Paddling Blues

by

by Colette Brown

Always from the shore, I watched my hubby, Jim Brown, paddle in his Red Sea Kayak, named Cardi-Yak Expedition, with Captain Daisy his hearing alert dog. It was inspiring and captivating for me!
After reviewing videos of his paddling adventures, I was always left with a hunger trail and a silent pull to join him. After a total right knee replacement surgery and recovery this spring, I was set to paddle side by side with my hubby, and best friend of 47 years. Destiny, however, would force me to paddle solo when Jim passed away. He had overcome heart disease, but fell to pancreatic cancer.
One promise my hubby had made this year was to be a featured paddler for Abilities in Motion (AIM), in their annual fund raising event, Hands Across The Water, in Earl Rowe Provincial Park, Alliston, Ontario. AIM provides adapted kayaking for differently abled persons. I wanted to fulfill Jim’s promise – but, I am a watcher not a doer, with no kayaking skills. My only minimal paddling experiences stemmed from my youth where I secretly built a make shift raft, to paddle down the Temagami River. In my teen years, I learned some canoeing skills at a girl guide camp. How was I going to live up to the promise and follow Jim’s paddle print?
After speaking to the founder of Abilities In Motion, Pauline Halstead, I offered my services to volunteer for the AIM organization, not realizing where that small step would lead me. I assisted with a fun filled day at Earl Rowe Provincial Park, helping differently abled persons enter adapted kayaks, hearing them squeal with excitement as they paddled away. I was hooked! There was a beginner course, with a group of children later in the day, an ORCKA Safe Kayaking Program. I took the plunge and joined in. Little did I know that after shore instruction every one of the students had to enter a kayak to learn paddle strokes on the water.
What a scary, funny experience this was, not knowing if my replaced new knee would help me squat enough to enter the kayak without tipping over! The laughter, innocence and encouragement from the four novice youth speared me to attempt a clumsy entry….the rest is history!
With my new skills, I proudly achieved my aim to replace Jim at the Hands Across the Water event and was a featured kayaker. I kayaked solo around the island circuit. With my new skills, I reconnected with Dave Corrigan, owner of the Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre in Toronto. In previous years, Dave, or his staff, assisted me to carry Jim’s sea kayak to the ramp leading to Lake Ontario, where Jim would be assisted from his wheelchair to his sea kayak. My purpose was to express my gratitude and ask Dave, if as a novice, I could book a kayaking journey to be planned for my birthday in September. I wanted to experience Jim’s journey to the Toronto 13 Islands with the help of his most experienced kayaker instructor. Big first step: booking my paddle was my next big step since my Jim could not fulfill his promise to celebrate with me; I would go to his little piece of Heaven to commune with him.
A week later, I received an invite from a friend, Maria DeLuca, an experienced kayaker from Harbourfront, to go with her tandem kayaking for a social kayaking event with a group led by David Corrigan. Total panic! Total Fear! My finger typed “yes” and pressed send. I knew that my knee would let me squat to enter and I could paddle forward, backyard and stop and turn the kayak but my whole body and spirit trembled from head to toe.
My paddling journey with Maria, tandem kayaking within a group of 70 kayakers crossing from Harbourfront, was intense, exhilarating, and one of the best experiences in my 70 years. The lull of the waves, the thrill of dodging the water traffic crossing Lake Ontario to the Toronto Islands, seeing more wild life than my last trip camping in Algonquin Park.
At the water’s edge near one of the inhabited islands, just a few feet away from us, and perched above our heads in a tree, Maria and I watched a majestic Blue Heron take full flight in the evening colourful, sunset sky! This image is etched in me forever! The camaraderie, the chats with fellow kayakers, the scary ghost story shared about the abandoned Island Lighthouse… My Jim must have seen the ghost of the light house keeper, because rumour has it, anyone who sees him goes to the Afterlife!
After this two hour social paddle, the group crosses safely together back to the mainland, enjoying the scenic
highlights of the Toronto landscape. A BBQ awaits us! Awesome!
Meeting like-minded kayakers, forming new friendships, bonding and planning other kayaking adventures, I am now a member of the paddling community! Who knows, this novice kayaker may dream big as she experiences the paddling blues to paddle to the sea. I challenge every paddler in Canada to organize a paddling event to raise funds to help Abilities in Motion reach its AIM: Adapted Kayaking all across Canada, especially in this coming year of the 2015 plan/Para PanAmerican Games held in Toronto!
I hope you share my paddle blues to follow Jim’s paddling print. My paddle blues lives on as I bravely face life’s currents ahead! Many stand looking, saying “I’d love to do that but…..” Why not paddle on? Attempt a solo paddle from Harbourfront to the Islands… Then a Lake Huron run from Kincardine to the Point Clark Lighthouse… Maybe even enjoying a fish’s view in my kayak at Point Peele….Then launch my kayak at Sinclair Cove before I venture to the Sea!

