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The Salt Spring Paddling club is a non profit organization with a goal of supporting safe and low impact paddling sports. The majority of the members of the club are kayakers, but there are a healthy number of canoe advocates as well. The club organizes day trips and a variety of expeditions to nearby and remote locations. Best practices of safety are promoted through club and Coast Guard regulations, water reentry and other safety courses and while participating on day trips or expeditions.
The club meets monthly (7:30 p.m. on the 4th Tuesday of each month Anglican Church on Park Drive), from September through June and has guest speakers, periodic social events, a Library containing books on paddling, camping and the environment as well as a chart library, bi-annual newsletter and a lively membership who are keen advocates of the sport.
Annual fees are $15 for a single membership, and $20 for a family membership.

History of the Island Paddlers

Island Paddlers was formed in June, 1990, the brainchild of Wally Priedolins. His partner, Heather Spain, was not quite so keen on the idea, pointing out that, as leaders, they would be responsible for all those beginner paddlers. Wally prevailed, thank goodness, and the first meetings were held in a classroom at the elementary school in Ganges.

Both Wally and Heather had had years of paddling experience as had many of the early members, who included Joan Lott, Patti May-Lawson, and three young teachers, Richard Bennett, Jim Lightfoot and Wayne Taylor. Everybody had done a fair amount of canoeing and, indeed, there was scarcely a kayak among us. After outings on the lakes and along shorelines, the first ambitious trip was to the Broken Group of Islands, launching from Toquart Bay. We followed Wally and Heather and learned from them.

As the club expanded, some more experienced paddlers joined, such as Don and Fiona Flook, Jo Yard, and Lo Camps, and we embarked on longer trips to Hot Springs Cove, the Bunsbys, etc. A favourite annual event was Thanksgiving on Portland Island. We would camp there for two nights, everybody having brought their designated part of the meal, and what a meal it was! The park rules changed to prohibit open fires, but Wally devised a wonderful container on legs, fashioned from an old vacuum cleaner, and we had our fire, quite legally.

As the years passed, the early members became the gurus, and the club has been blessed with men and women who unselfishly offered to lead trips all over the B.C. coast. Thanks to them, members have been able to experience our wonderful coastline, and improve camping and paddling skills in so doing.