Risk “Management” is a misnomer: Risk assessment OK. BUT what about JOY

There should and always will be risk to canoe travel. Thank goodness, we are taking a reprieve from driving on highways for a spell. 

Risk on canoe trips is too messy/wiggly to be determined from a  pre trip document. Risk must, most wisely, be assessed in the field based a myriad of factors and measured against the joy factor of experiences. We set a very low bar when a successful canoe trip is considered only a safe canoe trip. This is a call for more wisdom and more JOY. 

Bob Henderson long time WCA Member bio;

Bob has been guiding canoe trips since summer camp days 1973.  Early travels in Algonquin, Temagami and Quetico eventually lead to Arctic travels.  Bob taught Outdoor education at McMaster University 1980 - 2009. He writes mainly about outdoor heritage travel and conceptualizing outdoor education.  Recently he is co-editor of Paddling Pathways: Reflections from a Changing Landscape: winner of Best Anthology 2023 with New Generation Indie Book Awards and Finalist for Best Non-Fiction with Whistler Book Awards. 

Zoom Meeting Link; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81895561223 Meeting ID: 818 9556 1223