June Regatta Update

Due to the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the regattas taking place this June will be canceled and the ADCKC Trials will be postponed until further notice. Though this news may not come as a surprise to the paddling community, we believe it’s imperative to focus on what’s important; the health and safety of all paddlers, officials, coaches, parents, volunteers, and community members.

We encourage all athletes to continue training, enjoy the sun, and make this time count for when regattas can resume as normal.

Take care and stay safe!

Craig Johnson - Paddling During a Global Pandemic

The following interview took place on May 27, 2020. It discusses how Senobe’s U18 athlete Craig Johnson maintains a positive outlook on paddling during a global pandemic.

• What do you most look forward to this season and whats your current outlook?

Craig: My current outlook on paddling and exercising mostly focuses on maintaining as much enthusiasm as I can since there are no regattas to look forward to at this point. My motivation right now isn’t as prominent as it was last year since Junior Worlds isn’t happenin. It’s a big bummer. Right now I’m just trying to stay motivated and stay involved as much as possible.

• How are you staying motivated during these times?

Craig: I mostly stay motivated through the idea that just because there’s no competition this year, I need to stay ahead of my competitors. To perform next year, I need to use their drive to as motivation to push myself harder than them.

• As a high performing athlete, how has this season’s news impacted you the most?

Craig: This year has impacted me the most on the mental stage. I struggle quite a bit going on the water by myself. I depend on the motivation from my friends and coaches to aid me along the way. So at the moment, it’s harder to meet that requirement. 

• How are you staying on top of your paddling game while not being able to train the same way as a normal season?

Craig: I’m trying to get on the water as much as I can to get a feel for it. I just try to focus on stick work and technique. What I’m doing right now defines how I’ll be able to compete in my next major competition. But at the same time, what I feel right now is almost a bit better. I’m not putting the stress on my shoulders by going to trials without training for a few months beforehand. This way I can practice and focus on the basics.

Thanks for your time Craig! And good luck this paddling season!

CAC's Safe Sport Training Module

If you have not already, make sure to sign up for the free CAC’s Safe Sport Module available in the locker.

The CAC’s Safe Sport Training Module will give you the tools to recognize, prevent, and address maltreatment in sport. It also gives sports organizations the curriculum, tracking tools, and marketing support to create and maintain maltreatment free sports organizations.

Follow this link to sign up!

CKC Sprint Nationals COVID-19 Update

The following message is directly from Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) regarding the status of the 2020 CKC Sprint Nationals:

MAY 22, 2020 – OTTAWA, ON – Due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) and the Rideau Canoe Club regretfully announce the cancellation of the 2020 CKC Sprint National Championships, which was scheduled to take place from August 25 to 30, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, and included the Canadian Masters Championship (CANMAS).

Ultimately, the prioritizing of the health and well-being of our paddling community, and the necessary restrictions in place to address this global pandemic make it unadvisable and practical to stage this event in 2020.

“The Rideau Canoe Club was honoured and very proud to have the privilege of hosting the 2020 Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint Nationals during an Olympic year – particularly when so many of Canada’s elite athletes were ready for an amazing event,” said James Price, Commodore of the Rideau Canoe Club. “We are incredibly disappointed that we will not be hosting Canada’s sprint paddling community in August and do hope that we will have the opportunity to welcome you to Ottawa again very soon.”

CKC recognizes the significant disruptions and disappointment related to the ongoing event cancellations and public restrictions yet continues to support these measures and is proud to see our paddling community do its part as leaders in following all directives to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“It is certainly tough to know this will be the first summer without a CKC Sprint National Championship since 1945,” said Ian Mortimer, CKC’s Director of Development. “This event is the cornerstone of many of our sprint paddlers lives, and the event will be dearly missed in 2020. I remember being that young athlete working everyday towards the goal of a National medal, and I can certainly appreciate how difficult this news will be for everyone. We will begin the planning immediately for the return of this pinnacle event in 2021.”

CKC continues to urge the paddling community to respect the Government of Canada’s direction and regulations of all public health authorities and governments at every level.

We continue to monitor the changing landscape related to COVID-19 and the impact on the well-being of our paddling community.

CKC is also actively planning and working through all of the contingencies for modified in-person or virtual events which may be possible later in 2020 as well as the impacts of COVID-19 related cancellations on our major events in the years ahead.

CKC will be providing further information related to events in the coming weeks, and encourages you to reference our COVID-19 Resource Page for updates.

Policy Clarification

Hi Everyone,

We would like to clarify the communications that we have been sending regarding the current paddling options.

This applies to all lakes, although Lake's Banook & Mic Mac seem to cause more confusion than most other bodies of water.

