. They're available on a first come; first served basis. If you are having problems with your roll, we can help you. We have 10 rentals of 1.5 hours from Sunday January 6 to Sunday March 10. For just $110 for your share of the rental cost, you can have a whole winter of learning and paddling fun. Please contact me personally to register as soon as possible as space is limited.

Cheques should be payable to me as I'm paying the rental fee; not the club.

Sorry, but you can't register on-line. You have to contact me personally if you want to join in so I can do the organization effectively.

Thanks.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Albert Campbell Collegiate swimming pool
Date(s) & Time: 
Sunday, January 6, 2013 - 17:00
Event Duration: 
Ten Sunday pool sessions going to March 10.
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Itinerary
Itinerary description: 

Pool is just northwest of Finch & McCowan in Scarborough. Get off HWY 401 at McCowan (At Scarborough Town Centre). Drive north up McCowan to Finch, and turn left onto Finch. You'll see Woodside Square Mall with Macdonald's on the northwest corner. Go west one block, and turn right at the lights onto Sandhurst Circle. Go north about 100 metres, and you will see the school on your left. Keep going. The pool is at the north end of the building, where the parking lot is. Park here and carry your boat through the pool doors- super convenient access. Our rental starts at 5 pm, but normally the staff will let us in around 4:50, so you can get changed and ready to hop in your boat right at 5:00.

Recommended Items to Bring: 

If you want to practice your roll, we recommend you bring your PFD, nose plugs, and goggles or swim mask. A light synthetic top like a rash guard can be good as the water is occasionally a little chilly. You can change in the change rooms, but there is not guard watching your things, so bring them out to the pool deck where they are safe.

How to Get There
Event Directions: 

See above.

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Bill Ness
Phone: 
416-321-3005
Email: 

Intermediate Whitewater Clinic

John & Sharon Hackert, jhackert@sympatico.ca ----- Book before May 20. This is the fifteenth year of our clinic, which is designed to help improve your basic skills. We will paddle the Lower Mad on Saturday and practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday. The emphasis will be on front ferries, eddy-outs, and peel-outs. Your paddle strokes will be critiqued. You will also have an opportunity to practice self-rescue techniques. Open to properly fitted solo and tandem canoes. Tandem boats must have centre air bags. Wetsuits or drysuits will be needed. We will camp at our cottage.
If spring water levels are lower than normal, we may have to move the date forward to May 12-13. Pray for rain.
OUTING SHOWS CLOSED AS SELF-REGISTRATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. Email us directly to register.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Lower Madawaska River, Palmer Rapids
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, May 26, 2012 (All day)
Registration Cut Off: 
May 19
Event Duration: 
2 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Intermediate
Participant Info
Maximum Group Size: 
6 boats
Itinerary
Itinerary description: 

We will paddle the Lower Mad from Aumond's Bay to Buck Bay on Saturday, and then practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday.

Required Items to Bring: 

Drysuit/Wetsuit. Full flotation for boat.

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
John & Sharon Hackert
Phone: 
416-438-7672

Palmer River Fest 20-21 May

In keeping with a 10 year tradition of a unique and accessible river festival at Palmer Rapids, Paddler Co-op and the Wilderness Canoe Association are hosting an event for all paddlers – canoe and kayak, new paddlers, experienced boaters and everything in between. Join us on the May Long Weekend for high quality instruction, music, good food and great paddling atmosphere.   

  • family friendly event with kids programs and daycare available
  • high quality instructional clinics
  • Music – Saturday evening
  • Films – Friday & Saturday evening
  • Yoga – Sunday morning
  • BBQ dinner – Saturday evening  (available, not included)
  • BBQ lunches (available, not included)
  • Boat demos
  • Paddling industry exhibitors
$95/adult (18+) $45/youth (6-17)

Register online starting February 21 at www.paddlerco-op.com

The Basics
Event Location: 
Paddler Co-Op, 6535 Palmer Road Palmer Rapids, ON K0J 2E0
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, May 21, 2011 (All day)
Event Duration: 
2 Days
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Participant Info
Who's Invited: 
Everyone - novice to expert, canoe & kayak
Itinerary
Required Items to Bring: 

Be prepared for any weather!

