• Adrian Meissner has accepted a contract position with ORCKA and will be available to members 10 hours per week starting today!

• Adrian lives in Palmer Rapids with his wife and three kids. He took his first ORCKA course in the early '90s and has been involved as an instructor since 1999. After more than two decades with The Boundless School, Adrian stepped away a few years ago hoping to find some time to go paddling. Over the past couple years he has started a small cottage rental company. 

• Adrian brings a solid knowledge of ORCKA programs and strong administration skills. We look forward to working with Adrian over the coming years.

• Please reach out and introduce yourself.

• Recent changes will be identified in detail in a separate note to Organizational Members and Instructors soon, and will also be highlighted in a 2026 Program webinar Tuesday April 14th at 7:00 pm.

• Click here to register.

• Key features of a “Paddling for Wellness” model will be rolled out in an addendum to the updated manuals and highlighted in the June Adaptive Paddling Train-the-Trainers workshop listed under ORCKA Events.

• To maintain your eligibility for insurance, all Organizational Members and Trip Leaders were asked to submit a current Risk Management Plan by March 15, 2026. Do we have yours? If not, please complete it before you start running courses.

• To assist you with your Risk Management Plan, we had a webinar and developed a Word template.  Click here to have a look at these resources.  IMPORTANT - copy the template and rename it with your organization's name and date. DO NOT write over this document. Thank-you!

• Please submit your completed Risk Management Plan by email in PDF or Word format to the ORCKA Office.

• When naming your document, please include your organization name and the submission date, for example: Your Organization Name_ RMP_March 2026

• Instructor Courses

• Skills Courses

• Stand Up Paddling Bridge Course (May Long Weekend - May 16-18, 2026)

  • ORCKA offers Bridge courses occasionally when program uptake is needed. If you are an instructor in any other discipline, you can quickly earn your SUP Instructor Certification. Check it out on the ORCKA website here.

• We have been collecting stories that need to be told from present and past members of ORCA/ORCKA for our Anniversary Canews. Several members have already volunteered to write an article on an ORCKA program, or a reminiscence. Please tell us something that needs to be remembered that we can follow up on. You could even write about something that happened that would be of interest to later members of ORCKA. (short but no more than 500 words). We can also use significant photos of former members or situations in the past or present.

• If you are lacking some specific information, we may be able to research it from our files on hand. This will be the first anniversary edition that ORCKA has ever produced, and we need to present as much good information and memorabilia from the last 50 years as possible.

• Please send your unique memories, ideas or whatever to info@orcka.ca or president-emeritus@orcka.ca  .

1. Webinar: ORCKA Program - Tuesday, April 14, 2026 This is an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the updated program, new certification names, transitioning, etc.  Registration Form

2. Ontario Solo Canoeing Rendezvous (“OSCR”) - Friday-Sunday, June 19-21, 2026. In Peterborough, 5 minutes from the Canadian Canoe Museum.

   • A multi-organizational collaborative event:

     • Potluck and speakers Friday evening

     • Curator-guided tour of the “back-room collection” of the spectacular Canadian Canoe Museum

     • WCHA Northern Lakes Chapter Mini-Assembly and Huron 14’ restoration

     • Many canoes from many manufacturers to try

     • Amazing offerings at a silent auction

     • Canoeing clinics to add functional flair to your paddling. Come share, play, and learn! Watch ORCKA Coming Events for registration in spring 2026.

     • Please contact Lee at environment@orcka.ca for participant or sponsorship information.

3. ORCKA’s Adaptive Paddling Train-the-Trainers workshop

   • At the Canadian Canoe Museum - Thursday-Sunday, June 25-28, 2026.

     • Watch ORCKA Coming Events for registration in spring 2026. Please contact Wally Van Dyke for more information.

4. Mark your calendars! ORCKA AGM - October 2,3,4, 2026

   • The Annual ORCKA Membership Rendezvous is the only event where all members can get together to meet face to face, share experiences, have fun paddling, plan for the future and enjoy a weekend at YMCA Camp Pinecrest with other good paddlers.

   • If you haven’t been there, the location in the bush, on two lakes, with excellent accommodation and food, the best of docks and many boats for us to use, is perfect!