The following areas are CLOSED to paddling: 

1. All shorelines around both lakes

2. All beaches- Lion's Beach, Banook, Senobe, Mic Mac, Graham's Grove, Birch Cove, Sunrise Beach (Shubie Park), Shubie Park Dog Park (If the land touches the water it is closed)

3. All docks - Lion's Beach, Banook, Senobe, Mic Mac, Graham's Grove, Birch Cove, Sunrise Beach (Shubie Park), Shubie Park Dog Park Dock (If it is a dock that near the water it is closed and off-limits)

4. All clubs are closed - Banook, Senobe, Mic Mac, Austenville's Owls Club, Dragon Boat East 

The following areas are OPEN to paddling: 

1. Private docks -these are open to owners and invited guests equaling 5 or less. The guest must live in the same neighborhood as the owner’s property. We have taken a very liberal definition of neighborhoods to be HRM districts. 

Lake Banook is District 5 and Mic Mac Lake District 6. This means if you are able to walk or bicycle to this private property and both the private property and your residence are in the same district, plus you have the permission of the owner of the dock, then you may paddle there while maintaining all physical distancing rules.

2. Mic Mac Lake Boat Launch on Braemar Dr. near Red Bridge Pond. This is open, but you must live in District 6 to use it.

Please contact Robin Thomson with any questions at robin@adckc.ca.

Lake Banook Temperature

Lake Banook’s temperature has been measured as 9 degrees Fahrenheit which is above the required temperature to paddle on Lake Banook. The lake is no longer under the Cold Water Protocol and a PDF is no longer required to paddle.

Please remember all regulations that are in place regarding the state of emergency are still in effect at this time.

Reminder: Canoe/Kayak Policies

Reminder:

All clubs, beaches, shorelines, and boat launches attached to these clubs, beaches, and shorelines are closed to the public as per the State of Emergency.

Please do not paddle from any of these locations as you will be fined up to $1000 personally and one of our clubs could be fined up to $7500.

If you are fortunate enough to live on a lake or live within walking distance to a private dock (that you have permission to use) you are able to paddle within the rules of the State of Emergency. 

We have been working tirelessly with Public Health, Sport Nova Scotia, The City of Halifax, and the Province in hopes that we can return to paddling in the next wave of lifted restrictions. 

Coach NS FREE MultiSport Courses

Yes FREE!

For the months of May and June, CoachNS is offering free online courses to step up your coaching game. Some of the courses available are listed below:

-Managing Conflict (May 18t)

-Leading a Drug-Free Sport (May 26)

-Manage a Sport Program (May 28)

-Prevention and Recovery (June 15 & 16)

-Coaching and Leading Effectively (May 11 & 12)

-Psychology of Performance (May 20 & 21)

-Developing Athletic Abilities (June 8 & 9)

-Making Ethical Decisions (May 6 & 27)

To register for these courses please visit the Coach NS website.

Additionally, eligibility to become a junior coach within the Atlantic Division requires the CanoeKids Course and Making Ethical Decisions at a minimum. To move beyond a junior coach you must complete the Entry Level Competitive Coach (ELCC) course. To Register for these courses, you can visit the About Page > Buy & Sell > Products & Services.

Traumatic Experience Community Resources

The Atlantic Division has acquired resources to assist with the horrific events that have recently taken place in our province.

We encourage anyone in need to refer to the following resources:

1) Online condolence resources: https://novascotia.ca/iga/stronger-together/ 

2) Stronger Together Nova Scotia Fund (Red Cross): https://donate.redcross.ca/page/59671/donate/1?locale=en-CA

3) RCMP Fallen Officer Fund in support of Constable Stevenson: https://rcmp-f.ca/donation/

4) The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is offering free crisis response training starting next week using a virtual classroom environment. 

• The facilitators of these sessions are from across Canada and are all master trainers of The Working Mind. Carolyn Campbell, director of the Office of Workplace Mental Health will be one of the facilitators.

  The two free crisis response virtual training programs are:

  • Caring for Yourself -for employees (2 hours)

  • Caring for your Team -for managers (3 hours- includes caring for yourself modules from the employee course and a crisis management module)

  Each course offers easily applied scenario-based lessons, videos that feature people with lived experience of mental illness, reference guides, and practical handouts.

  To register: Go to https://theworkingmind.ca/courses. Select ‘Log in’ and register for an account (there is no cost for these courses but you will need to register including an address). Confirm your account, then go to “Upcoming Courses’ to register for your selected date and time. Space is limited for each class but there are many options between April 27th and May 10th.

5) TAO (Therapy Assistance Online) is a free and private online resource available to Nova Scotians. It includes interactive activities and videos for people having challenges with their mental health. You can choose which topics you want to explore and go at your own pace. 

• Topics include:

  • Calming your worry

  • Let go and be well

  • Interpersonal relationships and communication

  • Leave Your Blues Behind

  • Improving Your Mood

  • Evaluating Alcohol and Drug Use

  • Pain Management

  For more information, or to sign up for TAO, go to taoconnect.org/what_is_tao/ns/ and sign up, then confirm your account with the password they send you. Log in and select “My Pathways” to view the list of courses.