Paddling & COVID-19 Public Health Measures
In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, CKC continues to ask the Canadian paddling community to respect the Government of Canada’s direction to carefully follow physical distancing practices and to respect the directives and regulations of all public health authorities and governments at every level. Now is the opportunity for us to be diligent leaders in our communities. Through our actions, we can contribute to the control of the spread of this virus.
CKC will continue to monitor and assess the national situation but notes that Club / Divisional / Provincial / Territorial and National Team paddling programs should only resume when the appropriate Municipal, Provincial and Federal Public Health and government authorities modify applicable restrictions and/or closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CKC recognizes that these restrictions may be modified or lifted at different times across the country depending on the evolution of the pandemic and the actions taken by the various levels of government in specific jurisdictions.
The following guidelines have been created for our member organizations, to assist in their modification of operations to align with the varied and evolving public health measures in place across Canada. At no time should these guidelines be interpreted as superseding or providing a justification for not closely following public health directives, government regulations or further canoe kayak specific or general return to sport guidelines in a given member organization’s municipality/province/territory.
Although ultimate decision-making authority rests with member organizations regarding any actions to be taken as deconfinement measures evolve, CKC will continue to provide support and ongoing outreach to all member organizations and clubs as they make their own decisions on returning to operations and paddling, based on the unique situations in their own jurisdiction.
A chart is included below with links to all relevant Federal, Provincial and Territorial COVID-19 public health sources. Member organizations and clubs should also consult with their respective Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations for further guidance and measures which may be applicable.
According to assessment using tools developed by Own the Podium, paddling can be a low risk activity as it relates to contracting COVID-19 if proper steps are taken and if the vast majority of activity takes place outdoors and at the required physical distance. It is important to note that CKC’s On-Water Safety Policies apply at all times. All members should be aware of the serious risks posed by cold water conditions in many areas of the country at this time. Specifically, for Sprint paddlers, when water temperatures are below 8°C, the Cold-Water Safety regulations (Section 2.2) must be understood and followed.
Guidelines on Canoe Kayak Specific Measure
Once Activities are Permitted by Public Health Authorities
Personal Health |
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Modified use of Club/Recreation Facilities |
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Group Gathering Size |
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Physical Distance (2 metres) |
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Sanitation |
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Safety Contingencies |
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Communication & Governance |
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Federal, Provincial and Territorial – COVID-19 Public Health Links
About Canoe Kayak Canada
Canoe Kayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 24 Olympic medals, and a leader in the Paralympic movement. Canoe Kayak Canada is a member-based organization that includes an intricate network of clubs as well as provincial, territorial and divisional paddling associations. Elite National Team athletes proudly represent Canada at various competitions around the globe – most notably the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, ICF World Cups as well as Junior, Under 23 and Senior World Championships.