To update your address and/or choice of Rapid Media Magazine:

1. please login to your Paddle Canada members account here - http://www.paddlebuzz.ca/members/login.asp
2. Click on "Edit My Profile" (2nd link under My Profile Menu)
   1. Address / Contact Info Changes: review your address and other contact info to make changes as necessary.
   2. Rapid Media Magazine Choice: scroll to bottom of page under “Mailing Lists / Promotions” to select Rapid, Adventure Kayak, or Canoeroots in either print or digital format (please note by default, you will receive Canoeroots unless you tell us otherwise).
   3. Click “Save Changes”

We are at the start of what looks like a busy season and many instructor and training courses are now running.  Here are some important reminders to help all instructors with skill and instructor course registration, reporting and payments.  Even though our online database reporting system has been active for 3 years, many still challenges with the online process (including me sometimes!).  Hope this email proves useful in answering some of your questions.  This info will be posted also on the Instructor Notice Board for future reference.   

Skill vs Instructor Courses:  There are a few main differences in the registration / reporting process between these course types:

1. Adding Course Participants:  

• Skill Courses: Participants are added by Course Director (anytime - pre or post course)  
• Instructor Courses: Participants add themselves in ADVANCEto your course.   
  • You will need to share the instructor course ID # with them in order that they may register. Simply follow the Instructor Candidate link in the members area under the My Membership menu.   
  • If participants are unable to sign up in advance, you can move the dates forward in time temporarily to allow candidates to continue to sign up (using the UPDATE link).  Once all participants are on your course roster, change the dates back to the original.  Watch this Tutorial Video on how to use the UPDATE link feature.  

2. Reporting The Course: 

Both Instructor and Skill Courses follow the same process for updating Status (Full Pass, Conditional Pass, Incomplete) and submitted course reports. Status updates to participants certifications can be made by Course Director at anytime in the future to their completed courses (as per guidelines outlined in the PC Program Manual).    

 

Read more...

The sea kayak PDC has just released and posted a new version of their manual (version 13.03).  This can be viewed and downloaded in your members login area under Instructor Services Menu => Sea Kayak Program =>  Sea Kayak Program Manual (13.03) PDF

 

Paddle Canada awards bursaries to instructors to further the Paddleboard (SUP) program in Canada. The intention of the bursary is to help defray travel costs for instructors coming from or organizing courses in underfunded areas throughout Canada. 

Paddle Canada also wishes to assist in the development of video resources for the instruction of Paddle Canada Paddleboard (SUP) program.

For 2012 we have $2000 available to instructors or instructor trainers to further the above stated goals. If you are interested in applying you must do so before March 31, 2012. 

Read more...

For several years now Paddle Canada has been awarding bursaries to instructors looking to further the sea kayaking program in Canada. The intention of the bursary is to help defray certification or travel costs for instructors coming from or organizing courses in underfunded areas throughout Canada.

For 2012 we have $1500 available to instructors or instructor trainers. If you are interested in applying you must do so before March 31, 2011.

Read more...

As of Dec 31, 2011, all instructor accounts expired.  We encourage you to renew today for these benefits:

• A full year's magazine subscription to Rapid, Adventure Kayak, or Canoeroots Magazine (choose print or digital format) plus one final issue of Kanawa. You also have the option to buy additional subscriptions at a discount. Stay up to date with Paddle Canada News, three-page insert. Get more info on the mags.       
  
  
  
• Post and register your 2012 public courses. Get your booking hotline a' ringing. Paddlers are starting to search the PC website for courses. Register courses as soon as they are set. Show Canadian paddlers that we are an active organization of 1200 instructors with lots of programming from coast to coast to coast.
  
  
• Finally, membership dues keep our staff employed and the office running during the important planning and maintenance phase of the winter months.     

Read more...

Don't miss your chance to demonstrate and share your knowledge of all-things paddling in the Winter Issue of Kanawa Magazine!
 

This Issue's Question:

Topic: Leadership

Leadership is one of the hardest skills to teach in the outdoors. What tips and tricks do you have to teach people to become better "on water" leaders?

 
 Please forward your responses no later than December 10, 2011.
Selected responses will be published in KANAWA.
 
 
Submit your answers to:
 
ASK A PRO
Christopher Lockyer
46 Russell Cross Road
Rural Route 1
Hilden, Nova Scotia B0N 1C0 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you have either unreported  'Sanctioned' status,  or unpaid 'Invoiced' status, PC would ask, that you complete them ASAP. And hey, you are not alone, as there are over 100 individual instructors in this category, with a combined course total of over 300 in the national database.  We would therefore ask you to please report and pay for your courses, at your earliest convenience, and ideally no later than December 2nd.  

Why now,  instead of waiting later in December or January?

• Well this will allow us to  compile course statistics for 2011 season, to present a comparison report between 2009,  2010 and 2011 at our upcoming AGM Dec. 10, 2011.     

• The Program Development Committees are also anxious to review this data as well to help them in their task of improving PC programs in the future.   

• The Regional Member Associations, also receive a copy of their provincial course summary reports.  This helps them track activities in their region, plus helps them in funding initiatives.      

• Paddle Canada additionally uses this national data to report back to our new program funding partner, Transport Canada Office of Boating Safety.

The more you can help us, and do your little part, in completing your courses, the better our data is,  for use in these projects.  Remember if there are 'Sanctioned' courses that did not run, then please use the 'Cancel' option to complete these courses.   

Thanks for your prompt attention to this and if you have any questions, please let me know,
 
Graham Ketcheson
Executive Director
Paddle Canada

Notice to Paddle Canada Advanced Lake Solo Instructors and/or any other organizational member Lake Instructors (advanced) looking to transfer or have an interest in the new Paddle Canada Style paddling program:  The Canoe PDC will be offering an opportunity to transfer certifications to this new Style discipline this fall and next season 2012.

Existing and current Advanced Lake Solo Instructors may request to be transferred into the new Style program at the Intro level without attending any event.  Any other level transfers must assessed by
a Style Instructor Trainer (intermediate/advanced) in person or by submitting a video for evaluation to the Canoe PDC. Further details on transfer requirements are available upon request.

This fall we will be having the first transfer opportunity in the Ottawa area (Sept 23 - 25, 2011). Cost for this course will be $150/person.  Style Instructor Trainers will be Charles Burchill and Becky Mason.  For more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We expect to have opportunities for transfer next year at the 2012 Atlantic Symposium as well as out west.  For more information on possible sites for 2012 transfers please connect Priscilla.

Don't miss your chance to demonstrate and share your knowledge of all-things paddling in the late summer Issue of Kanawa Magazine!