Big Canoe Program Recent Changes
See a complete list of major changes to the big canoe program.
Type:PolicyAudience:Instructors, Instructor Trainers
The following items have been updated in the Paddle Canada Big Canoe Program Manual. This is just a small sampling of changes since its release. Instructors and Instructor Candidate members should read through the entire manual carefully as all changes are not listed below.
January, 2026
- No major changes to the program this year.
January 2025
- Rename Drop Skeg to Deep Brace.
- Rename Maximum Seating to Maximum Paddlers.
- Added airbags in canoes for moving water and coastal environments.
- General clean up on duplicate sections and of wording to read better.
- Small grammar adjustments.
January 2024
- Updated items within levels Intermediate and Advanced.
- Optional strokes from Intermediate have been moved to Advanced.
- Advanced items have been moved to a new Style Level.
- Flip line transferred to Intermediate Level.
- Introduction of the inside tilt within Advanced Level.
- Understanding maximum seating and maximum capacity given water temperature.
- Defining paddling distance from shore given number of big canoes.
- Explanation of an additional “rescue boat”.
- Stirrup rescue devices added to all levels.
Last updated: April 11, 2026
Published: February 10, 2025