1. RA Canoe Camping Club (RACCC) - Wednesday, April 1, 2026

   • Great Bear Rainforest Register at: info@racentre.com.

2. Paddling Film Festival: Georgian Bay Community School, The Pursuits Program - Friday, April 10th, Meaford Hall Arts & Culture Centre $30 Get Tickets

3. Yukon: Paddling the Snake River with Tailwinds North - Thursday, April 16 (6-8pm) at London Paddle Shop. Register - info@londonspaddleshop.com

4. Get Kids Paddling Webinar - April 29, 2026

   • Two amazing BC educators - Registration Form

     • Rennae Pillipow

       • Rennae’s work as an outdoor educator began in Australia’s Snowy Mountains early 1990’s, where she discovered how canoeing and wilderness travel can transform young people through challenge and connection. From Aussie whitewater and lake canoe journeys to multi-day expeditions in BC’s Nechako watershed, she’s spent more than two decades building outdoor programs filled with canoeing opportunities for students in Grades 6–12. Today, as an RCABC Paddle and Tripping Instructor trainer, she continues this endeavour in an Alternative Community Program school, guiding senior students and other educators through progressive canoe training and meaningful adventure experiences.

     • Ian Lietch

       • Ian is a passionate paddler, explorer, educator, and storyteller based in Castlegar, British Columbia. He coordinates an experiential, place-based Outdoor Educational Program that inspires others to connect with nature through hands-on learning. Ian finds peace and rejuvenation while paddling clear waters or navigating the twisty mountain roads of the Kootenays, always seeking new adventures and stories to share.

5. On May 2, 2026, the Canadian Canoe Museum will host a special evening to celebrate the 2025 IWHOF Inductees, surrounded by history, culture, and craftsmanship. Sign up

6. Rankin River Canoe Rally - May 23, 2026, Bruce Peninsula

   This is a friendly, family-friendly competition, and our first goal is for all participants to have an enjoyable day on the water.

7. Get Kids Paddling‍‍ ‍is launching an initiative to develop The National Registry of Paddling Programs for Youth. The aim is to locate and highlight all paddling programs for youth taking place across Canada, including those within schools and communities. By putting this information into one place that is publicly accessible, opportunities for networking, creating dialogue and sharing best practices will be created, supporting our ongoing mission to Get Kids Paddling. We are looking for school-based paddling programs across Canada to complete a short survey.

   • The data gathered will be used to build our National Registry.

     • If you are interested in participating, please click HERE to fill out the survey.

8. Roger Parsons has been inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame.

   • This prestigious honour recognizes his lifelong dedication to paddling, his remarkable achievements on the water, and his contributions to the broader whitewater community.

     • We invite you to read this wonderful write-up highlighting his accomplishments and celebrating this well-deserved recognition. You may recognize some other past ORCKA members in this tribute. 

     • On May 2, 2026 The Canadian Canoe Museum will host a special evening to celebrate the 2025 IWHOF Inductees surrounded by history, culture, and craftsmanship. Sign up to be notified when tickets become available! 

9. Big Canoe Instructor Opportunity

   • Canoe Toronto Corp. operates 1-hour guided Canoe tours for clients. The company wishes to hire ORCKA Big Canoe Certified/Emergency First Aid with CPR Certified Canoe Instructors to safely stern Canoe tours for the April to October 2026 season on a contract basis. Contact Peter Altimas at peter.altimas@gmail.com for more information. 

     • Note: if you are interested in becoming an ORCKA Voyageur Canoe Trip Leader or ORCKA Voyageur Canoe Instructor 1 or Instructor 2, you can do so in a Voyageur Canoe Course Saturday-Wednesday May 23-27, 2026 at Agnew Lake in Webbwood. Please contact Wally Van Dyke for more information.

10. Rideau Paddlefest- Saturday June 13, 2026

    • Celebrate the river’s nature, history, culture and benefits with the Rideau Roundtable: Voyageur canoe races, canoe dance with ORCKA, Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, and more. Kinsmen’s Lower Reach Park in Smiths Falls, ON.Please contact Lee at environment@orcka.ca to join the dance!

