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Petrie Island Family Turtle Trip 2022
On Saturday, June 4th thirteen new canoeists of all ages learned how to transport canoes and go canoeing at Petrie Island. Most of us were new residents of Ottawa and some of us were also new Canadians. We had the assistance of seven experienced instructors and trip leaders. Before lunch we took a short paddle near the canoe launch area.
At lunch, Mason, from the Friends of Petrie Island, told us about the Petrie Island turtles and answered our questions. Petrie Island has mostly painted turtles and map turtles as well as a few blanding turtles.
Executive Meeting Minutes May 10th 2022
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Club Website Switched to New Server
Recently, it was necessary to switch the club website to a new server. If you visit www.raccc.ca and see this article, you do not need to do anything. If you do not see this article, you are probably viewing a cached version of the website from the old server and you must clear your cache. Click here for an article on how to clear your cache. The essential advice, however, is given below:
What to Know
- Clearing cache can fix some browsing problems, free up space, and remove saved versions of visited pages for privacy reasons.
- Most browsers let you clear cache quickly via Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac).
- Otherwise, try your browser's Settings, Privacy, or Advanced options.
To clear the cache, you can also try to logout of the club website www.raccc.ca, close the page for club website, close the browser, reopen the browser, open the club website and login.
If you notice that some functionality of the club website is not working, please report it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Info on Mileage Rates, Rental Rates and Use of Club Equipment on Private Trips
Mileage Rate 2022 The Club operates on a "friends driving friends" model. Based on this model, before any trip, driver and passenger(s) should make mutually agreeable financial arrangements to share the costs of driving. If a guideline is necessary, the Club recommends the cost of the trip be calculated at $0.50/km ($0.60/km for carrying two or more canoes), to be divided equally among the number of travellers, including the driver. A increase in the mileage rate is recommended by the executive for 2022 because of the greatly increased gas prices.
Rental Rates 2022
Kevlar FW Canoes - $15/day $8/evening
Ultra-Light Kevlar FW Canoes - $20/day $10/evening
Sea Kayaks - $15/day $8/evening
WW Tandem Boats - $30/day $15 Evening
WW Solo Boats - $20/day $10 Evening
WW Boat Skirts - $5/day .
Paying Fees
Boat rental and guest fees are paid at the RA East desk. Payments can be made in cash by credit card or with a bank card. Take white copy of the trip report to the desk with as they will need it for their records.
Use of Club Equipment on Private Trips The rule for private use is, "it is a privilege earned through active participation in the Club" and must be approved in advance by the appropriate co-ordinator. Please refer requests for private trips to: WHITEWATER REQUESTS must be approved by the Whitewater Coordinator (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). FLATWATER REQUESTS must be approved by the Flatwater Coordinator (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or the Family Coordinator (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Note that club trips and training events get priority over private trips in terms of equipment. It is best to turn up Tuesday evening at the shed between 7pm and 8pm to see what boats are available and make arrangements with Boathouse Volunteer. Failing that, contact the Assets Coordinator (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to determine the availability of equipment.
Time to Renew your Canoe Club Membership!
If you have not already renewed your canoe club membership for 2022, it will be especially easy to do so this year. There is no longer a requirement to fill out a canoe club registration form if a previous year's one is already on file with the RA.
Please click here to review the Canoe Club COVID policies for 2022.
There is also a Covid waiver that must be completed online at www.racentre.com/raccc-waiver-adult (adults) or www.racentre.com/raccc-waiver-minor (under 18). If you filled out the waiver in 2020 or 2021 you do not need to fill it out again for 2022.
Avoid the rush later in the season and rejoin today! The club plans to have a busy paddling season for 2022 just like they did for 2021 and 2020.
For new members, click here for information on joining the club.
To join or rejoin the canoe club, call the RA membership desk at 613-733-5100. The desk is staffed:
Monday to Friday 7:00am to 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday 7:00am to 9:00pm
Also, the RA East Desk is now open and you can come in and do business with our membership staff. The East Desk hours are:
Monday to Friday 7:00am to 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday 7:00am to 9:00pm
RACCC Sweep-Safety Boat Team - Jock River Race (Reminder: wear your PFD!)
