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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Karl Vollmer | Committee Chairperson & River Kayak Program Committee Chair | Nova Scotia |
| Meaghan Hennessy | Sea Kayak Program Committee Chair | British Columbia |
| Priscilla Haskin | Canoe Program Committee Chair | Alberta |
| Jenn Givens | SUP Program Committee Chair | Alberta |
| vacant | Camping Program Committee Chair | |
| Tony Palmer | Advisor | Alberta |
| Michelle McShane | Ex 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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Priscilla Haskin | Chair | Alberta |
| Charles Burchill | Lead Member: Style Canoeing | Manitoba |
| Kevin Silliker | Lead Member: Canoe Poling | New Brunswick |
| David Wooldridge | Lead Member: Big Canoe | British Columbia |
| David Wooldridge | Lead Member: Coastal Canoeing | British Columbia |
| Andrew Westwood | Lead Member: Moving Water Canoeing | Ontario |
| Brian Johnston | Member: Moving Water Canoeing | Manitoba |
| Brett Pawlyk | Member: Moving Water Canoeing | Alberta |
| Darren Keith | Member: Moving Water Canoeing | Quebec |
| Dot Bonnenfant | Member: Lake Canoeing | Ontario |
| Keo Ohler | Member: Lake Canoeing | Alberta |
| Lana Ohler-Madsen | Member: Lake Canoeing | Alberta |
| Paul Mason | Advisor: Moving Water Canoeing | Ontario |
| Richard Alexander | Advisor: Coastal Canoeing | Newfoundland |
| Alan Thomson | Advisor: Coastal Canoeing & Big Canoe | British 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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Karl Vollmer | Committee Chairperson | Nova Scotia |
| Tony Palmer | Member | Alberta |
| Adam Tremblay | Advisor | New Brunswick |
| Rob Lemmon | Advisor | New 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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Meaghan Hennessy | Chairperson | British Columbia |
| Lauren Erikson | Member | Saskatchewan |
| Richard Alexander | Member | Newfoundland |
| Rick Wise | Member | Ontario |
| Amber Champion | Member | British Columbia |
| Aaron Gascoyne | Member | Ontario |
| Céline Palfroix | Member | Quebec |
| EJ Lange | Board rep | British 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.
| Members | Position | Region Rep. |
|---|---|---|
| Jenn Givens | Chairperson | Prairies |
| Emre Bosut | Member | British Columbia |
| Brian Raymer | Member | |
| Jess Rando | Member | Ontario |
| Annabelle Higgins | Member | Quebec |
| Alex Chandler | Member | Atlantic |
| Leslie Gray | Member | North |
| Tony Palmer | Advisor |
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.
| Members | Position | Region | Paddling Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant | Chairperson | ||
| Colin Frey | Member | Saskatchewan | Canoe |
| David Delafield | Member | Alberta | Canoe & Sea Kayak |
| Neil Gilson | Member | British Columbia | SUP |
| Lynette Chubb | Member | Ontario | Canoe |
| Jimmy MacDonald | Member | Saskatchewan | Canoe & Sea Kayak |
| Andrew Foran | Member | Nova Scotia | Canoe |
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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Pauline Halstead | Chairperson | Nova Scotia |
| Donna Kurt | Member | Manitoba |
| George Shelton | Member | Alberta |
| Andrew Foran | Member | Nova Scotia |
| Jordan Kerton | Member | British Columbia |
| Kerri McKee | Member | Manitoba |
| Paul Blood | Member | British Columbia |
| Geoffrey Marshall | Member | Nova Scotia |
| Dave Climie | Member | British 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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Goodridge | Chairperson | Newfoundland |
| Rick Wise | Member | Ontario |
| Allan MacDougall | Member | Nova 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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Burchill | Chairperson | Manitoba |
| Becky Mason | Member | Quebec |
| Neil Hartling | Member | Yukon |
| Max Finklestein | Member | Ontario |
| Bob Henderson | Member | Ontario |
| Mark Lund | Member | Alberta |
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.
| Members | Position | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Bezaire | Chairperson | Ontario |
| Lance Castonguay | Member | British Columbia |
| Beth Cornwall-Jones | Member | Ontario |
| Marcia Klein | Member | Saskatchewan |
If you have any questions, please contact us. Or email us at [email protected].
Want to get involved?
Contact us and apply to indicate the committee you are interested in along with a brief history of how your work and education related to the work of the committee. For more information, please contact the specific committee chairperson.
A note about advisors
Advisors are individuals that run Paddle Canada programs and offer extensive feedback, suggestions, etc. to our committees.