11. 11th Annual Two Row on the Grand - July 15 - 24, 2026

12. Abilities in Motion will be holding its public regatta at Earl Rowe Provincial Park near Alliston, ON - Saturday, August 22, 2026. Please contact Lee at environment@orcka.ca or Andy to join a style paddling group, friendly competition and fun canoe games to increase awareness of adaptive paddling.

13. WCA 2026 Special Youth Opportunity Announcement

    • Students entering Grades 11 or 12 can earn 3 Ontario high school credits while on a 31-day canoe trip down the full length of the Missinaibi River. Click here for full details.

14. An Epic Adventure: Canada’s Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant

    • This book by Adrien J. Lefebvre tells the story of a phenomenal piece of Canadian history – the 1967 Canadian Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant, a race that stretched across the Canadian wilderness to celebrate the country’s 100th birthday. Available on Amazon.ca.

15. Paddle Algonquin's Backcountry with Voyageur Quest Time to get away from the noise, screens, and electric buzz. Algonquin Park's backcountry is a great place to explore, adventure, and unwind. Our scheduled three to fourteen-day canoe trips are super easy to book online. Come by yourself. Add a transfer from Toronto. If you have your own group, contact us for a private trip. Choose your dates and tailor your canoe trip to fit.

16. Trip Guide and Instructor Opportunities

    • Algonquin Nature Adventures

      • We are looking for a canoe guide for daily 5-hr guided canoe tours in Algonquin Park. Involves bringing groups up to 10 on a 12 km tour (incl. a 100 m portage) with short stops at points of interests to explain/answer questions (heritage site, swimming stop, possible wildlife viewing).

      • Contact Baz at 426 823 7382 or algonquin.nature.adventures@gmail.com

    • Canoe Toronto Corp

      • Canoe Toronto Corp. operates 1-hour guided Canoe tours for clients. The company wishes to hire ORCKA Big Canoe Certified/Emergency First Aid with CPR Certified Canoe Instructors to safely stern Canoe tours for the April to October 2026 season on a contract basis. Contact Peter Altimas at peter.altimas@gmail.com for more information.

• “The Fate of Belugas - excerpt…An Indigenous-led proposal for a conservation area could secure large stretches of beluga habitat and critical migratory pathways along the northern coast of Ontario. The Mushkegowuk National Marine Conservation Area would cover 86,000 square kilometers of James Bay and Hudson Bay, stretching from the Manitoba to the Quebec border…..” Source: Ontario Nature Magazine Spring 2026 

• Water Quality & Pollution

  • Algae Blooms: Rising water temperatures, combined with nutrient runoff, are causing harmful blue-green algae outbreaks, particularly in Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and parts of Lake Superior.

• Aquatic Invasive Species

  • Invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels, and various invasive fish are transported on boats, kayaks, and fishing gear, damaging native ecosystems and restricting access.

  • Ontario now regulates watercraft as a carrier of invasive species under the Invasive Species Act, requiring strict cleaning procedures (clean, drain, dry) to prevent transfer.

• Survey on the Perception of Forests 

  • Join in on a survey to help understand how humans perceive forest landscapes. Right now, about 65% of responses come from France. ORCKAns can help by completing a 10-minute survey at the BIODIFUL project website.

ORCKA has regional representatives covering 16 regions in Ontario.  

• A list of these reps can be accessed here.  

• A map of the 16 regions can be accessed here.

• These reps are to assist member organizations, instructors and the paddling public with course and program information. 

• If you have not done so already, feel free to email the rep in your area to be a part of the ORCKA community communication network.

There are many ways for you to contact us and get your questions answered. 

• Board

  • Select an email for the Executive member or Committee Chair in the portfolio that relates to your question.

• membership@orcka.ca

  • For inquiries about certifications and membership numbers.

• school-liaison@orcka.ca

  • For all inquiries in relation to paddling with school groups and/or the OPHEA/OPASSE Safety Standards for the 2025-2026 school year with respect to water activities.

• ORCKA Regional Representatives

  • For anything related to your region.

• Email info@orcka.ca and you will be directed to the appropriate contact. 

  • Remember to indicate your membership number in the subject line to expedite the process.

• Phone 416-426-7016

• Email canews@orcka.ca to submit ideas and suggestions.

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