Bill Mason Memorial Scholarship

Applications Now Open

Skip to content
A group of paddlers who recently took a Paddle Canada course with the Paddle Canada flag in front of them.
Location: Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Photo credit: Richard Alexander

Paddle Canada Committees

Serving on a Paddle Canada committee can be a great way to give back to paddling and to learn more about our great paddling nation. Committees are also stepping-stones for individuals interested in serving on the Board of Directors as a Regional Representative.

Program Coordination Committee

The Program Coordination Committee develops policies and procedures that are common to all Paddle Canada training programs; assists the Program Committees (PCs) in their development of training and teaching resources for Paddle Canada instructors; receives feedback on common policies and elements of all Paddle Canada programs; provides leadership in the development of paddling and coaching skills; assists in resolving disputes between the PC’s and carries out other projects tasked as necessary by the PC Board of Directors.

MembersPositionRegion
Karl VollmerCommittee Chairperson & River Kayak Program Committee ChairNova Scotia
Meaghan HennessySea Kayak Program Committee ChairBritish Columbia
Priscilla HaskinCanoe Program Committee ChairAlberta
Jenn GivensSUP Program Committee ChairAlberta
vacantCamping Program Committee Chair
Tony PalmerAdvisorAlberta
Michelle McShaneEx Officio (Executive Director)N/A

View the Terms of Reference for more information on this committee’s roles and responsibilities.

The PCC wants to hear your questions, comments, concerns, and feedback. Get in touch. Or email us at [email protected].

Canoe Program Committee

The Canoe Program Committee helps foster the pursuit of safe recreational paddling in Canada through the development and maintenance of a program of skill, instructor and instructor training and certification that is seen as necessary, effective and fair.

Terms of Reference

MembersPositionRegion
Priscilla HaskinChairAlberta
Charles BurchillLead Member: Style CanoeingManitoba
Kevin SillikerLead Member: Canoe PolingNew Brunswick
David WooldridgeLead Member: Big CanoeBritish Columbia
David WooldridgeLead Member: Coastal CanoeingBritish Columbia
Andrew WestwoodLead Member: Moving Water CanoeingOntario
Brian JohnstonMember: Moving Water CanoeingManitoba
Brett PawlykMember: Moving Water CanoeingAlberta
Darren KeithMember: Moving Water CanoeingQuebec
Dot Bonnenfant Member: Lake CanoeingOntario
Keo OhlerMember: Lake CanoeingAlberta
Lana Ohler-MadsenMember: Lake CanoeingAlberta
Paul MasonAdvisor: Moving Water CanoeingOntario
Richard AlexanderAdvisor: Coastal CanoeingNewfoundland
Alan ThomsonAdvisor: Coastal Canoeing & Big CanoeBritish Columbia

If you have any questions about the canoe program, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

River Kayak Program Committee

The River Kayak Program Committee helps foster the pursuit of safe recreational paddling in Canada through the development and maintenance of a program of skill, instructor and instructor training and certification that is seen as necessary, effective and fair.

Terms of Reference

MembersPositionRegion
Karl VollmerCommittee ChairpersonNova Scotia
Tony PalmerMemberAlberta
Adam TremblayAdvisorNew Brunswick
Rob LemmonAdvisorNew Brunswick

If you have any questions about the river kayak program, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Sea Kayak Program Committee

The Sea Kayak Program Committee helps foster the pursuit of safe recreational paddling in Canada through the development and maintenance of a program of skill, instructor and instructor training and certification that is seen as necessary, effective and fair.

Terms of Reference

MembersPositionRegion
Meaghan HennessyChairpersonBritish Columbia
Lauren EriksonMemberSaskatchewan
Richard AlexanderMemberNewfoundland
Rick WiseMemberOntario
Amber ChampionMemberBritish Columbia
Aaron GascoyneMemberOntario
Céline PalfroixMemberQuebec
EJ LangeBoard repBritish Columbia

If you have any questions about the sea kayak program, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Stand Up Paddleboard Program Committee

The Stand Up Paddleboard Program Committee helps foster the pursuit of safe recreational paddling in Canada through the development and maintenance of a program of skill, instructor, and instructor training and certification that is seen as necessary, effective, and fair.

Terms of Reference

MembersPositionRegion Rep.
Jenn GivensChairpersonPrairies
Emre BosutMemberBritish Columbia
Brian RaymerMember
Jess RandoMemberOntario
Annabelle HigginsMemberQuebec
Alex ChandlerMemberAtlantic
Leslie GrayMemberNorth
Tony PalmerAdvisor

If you have any questions about the stand up paddleboard program, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Camping Program Committee

The mandate of the Camping Program Committee is to foster the pursuit of safe camping in Canada through the development and maintenance of a program of skill, instructor and instructor training and certification that is seen as necessary, effective and fair. The Camping program courses are designed to be taught either alongside a Paddle Canada paddling course, or on their own without a paddling course.

Terms of Reference

MembersPositionRegionPaddling Discipline
VacantChairperson
Colin FreyMemberSaskatchewanCanoe
David DelafieldMemberAlbertaCanoe & Sea Kayak
Neil GilsonMemberBritish ColumbiaSUP
Lynette ChubbMemberOntarioCanoe
Jimmy MacDonaldMemberSaskatchewanCanoe & Sea Kayak
Andrew ForanMemberNova ScotiaCanoe

If you have any questions about the camping skills program, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Adaptive Paddling Committee

The Adaptive Paddling Committee was created to advocate for, and support, the inclusion of people with all abilities in paddling sports by offering Adaptive Paddling Programs aimed at facilitating the participation, skill development, and training as well as educating the Paddle Canada community in best inclusionary practices.

MembersPositionRegion
Pauline HalsteadChairpersonNova Scotia
Donna KurtMemberManitoba
George SheltonMemberAlberta
Andrew Foran  Member Nova Scotia
Jordan KertonMemberBritish Columbia
Kerri McKeeMemberManitoba
Paul BloodMemberBritish Columbia
Geoffrey MarshallMemberNova Scotia
Dave ClimieMemberBritish Columbia

If you have any questions, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Marketing Committee

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee assists the Executive Director to improve and streamline our member services.

MembersPositionRegion
Alan GoodridgeChairpersonNewfoundland
Rick WiseMemberOntario
Allan MacDougallMemberNova Scotia

If you have any questions, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Waterwalker Film Festival Committee

This committee coordinates the annual film festival distribution, promotion and selection of submitted films.

If you have any questions, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Bill Mason Scholarship Committee

This committee reviews and makes recommendations on the applications for the annual memorial scholarship award.

MembersPositionRegion
Charles BurchillChairpersonManitoba
Becky MasonMemberQuebec
Neil HartlingMemberYukon
Max FinklesteinMemberOntario
Bob HendersonMemberOntario
Mark LundMemberAlberta

If you have any questions, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Youth Committee

Paddle Canada’s Youth Committee develops programs to support accessibility and create new opportunities for Canadian youth in paddle sports.

MembersPositionRegion
Dan BezaireChairpersonOntario
Lance CastonguayMemberBritish Columbia
Beth Cornwall-JonesMemberOntario
Marcia KleinMemberSaskatchewan

If you have any questions, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].

Want to get involved?

Why volunteer with Paddle Canada?

A note about advisors

Advisors are individuals that run Paddle Canada programs and offer extensive feedback, suggestions, etc. to our committees.