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Paddling company makes waves

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Tourism operators like Jackpine Paddle won't have to pay licensing fees after the GNWT waived them for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Paddling course. photo courtesy of Dan Wong

Long-time Yellowknifer Dan Wong is using his love of the NWT’s rivers and lakes to give paddlers new and old the tools to explore the territory’s plentiful lakes and rivers.

“When you're able to canoe and kayak safely, it's like you have a special driving licence to all these private spectacular highways,” said Wong, who owns and operates Jackpine Paddle. “There are so many places to explore and if you have basic skills and safety and paddling, the possibilities are endless,” he said.

Paddlers take part in a Jackpine Paddling course. photo courtesy of Dan Wong

This year, Jackpine will expand to offer seven to nine day sea kayaking tours on the East Arm, which boasts world class fishing, rising cliffs and deep, clear water.

Jackpine is continuing its youth camps for grades three to eight, with four day canoe trips. After experiencing business growth with the youth camps and paddling courses, Wong decided to expand.

“We’re taking folks from Yellowknife, and as far away as Ontario,” he said.

Jackpine’s paddling workshops are open to canoers and kayakers who have never been in a canoe or kayak before, but they’re also open to individuals looking to expand their skill set.

Jackpine teaches paddlers fundamental strokes and rescues, and how to assist if a canoe capsizes. It also teaches higher level whitewater canoe courses for keeping safe on larger backcountry trips – including how to safely swim in white water and unpin canoes.

“I get to get on the water with folks that are learning how to canoe or kayak for the first time and help make them better paddlers and safer paddlers so they feel more confident to go on their own adventures,” he said.

Wong first learned to paddle on the lakes and rivers of the NWT, and is aiming for greater partnerships with communities whose land encompasses paddling routes.

Jackpine has a permit for the Sahtu, but is looking to grow into canoe tours for the Nahanni, currently monopolized largely by companies from Alberta and Ontario.

Wong hopes to model the tours “in a way that really connects with the communities and the regions,” he said.

“It's something I think the current operators could do a better job of up here, is having meaningful partnerships with folks in communities of whose land they’re paddling on,” said Wong.

Future tours could feature a cultural component, directed by what types of partnerships communities are interested in.

Wong is meeting with Tulita and Norman Wells, as well as Lutsel K’e.

“Yellowknife is a great place to be if you are looking for outdoor adventure on the water,” he said.

“It's really rewarding to have someone that's really nervous about paddling and a bit scared of capsizing and to have them at the end of a one day course to see how confident they are and how much better they can control the boat in wind,” he said.

Some of Wong’s favourite rivers are the Mantle River, upstream of Nahanni, and the Keele and Mountain Rivers in the Sahtu.
After graduating university, Wong went on a two-week expedition through the Peel watershed.

“It was the first truly remote extended trip I had been on. I was just hooked after that and pretty much every single day of vacation time since then for the last decade has been dedicated to exploring new rivers, exploring new lakes and taking paddling courses,” he said.

“There are so many amazing rivers, you could spend several lifetimes exploring them all.”