Huzzah to the organizers of the 2022 annual JOCK RIVER RACE! And to RACCC for once again providing the Sweep-Safety Boat Team for this annual race (for the past 20 years!)... please see our special message to ALL paddlers (below)
The 2022 Jock River Race was held on Saturday, April 16, with a record 173 boats and 248 paddlers! It's fun and extremely well organized. Held annually, since 1971 on a lovely stretch of the Jock R, winding for 12.5 km through farms, forest, fen and marshes. There's a mix of current (some class 1 rapids) and slack water/meanders. Paddlers are in canoes, kayaks and SUP's of all kinds - a mix of serious racers and recreational paddlers, as well as families for a fun toot down the river. (picture - courtesy of the race organizers)
Kudo's to RACCC (and RACCC alumni) volunteers for our 2020 Sweep-Safety Boat Team: Lynette, Judith, Laurence, Bruce H, Cathy O, Isa L-M and Valerie S! Plus our Shore Team/gear 'roadies': Dot and Linda D.
Honourable mention goes to: Kate M ('ready' to paddle if needed) as well as to Matthew V, Dan P (sidelined per injury/ illness. Maybe next year?).
Read more: RACCC Sweep-Safety Boat Team - Jock River Race (Reminder: wear your PFD!)
Irish Creek
April 12 2022
The day was forecasted to be sunny and a warm 16C (it actually was our hottest day this year at 17.7C) with a moderate wind. It was Suze and Catherine’s first paddle of the year, though Karen had been out several times.
Irish Creek is a shallow, marshy creek which flows north into the Rideau River at Kilmarnock, best paddled in the early spring. We put in at Roses Bridge Road, about 5 km from the Kilmarnock lock station. Even in “high” water, waterlilies just starting to sprout, we occasionally touched bottom with our paddles. We paddled upstream, under bridges, around bends, over beaver dams, alternating with no wind, head winds, cross winds and tail winds.
For a quiet shallow creek there were lots of things to see. Highlights of the trip were: 6 trumpeter swans, 2 deer, several turtles basking in the sun, a beaver lodge and 2 beaver dams, lots of Canada geese leading us up the creek, mallard ducks, a loon, bright red dogwood among the cattails, and the biggest waterlily roots I have ever seen, looking like giant snakes or octopi.
It was a great first day on the water. (Click on "Read more" to see additional photos.)
Catherine J
Clyde River - April 2 2022
Beautiful day to be on the water on such a pretty whitewater river. It is a gem in Lanark county and the shuttle is easy. Water level was just perfect to play in with tandem and solo boats for a first outing of the season (for my paddling partner and I). Six of us participated plus one guest. We got passed by a group of kayakers. A couple of pools were still frozen. Thank you to Peter for organizing this.
Click here for a video.
Judith
Executive Meeting Minutes March 21st 2022
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Changes to Policies – COVID-19 - March 2022
As Club members are aware, the provincial government has recently relaxed some requirements relating to providing proof of vaccinations as well as to the wearing of masks in indoor settings. The RA Centre has informed us that it has relaxed its requirements for proof of vaccination and masking but has permitted clubs to determine their own requirements if they apply to all of the activities of that club.
A number of members of the Club have expressed concerns that there remains a significant risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus, in its various forms. While vaccinations and the wearing of masks indoors (and while near others) do not provide complete protection, they do reduce that risk. As a result, the Executive (Club Council) has implemented the following policies applicable to Club activities for the 2022 season:
- 1. Proof of Vaccination: Members joining the Club will not be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19. However, in order to participate in Club activities, members and their guests will be required to show the activity leader proof that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (see note below). The proof must be a government issued paper or electronic document. Participants failing to provide such proof will be excluded from the activity. These requirements apply to all Club activities, including canoeing and kayaking trips and training programs.
- 2. Exemptions: The requirement for proof of vaccination will not apply to Club members and guests providing proof of a medical reason for not being vaccinated (in a form that accords with guidelines issued by the Ontario Ministry of Health). In addition, children under 12 years of age will not require proof of vaccination.
- 3. Mask Wearing: Anyone entering the Boathouse or another indoor setting as part of a Club activity is required to wear a mask that covers their nose, mouth and chin. In addition, a person providing training may require that participants wear a mask during all or any part of the activity.
The virus and the scientific knowledge relating to it are evolving. The Executive will be monitoring these changes and reviewing potential changes to the policies as the situation evolves.
Note: Provincial regulations establish what it is to be “fully vaccinated” based on vaccines approved by Health Canada. Currently, this includes two doses of the Pfizer-Biontech mRNA vaccine, the Moderna Spikevax mRNA vaccine or the AstraZeneca vaccine or a single dose of the Janssen vaccine.
Executive Meeting Minutes March 1st 2022
Log in to see minutes from the virtual meeting of the executive on March 1st, 2022.