Monday February 27th from 6-9pm on Zoom

Agenda:

• Legacy Awards
• 2022 Priorities Recap
• 2022 Club Recap 
  
• 2023 Priorities
• Financial Report 
• Elections - (Board Roles 2023)
  • VP - up for election (Matt willing to stand)
  • Treasurer - up for election (Jamie willing to stand)
  • Facilities & Environment - up for election (Andrew willing to stand)
  • Recreation - Open - 1yr remaining
    
  • Director at Large - Open - Includes SafeSport Chair role (see roles doc)
• Prizes for attendees

January 1st, memberships roll over for most clubs. Membership has its benefits!

• Discount & priority booking at Canoe Meadows campground on the Kananaskis River
• Discount at Aquabatics Calgary & Aquabatics Edmonton 
• 20% Discount at jaylife13 (waterproof bags)
• 10% Discount at Bow Valley SUP
• Event participation & insurance coverage
• NCCP Training
• Facility & Whitewater development
• Information about what's happening in water sports

If you are someone who can't choose just one club, you can now skip the AWA fee on the second membership. Drop us a quick note for the discount code.

Kananaskis - Construction date TBD depending on permitting, fabrication, and construction timelines.

• Adjustable wave - The engineering and environmental reports have gone into all government agencies for review. The project is fully funded. A Community Meeting to go over operation considerations will be on February 9th at 7pm (see below).

• Maintenance and river enhancement - AWA just received $186,000 from CFEP and the Calgary Foundation. This allows us to move forward with this project. Next steps are engineering & permitting.

• Canoe Meadows - Group bookings opens to the public February 1st. Individual camping booking opens February 1st. Advertising outside AWA circles will start Feb 15th.

Harvie Passage - The City Task Force has created a draft Facility Enhancement Plan and the next steps are component prioritization, and funding. We hope to see progress on the ground in 2023.

Cochrane, Sundre, Rocky Mountain House - Travel Alberta-Destination Development is looking at river access and waterfront amenities as a priority in this region. Access and amenity plans are being developed in conjunction with club input.

Okotoks, AB - July 20-23, 2023

The best 64 young whitewater paddlers in Alberta gather every 2 years for 3 days of competition in mid July at the Alberta Summer Games. The competitions include canoe polo, slalom in kayaks and C-boats, and a downriver race. It is all held on a flatwater creek, pond or moving river and it gives everyone a good test of skill and athletic ability.

The Alberta Summer Games are a critical pillar in identifying, recruiting and developing athletes. Many athletes get their first taste of whitewater competition at the ASG and the experience can be an important stepping stone. The AWA retains athletes after the summer games by organizing and hosting training camps and races. Some of the athletes who have participated in the ASG games have gone on to earn spots on the Canadian Whitewater Slalom, Wildwater and Canoe Polo Teams. Many become club coaches, ensuring a healthy club continuity.

Why are we mentioning this now? Training, preparation, and zone trials have started! We strive to get clubs involved all across the province so each zone can send 8 athletes to the games. If you would like more information or to be involved, check out the link below or connect with Mike at admin@albertawhitewater.ca

February 17-19, 2023 @ Kinsmen Sports Centre, Edmonton

Join the EWP for the largest polo tournament in North America. Join a team or come watch all the exciting action at Kinsmen Sports Centre!

There are A & B divisions with something for any experienced paddler. Paddlers regularly come from the US and Wales for this tournament.  

Are you wanting to keep those paddling skills you honed last summer, sharp throughout the winter? Well for those of us who don't care for icicles forming on our gear, check out the link below to see where pool sessions are happening across the province this winter! We will update this page with club/business links as we receive them.

If you have any pool sessions you would like listed on the AWA website, please email admin@albertawhitewater.ca 

Following last year's successful Symposium, we couldn't resist getter the gang together again! This year the event will be three days and over a weekend, in order to provide an opportunity to some people who could attend.

April 21 to 23 - Canoe Meadows, Kananaskis

AWA is pleased to announce that we have been recipients of three grants that will help us continue building Safe and Welcoming community. 

• InMotion Network - $20,000 - Safe & Welcoming Grant - Province of Alberta funding for SafeSport & Equity projects
• Canadian Tire Jumpstart - $18,450 - Safe & Welcoming coordinator
• Canadian Recreation and Parks Association and the Government of Canada, Reaching Each and Every One - $20,000 - Kayaking for indigenous and people with disabilities. This will support our Spirit North/Stoney Nakoda partnership & more.

We will be looking for additional paid staff in coming weeks/months. Feel free to reach out if you have questions.

2023's event calendar is more full than ever! Start training and get out your calendar now to book off travel time to get to those exciting rivers.