History of ORCKA
A Journey from 1975
As of 2025 ORCKA has 50 years of history!! Over these years so many volunteers, so much passion for paddling and so much expertise went into the creation of the ORCKA Programs and Organization as we know it today. Here are some highlights over the last 5 decades.
Key Events in ORCKA's History 1975 - 2025
1970’s
ORCKA began in 1975 with a small group of paddlers who saw the need to provide a unified voice for recreational paddlers in Ontario and developed its first canoeing program. Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association (ORCA) was formally formed in response to the Lake Temiskaming disaster in 1978 (a school trip gone wrong in which 13 lives were lost). ORCA took a leading role in introducing safety initiatives and standards for mitigating risks. This was a pivotal initiative to create a common set of canoeing standards and a voice for paddlers.
1980’s
ORCKA expanded its instructor courses, became more involved in environmental advocacy, and introduced programs like the River Rescue Program. This was an era of careful examination and exploration of program structuring to meet the needs of Ontario paddlers. We suffered the loss of paddling legend Omer Stringer who started the “Safe Canoeing Program” in Ontario Provincial Parks to provide an introduction to canoeing safety.
1990’s
The decade saw a major review of the ORCKA Program Manual and efforts to align with national standards. ORCKA expanded its offerings, including the Canoe Tripping Program.
2000’s
ORCKA separated from Canoe Ontario in 2000, improved its financial standing, launched its website, and began administering the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association (CRCA) Kayaking Program. After Paddle Canada's restructure in 2007, ORCA developed its own kayaking program becoming the Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association (ORCKA).
2010’s
ORCKA introduced new programs like Stand Up Paddling (SUP), expanded instructor training and issued thousands of skills certificates. The organization relocated its office, from the Toronto and Ontario sport organizations building, updated its governance documents, automated its course administration and enhanced member benefits with resources like Paddling Magazine.
This condensed timeline highlights ORCKA's foundational efforts, program development, financial independence, and continuous growth in paddling education and advocacy.
2020’s
In 2020 ORCKA responded quickly to the pandemic, creating COVID-19 policies and practices to ensure courses could continue safely. In 2025 ORCKA is celebrating 50 years of safe, knowledgeable, recreational paddling. ORCKA continues to offer a broad spectrum of paddling certifications at the Instructor and skill levels in Canoeing, Voyageur Canoeing, Kayaking and Stand Up Paddling.
ORCKA is the leader in promoting Safe Paddling across Ontario and developing highly trained instructors.