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GLSKA Waiver

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (hereinafter the "Release Agreement") BY ACCEPTING THIS DOCUMENT YOU WILL WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

DEFINITION

In this Release Agreement, the term Sea Kayaking Activities shall include but is not limited to: all activities, events or services provided, arranged, organized, conducted, sponsored or authorized by the Releasees and shall including moving water, still water, lake and ocean kayaking; loan or rental of kayaks (hereinafter "the boats") and other equipment; orientational and instructional courses, seminars and sessions; all travel, transportation, and accommodation; food, beverage including water supply, use of equipment, and multi-day camping or overnight stays in the outdoors.

In this Release Agreement, the term "Negligence" includes the failure by the Releasees to use such care as a reasonably prudent and careful guide, instructor, trip organizer or sea kayaking operator would use under similar circumstances, or breach of any other duty of care imposed by law.

ASSUMPTION OF RISKS

Participation in Sea Kayaking Activities involves various risks, dangers and hazards including the risk of serious injury, paralysis or death. Sea Kayaking Activities often take place in remote wilderness locations, where assistance, medical and first aid services and evacuation may not be readily available, and communication may be difficult or not possible. The risks, dangers and hazards that may be encountered include, but are not limited to: accidents which occur during transportation or travel to and from the departure point; slips and falls while getting into or out of the boats; overturning of the boats; loss of balance; impact or collision with objects; cold water immersion; repetitive strain injuries; dislocated shoulders; hypothermia; drowning; changing and inclement weather conditions including storms, high wind, high waves, and lightning; encounters with domestic or wild animals; infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact; negligence on the part of other participants; and NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART THE RELEASEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEGLIGENCE INCLUDES FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM OR WARN ME OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES.

Please refer to the GLSKA Risk Management Strategy section of their website for further information regarding the risks, dangers and hazards that may be encountered during Sea Kayaking Activities.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (hereinafter the "Release Agreement") BY ACCEPTING THIS DOCUMENT YOU WILL WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

I AM AWARE OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES AND I FREELY ACCEPT AND FULLY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOSS RESULTING THEREFROM.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

In consideration of the Releasees allowing me to participate in Sea Kayaking Activities as defined in this Release Agreement, I hereby agree as follows:

  1. TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS that I have or may in the future have against the Releasees and TO RELEASE THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any loss, damage, expenseor injury including death that I may suffer, or that my next of kin may suffer as a result of my participation in Sea Kayaking Activities, DUE TO ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR BREACH OF ANY STATUTORY OR OTHER DUTY OF CARE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEGLIGENCE INCLUDES FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM OR WARN ME OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE;
  1. TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any property damage or personal injury to any third party resulting from my participation in Sea Kayaking Activities;
  2. This Release Agreement shall be effective and binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, assigns and representatives, in the event of my death or incapacity;
  3. This Release Agreement and any rights, duties and obligations as between the parties to this Release Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and no other jurisdiction; and
  4. Any litigation involving the parties to this Release Agreement shall be brought solely within the Province of Ontario and shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

In entering into this Release Agreement I am not relying on any oral or written representations or statements made by the Releasees with respect to the safety of Sea Kayaking Activities, other than what is set forth in this Release Agreement.

I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT, AND I AM AWARE THAT BY ACCEPTING THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT I AM WAIVING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH I OR MY HEIRS, NEXT OF KIN, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNS AND REPRESENTATIVES MAY HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASEES.