Past Events
THE ONTARIO SOLO CANOEING RENDEZVOUS:
THE “OSCR” OF CANOEING EVENTS! INCLUDING THE “WCHA” MINI-ASSEMBLY
2:00 pm Friday afternoon, June 19, 2026 to noon on Sunday, June 21, 2026 - Peterborough, Ontario
Who’s it for?
This event is for you if you are:
joining the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) Mini-Assembly and/or
a solo canoeist (style, white-water, or tripper) from 16 to 100+
Note: If you are not already a solo canoeist, the on-water solo clinics will be too advanced for you. Keep learning, and we’ll see you next year. WCHA tandem paddlers and other tandem paddlers will be accepted. Please ask Lee at environment@orcka.ca.
What’s the agenda?
On the water - Share, play, learn.
Saturday. Skill-building in a non-competitive, non-course environment. Learn efficient functional solopaddling with flairwith famous and not-so-famous awesome certified instructors. Canoes to try from four manufacturers and paddles from two and more from our wonderful sponspors.
Friday afternoon/Saturday morning. Group paddling demonstrations at the Canadian Canoe Museum (Museum)
Sunday morning. Lift-lock paddle (Sunday - ride up and down! 😊). Tandem paddling encouraged!
Off the water
Friday afternoon (2 pm). Join the Curator-led Museum Collection Tour at our special rate.
Friday evening. Enjoy a potluck dinner and canoeing show ‘n’ tell slideshows. View Silent Auction items.
Saturday (all day). Watch Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) members from the Ontario Northern Lakes Chapter restoring a cedar-canvas 14’ Huron solo canoe. See WCHA displays.
Saturday (all day). See sponsor displays and try out paddles and canoes.
Friday/Saturday nights. Stay at our Beavermead Campground Group Site (tenting only) or Peterborough’s many hotels or our two sponsoring hotels.
Saturday evening. Silent Auction and campfire slideshow at our Beavermead Campground Group Site.
** Spaces are limited and registration is required. **
Note: Only 16+ can paddle solo, and participants 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
For more information (especially if you’re unsure about your canoeing skills), please email Lee at environment@orcka.ca.
Accommodation Options
Tent spaces at our Group Camp Site $10/night/person plus HST.
Have an RV? Book with Beavermead Campground directly to be near the group.
We arranged some time-limited discounts at two Peterborough hotels
Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn (84 Lansdowne St E, Peterborough, ON K9J 7N9), on Meade Creek. From here, you can paddle to Rogers Cove. Cdn $179.95 + taxes.
Make reservations by May 19, 2026. (10 rooms available.) Call 705-742-3454 and reference “O.S.C.R.” or use this link.
Comfort Hotel & Suites, 1209 Lansdowne St. West, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7M2. A short (12 min) drive to Rogers Cove. Cdn $174 + taxes.
Make reservations by before Friday, Jun 19, 2026. (15 rooms available). Call 705-740-7000 & use Group Name: Ontario Solo Canoe Rendezvous; Group Number: YH18T8 or use this link.
A Lake Story, September 26th-28th 2025
The Bentway invites 400+ GTA-based canoers and paddlers to participate in A Lake Story: a large-scale, on-the-water art project by artist Melissa McGill in Toronto
In Fall 2025, The Bentway is excited to partner with artist Melissa McGill to present a large-scale canoe procession where volunteers will paddle approximately 120 canoes in a coordinated slow-moving procession. The Bentway is looking for 400+ enthusiastic canoers and paddlers to help activate this monumental happening. This coordinated action will be visible from a wide range of viewing areas along Toronto's Inner Harbour, creating an epic communal celebration of Lake Ontario that will write the lake’s colour story both in the sky, and on the water.
Want to participate? Learn more at: https://thebentway.ca/stories/call-for-paddling-volunteers-fall2025/
The volunteer page has everything you’ll need including: details on the roles available, recordings from our info sessions, FAQs and more.
Paddle for Resilience
Context.
In August and September 2025, the Gasparotto Group will paddle 1,000 km down the historic Ottawa River from Lac des Outaouais to Westboro Beach, Ottawa.
The Ottawa River is not just a waterway—it’s a symbol of resilience and connection. This 1000 km journey will challenge the Gasparotto Group paddlers physically and mentally while raising awareness and funding for mental health support programs for first responders and military personnel.
Mark's connection to Wounded Warriors goes all the way back to their origin story when it was initially called The Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warrior Fund. Mike was a member of 23 Field Squadron and was seriously injured by an IED in Kandahar in 2006. His parents along with an Assisting Officer started the fund to look after wounded soldiers at the Landstuhl Hospital. The organization is now a national charity dedicated to supporting trauma exposed professionals with mental health support and resilience programs.
2 Ways to Support
Expedition: Charitable Donation. Every contribution directly funds mental health initiatives for Wounded Warriors Canada.
Paddle for Resilience: DIY Route. Form your own team, choose your route, and raise funds while tracking your progress.
This is the focus. Getting people out Paddling for a good cause. The intent is for this to become a recurring event.
More information
Paddle for Resilience DIY Route Registration instructions
Link to the Wounded Warriors Canada donation page
Style Canoeing Rendezvous East
Many thanks to clinic leaders Becky Mason, Reid McLachlan, Charles Burchill, and Dot Bonnenfant, and to sponsors ORCKA, Paddle Canada, RACCC (Ottawa’s Canoe Camping Club), Ostrom Outdoors custom packs and accessories, SlackSeat (to save your knees) by Cole Bennett, and Frontenac Outfitters for a successful Rendezvous at Murphy’s Point Provincial Park on July 16-20, 2025.
Click on the photo or the button below to view a Google Photo Album compliments of photographer Lee Ann Starzynski, with contributions by Richard Wang, Reid McLachlan, Tom Connell, and others.