Hello ,

Spring is here! Check out the fantastic lineup of events on offer this year!

April is Membership Drive Month. Get your membership before May 1st to be entered for some fantastic prizes! Thank you AQ Outdoors, Chinook Rafting, Kootenay PDL, Canoe Meadows & more!

NRS Zen PFD

Kananaskis Raft Trip

Free Camping Weekend

Free Event Registration

Kootenay PDL Hat

Kootenay PDL Hoodie

Alberta Whitewater Association Hat

2024'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 events. 

May 5th - Penguin Race, Calgary - Waterwerks Kayak Club

May 5th - EWP's Extreme Slalom Showdown, Kinsmen - Edmonton Whitewater Paddlers

May 17-20 - 3-Rivers Rendezvous - Pincher Creek - Pinch O Crow Creekers 

May 25/26 - Harvie Open - Slalom, Freestyle, Kayak Cross - Calgary

June 8/9 - Kananaskis Open - Slalom, Freestyle, Kayak Cross 

June 28- July 1 - Grande Cache River Rendezvous - Hosted by UAPS & Grande Cache Hotel

June 28- July 1 - Sundre Paddlefest - Hosted by BVKC

July 5-7 - Canadian National Canoe Polo Championships - Edmonton

July 26-19 - Women's Whitewater Weekend - Jasper

August 2-5 - Slave River Paddlefest - Fort Smith

August 9-11 - KanFest 2024

August 12-18 - Canadian National Whitewater Championships - Kananaskis

September 7/8 - Alberta Provincial Championships - Kananaskis

September 21/22 - Harvie Fall Classic - Calgary

This spring we have a good slate of leadership opportunities lined up:

April 26-28 - Whitewater Leadership Symposium - Kananaskis

April 29-May 1 - Leader 3 Instructor 3 - Kananaskis (Full)

April 29-May 1 - Comp-Introduction - Online

May 11/12 - Pool & Lake - Edmonton - Jim MacDonald/Mark Lund

May 11/12 - Leader 2 Instructor 2 - Pincher Creek

June 9 - Instructor Intro River Module, Edmonton

June 15/16 - Swiftwater Rescue - UAPS members only

All of these will get you working towards higher levels of certification and/or provide you professional development points to maintain your current certifications. See list below.

Did you know that AWA Certified instructors get Pro Deals through Prolink now? Get all your certifications up-to-date!

We look forward to a safe season of paddling in Alberta. We encourage all members and clubs to think about how they can keep themselves and their friends safe this season. Good trip planning, safety practices and spreading the word will make a difference.

The AWA is working on three new initiatives, with financial support from Transport Canada, to support river safety:

• SUP ankle leash awareness - Don't wear an ankle leash on moving water! #SUPUnleashed

• Online River Safety Course - Developed in conjunction with AQ Outdoors, Onlea Enterprises and other river professionals, the course will be aimed at educating the general public about river safety. 

• Harvie Passage PFD Lending Station - Starting May 21st - a lending station for people to borrow a pfd to stay safe around the river. Supported by Paddle Alberta, AQ Outdoors and Mustang Survival.

If you are interested in helping open/close the lending station in May and June please contact Elissa - safety@albertawhitewater.ca

AWA has been working with the Provincial, Federal, & Municipal Governments, and other jurisdictions on several access projects. We have learned to be incredibly patient, but that progress is usually possible.

Southern Alberta

• Pinch O Crow Creekers created a list of access upgrade potentials that has been forwarded to the Province for consideration.
• The Castle River from the Falls downstream is now included on AWA's Guide Permit after a dozen years of restriction.
• There is a new restriction for guided trips on the Gap Run of the Old Man river. You can still paddle it, but not on a paid/guided trip.

National Parks Restrictions

• Waterton National Park - No watercraft 2024 
• Kootenay/Yoho - No watercraft 2024
• Banff - Cleaning stations & Certification Process
• We are meeting with Federal MPs this month to discuss the long-term plan

Cochrane - Sundre - Rocky Mountain House

• Travel Alberta has a Discovery Report for this area including lots of talk of river access and amenities.

Town of Cochrane

• Has approved a plan to create a River Access Strategy. AWA, ARSA and others have been invited to participate.

New Bow River Dam 

• Engagement Survey - May 6th - Comments to include: Ensure access below new dam. Recreational facility offset for lost whitewater. 

Red Deer River

• One new river access site is underway at the Steveville Bridge in Dinosaur PP. 
• River access signage is under consideration for the Upper Red Deer. Sundre Paddling Club, AWA, County - Timeline TBD

Kananaskis 

• New Raft Put-In - scheduled for 2024
• New accessible trail to 40-Boat eddy - scheduled for 2024
• Improved Canoe Meadows Parking lot take out - scheduled for 2024

Edmonton

• New lakes project - North East River Valley Park - Hosting 2024 Canoe Polo Nationals
• Accessible dock - Rundle Park - scheduled for 2025

Grande Prairie 

• Wapiti Recreation Engagement 

TransAlta

• We've met several times with TransAlta. They are aware of the wishes of recreational users, but ultimately the company is accountable to its shareholders.
• Power is a traded commodity and a unit can fluctuate between $20 and $200 depending on the time of day. This is why we aren't getting the flow times that we want...

If you have other access issues that we can support you with, please don't hesitate to reach out.

If you have any articles to publish or topics you'd like to see in the newsletter, please let us know!