Safety Standards & Regulations

Personal Flotation Device (PFD)

Course participants and instructors wear a Canadian-approved personal flotation device (PFD) at all times when on or around water.   [The label states the PFD has been approved by Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, or Fisheries and Oceans Canada].

Approved White Water Helmets

Course participants and instructors wear approved whitewater helmets [CE EN 1385 safety rating] for moving water programming.

Follows all Government Safety Regulations

Course participants and instructors comply with Government Safety regulations:

  • One PFD for each paddler

  • 15m of buoyant heaving line per boat

  • One sound-signalling device per boat

  • One bailer or manual bilge pump per boat

  • Other regulations for boats of over 6m in length, for night-time or low-visibility paddling conditions, etc. [cf. Transport Canada's Safe Boating Guide]

Organizational Members follow ORCKA’s guidelines for appropriate Course Length, Instructor:Participant ratios, and Course Instructors' Qualifications

Organizational Members and Instructors keep up-to-date on the most recent version of the various ORCKA Program Manuals and Safety Standards; 

  • ORCKA's membership is alerted of changes to ORCKA's Program Manuals prior to each paddling season, and the definitive version of the Program Manuals is found online.

  • Instructors are required to Recertify every 3 years.

All Members agree to abide by  ORCKA’s Abuse Policy

Organizational Members agree to abide by their Risk Management and Emergency Response Plan

Organizational Members and Instructors agree to abide by ORCKA's Trip Leader Standards when tripping is included as part of conducting ORCKA Program

ORCKA Registered Courses

ORCKA Organizational Members conduct ORCKA Programming by registering courses online and employing ORCKA Instructors. New ORCKA instructors automatically become an Instructor Member after completing their first course and are required to renew their membership annually.  By Registering courses online, Organization Members and their ORCKA instructors benefit from our associations Insurance Plan

Risk Management and Emergency Response 

ORCKA Organizational Members are required to maintain a responsible Risk Management and Emergency Response Plan to be used when conducting ORCKA programming, and which is to be integrated with wilderness first aid, whitewater rescue, national search and rescue secretariat standards, federal law, and ORCKA's Program Administration Requirements. 

Trip Leader standards

Trip Leaders follow ORCKAs Trip Leader Standards and also must maintain a responsible Risk Management and Emergency Response Plan (RMP) in order to benefit from our association's Trip Leader Insurance.

They are required to sign ORCKA's Risk Management and Emergency Response Agreement as part of their RMP.

In addition Trip Leaders prepare for each trip an appropriate and responsible trip plan.