NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE CANOE AND KAYAK CLUB
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In July, the Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club (BCKC) partnered with the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka to offer an Introduction to Canoeing for Newcomers.
The program was sponsored by the Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association (ORCKA) with funding provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Resilient Communities Fund.
The goals of this program were to offer people who are new to Canada an opportunity to safely enjoy the ‘Canadian’ experience of canoeing, to learn to be comfortable in and on the water, to pursue an outdoor recreational sport with their friends and families, to increase awareness of BCKC and ORCKA skills training, to enhance community partnerships, and to recruit new paddlers.
ORCKA’s Safe Canoeing Program was adjusted by Diane Cornett, an ESL-certified instructor, to accommodate learning for this population, and the length of the course was held over two evenings to ensure clear communication and understanding.
We were fortunate to have two former English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) instructors assist us — Karen Haley and Barb Ireland. Thank you both so much!
Diane Cornett, Canadian style paddling instructor, and Marilyn Clark, basic canoe instructor, taught 15 individuals from YMCA Simcoe/Muskoka's Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Program in Barrie and the ESL Conversation Circle in Orillia.
It was gratifying to get this message: "A big thank you — Team BCKC! Our YMCA/SWIS department are very grateful to Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club for offering newcomers families and students an opportunity to try paddling. It was a fun and educational experience. Our participants did not have swimming skills, but they felt safe on water thanks to your team's expertise and patience. It was a wonderful way to introduce them to a new activity. We appreciate your time, efforts and generosity very much. We experienced cheerful instructors, calm beautiful lake, gorgeous sunset and rainbow that made every soul on the lake happy."
We thank the YMCA Simcoe/Muskoka for their partnership and we look forward to providing newcomer youth, children and their parents/guardians with water safety and paddling instruction again next year. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.
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