How to Get There
Event Directions: 

Please check Paddler Co-Op website for map and directions

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Jodie Campbell
Phone: 
1-888-233-3929

Intermediate Whitewater Clinic

John & Sharon Hackert, 416-438-7672, jhackert@sympatico.ca ----- Book before April 18. This is the fourteenth year of our clinic, which is designed to help improve your basic skills. We will paddle the Lower Mad on Saturday and practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday. The emphasis will be on front ferries, eddy-outs, and peel-outs. Your paddle strokes will be critiqued. You will also have an opportunity to practice self-rescue techniques. Open to properly fitted solo and tandem canoes. Tandem boats must have centre air bags. Wetsuits or drysuits will be needed. We will camp at our cottage.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Madawaska River, Palmer Rapids
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, May 28, 2011 (All day)
Registration Cut Off: 
April 18
Event Duration: 
2 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Intermediate
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
John & Sharon Hackert
Phone: 
416-438-7672

Winter Pool Sessions

We are organizing winter pool sessions for whitewater canoes & kayaks at a pool in the west end of Toronto in the Islington Avenue and Lakeshore area beginning the second week of January, 2011 and running till the middle of March. These will be on Sundays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Please contact the organizers directly for costs & other details. Book as soon as possible.
Peter Jaspert, 905-278-1949, or fretype@sympatico.ca. Steve Lukasko, 905-276-8285

The Basics
Event Location: 
Toronto west end
Date(s) & Time: 
Sunday, January 16, 2011 (All day)
Event Duration: 
Mid-January to mid-March
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Peter Jaspert
Phone: 
905-278-1949

CANCELLED!!! Wilderness First Aid - WFA at Palmer Rapids 19-20 June

We didn't meet minimum participant requirement. To be rescheduled later this summer. This course offers a great opportunity to combine learning WFA skills and paddling on the same weekend! Very popular in the past, we expect that this course will fill quickly so act now! To register, simply click on the "Sign Up" button at the bottom of this page. Course fee is $175.00 + $8.75 gst (after 01 July, you will pay additional 8% for HST). Payment by cheque or credit card to Paddler Co-Op, 6535 Palmer Road, Palmer Rapids, ON, K0J 2E0.

Full payment is required to confirm your space. Payment deadline 15 June.

Camping: available at $8 per person per night. 

Lee Chantrell is a Paramedic with a wealth of experience in outdoor leadership and managing risk in remote wilderness environments. A former expedition leader in Nepal and the Alps, a river operations manager on the Ottawa River, and more recently a practicing Advanced Care Paramedic, Lee integrates his teaching expertise with practical medical training and well-honed incident management skills. Lee is a member of the Wilderness Medical Society, with his Outdoor Emergency Medicine program being endorsed by both the National Safety Council and the Emergency Care and Safety Institute. Lee is a passionate instructor and certified educator who brings a professional, practical approach to the wilderness first aid training.
The Basics
Event Location: 
Palmer Rapids
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, June 19, 2010 (All day)
Registration Cut Off: 
06/15/2010
Event Duration: 
2 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Participant Info
Who's Invited: 
WCA members
Maximum Group Size: 
12
Minimum Group Size: 
8
Itinerary
Itinerary description: 

Schedule 19 June

08:00 – 08:30 Meet & Greet
09:00 – 12:00 Course
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Break (each participant will bring their own)
14:00 – 16:00 Course
20:00 – 21:00 Slide/PowerPoint presentation on wounds-related topic

Schedule 20 June

08:00 – 12:00 Course
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Break (each participant will bring their own)
14:00 – 16:00 Course

Required Items to Bring: 

Meals:
Course participants are responsible for their own meals, snacks and drinks.
Hometown Restaurant (613-758-2161) offers simple fare at a reasonable price.
Hanna’s Foodmart (613-758-2177) is a local general store in Palmer Rapids. Great butter tarts & date squares!

Recommended Items to Bring: 

Clothing:
Always wear comfortable clothing. Part of the training will be conducted outside, so bring warm clothes in case of cold weather.

How to Get There
Event Directions: 

For directions, please check instructions at Paddler Co-Op website www.paddlerco-op.com

Other
Cancellation Policy: 
Due to the high popularity of this course and limited space, a deadline for cancelling is 06 June.
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Jodi or Carly at Paddler Co-Op
Phone: 
1-888-233-3929

WHITEWATER SKILLS BUILDING WEEKEND ---- REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLINIC IS FULL

Book as soon as possible. This is a four day workshop on the Madawaska River for novice to budding intermediate whitewater paddlers.

We will focus on the basics of moving water boat control and maneuvers, water reading, and safety. Both tandem and solo paddlers are welcome.

The weekend will be spent at Palmer Rapids and on the Snake Rapids section of the Madawaska River, one hour northeast of Bancroft. The location offers some of the best novice to intermediate whitewater in Southern Ontario. In order to be able to work closely with participants, registration is limited to 6 boats.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Palmer Rapids
Date(s) & Time: 
Thursday, July 1, 2010 (All day)
Registration Cut Off: 
Registration is now full. No further participants can be accepted.
Event Duration: 
4 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Novice
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