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Adults watching a paddlesmart presentation.
Location Chilliwack, British Columbia. Photo credit: Priscilla Haskin

Standards of Conduct for Paddle Canada Instructors

As an instructor you have specific responsibilities to your students, the environment and to Paddle Canada. That is why we developed the standards of Conduct for Paddle Canada instructors.

Responsibilities to Students

  1. Instructor members must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every human being and their ultimate right to self-determination. Specifically, instructors must treat everyone equally, within the context of their activity, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion or political persuasion.
  2. Instructor members have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the participants with whom they work as far as possible within the limits of their control. Therefore,
    • all reasonable steps should be taken to establish a safe learning environment, including adherence to Paddle Canada’s Intoxicants Policy.
    • training and the manner in which it is done should be in keeping with regular and approved Paddle practices within the sport.
    • the activity being undertaken should be suitable for the age, experience and ability of the participants.
    • the participants should have been systematically prepared for the activity being undertaken and made aware of their personal responsibilities in terms of safety.
  3. Instructor members have a responsibility to maintain the privacy of students by protecting personal information in compliance with Paddle Canada’s Privacy Policy.

 Environmental Stewardship

  1. Paddle Canada instructor members have the responsibility to ensure that activities conform to Leave No Trace principles:
    • plan ahead and prepare, including consideration of minimizing impact to the shore when launching, portaging, scouting and taking out;
    • travel and camp on durable surfaces;
    • dispose of waste properly;
    • leave what you find;
    • minimize campfire impacts;
    • respect wildlife;
    • be considerate of other visitors.

Responsibilities to Paddle Canada

  1. Instructor members will know and abide by all Paddle Canada policies, standards and regulations.
  2. Paddle Canada attempts to provide the best, most up-to-date and uniform instruction available. Therefore it is the duty of each instructor member to learn any new techniques, alterations or modifications in order to pass them on to those who take instruction. To remain outdated in technique is unfair to fellow members and the public.

Last updated May 2011 by the Instruction & Safety Committee.