Paddle Canada National Canoeing Program

Big Canoe Program

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Canoe Poling Program

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Coastal Canoeing Program

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Lake Canoeing Program

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Moving Water Program

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Style Canoe Program

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The Paddle Canada Program Manuals Philosophy

The Paddle Canada Program Manuals describe the criteria and standards for measuring a participant or candidate’s abilities within each stream and level.

These are not how-to manuals, nor do they tell you how to develop, organize, and administer a course. These aspects of paddling instruction, course progression, and administration are taught in the Paddle Canada instructor levels and available through other resources. In other words, these manuals tells instructors what to teach; not how to teach it as we feel the requirements of the students and the circumstances of the moment dictate the appropriate teaching methods.

Many test items in each level describe what the boat/board and/or paddler must do but make no reference to what strokes are to be used for the manoeuvre. This does not mean that the strokes are unimportant but gives the paddler the choice of what stroke to use for any manoeuvre. It is expected that, as a part of all courses, proper stroke mechanics will be demonstrated and taught as required.

Acknowledgement of the Cultural Foundations of Paddling

Paddle Canada is a community of trusted leaders that inspires connections to Canadians and nature through paddling. The bind that ties us all, the paddle, and the craft that it propels (the canoe, kayak, and stand-up board) are not ours to claim.

We acknowledge and respect the cultural traditions of the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people on whose land and waters we live, learn, play, and earn.

We stand as allies to the owners of this land we call Canada, and we respectfully acknowledge how we came into the privilege to be here.

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