Paddle Alberta Society

04/24/2026

Good news on the water situation for the Milk River.

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After a couple of years of interrupted flow, the St. Mary’s River diversion into the Milk River basin is anticipated to be at customary levels and will allow for paddlers to navigate the river starting in May!

⚠️ As always, be sure to check current conditions at the Alberta Rivers website or app before embarking. https://rivers.alberta.ca/

04/20/2026

Edmonton area paddler's boat swap coming up fast. May 3rd in the parking lot at Totem Outdoor Outfitters Home of the Sports Exchange

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04/19/2026

Hanging out at the Paddling Film Festival in Edmonton. Thanks to Paddle UAPS for hosting such a great event for the local paddling community.

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04/15/2026

See you there!

Don’t miss out! The Paddling Film Festival World Tour is coming to NAIT Shaw Theatre in Edmonton this Saturday!

Since 2006, this festival has inspired audiences in over 130 cities around the globe to explore rivers, lakes, and oceans—and to fall in love with the paddling lifestyle.

Kick off the evening at 5pm with our Outdoors Fair, featuring local paddling retailers, backpacking and adventure food companies, course providers, gear repair experts, paddling clubs, provincial associations, invasive species experts and more.

At 6:30pm, settle in for a line-up of thrilling paddling films showcasing wild rivers, Arctic expeditions, adaptive adventures, and the heart of river communities.

🎟️ Save by buying your tickets online at www.paddleuaps.com/film-festival or grab them at the door for $25 (cash or e-transfer).

📍 Location: NAIT Shaw Theatre
🕔 Outdoors Fair: 5pm
🎬 Films Begin: 6:30pm

Get ready for door prizes, silent auctions, great company, and an unforgettable night for paddling fans of all ages!

Thankyou to our sponsors!

PLATINUM SPONSOR
- Jim Sicotte with Polaris Mortgage Planners at Indi Mortgage

GOLD SPONSORS
- Benke Real Estate
- Excalibur Executive Planning Inc.
- River City Repair

SILVER SPONSORS
- Alberta Whitewater Association
- Alberta Canoe Polo Association
- AQ Outdoors
- Edmonton Massage and Bodywork
- Edmonton Whitewater Paddlers
- KC Insurance
- Paddle Alberta Society
- PeakEATS
- Racks For Cars - Edmonton South
- Smith Paddle & Canoe Co
- 7 Summits Snacks

BRONZE SPONSORS
- The Edmonton Riverboat
- Form Health
- HeLa Ventures
- Kanfest
- NSR Environmental Ltd.
- Track 'N Trail
- Raven | Rescue Safety Medical

DOORPRIZE SPONSORS
- Blue Sky, Red Canoe
- Ceyana Canoe Club
- Cloud 9 Pajamas
- Home Hardware
- Evoolution
- Kal Tire Acheson
- Mark's Guide for Alberta Paddlers
- Mountain Equipment Company
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Northwest Voyageurs Canoe & Kayak Club
- Vertically Inclined Rock Gym

Please share the word!

04/07/2026

AWA's Response to the Parks Canada Mountain Parks Waterways Closures & How you can help!

- AWA has met with Parks Canada staff who have offered no consideration of adjustments for 2026/2027 seasons
- AWA has written to Parks Canada and federal ministers requesting an immediate change to the policy
- We are launching User Survey to inform Parks about river use, and understand the impact on you
- We have created a letter template and contact Emails for Parks and Ministers

What you can do:
- Fill out the survey
- Write to Parks and MPs
- Ask your friends to do the same!

Find our Parks Canada Info Page
https://www.albertawhitewater.ca/parks-canada-mountain-national-parks-waterways-closure

03/11/2026

Happening online today at 6:30pm a chance to ask questions about the new AIS rules in Jasper NP: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AoRbYb5qn/

Happening TODAY! 📣

Join us online for the Virtual Annual Forum — your chance to hear updates from across Jasper National Park and ask questions live.

📅 March 11
🕒 Time: 6:30 pm
🖥️ parks.canada.ca/jasper-publicforum

We’d love to see you there!

03/11/2026

Parks Canada has changed their AIS rules for this year. Some waterbodies that were open to paddling are now very restricted or closed. The best place to learn the specific water body rules for each mountain park are here: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/mtn/eaux-waters?wbdisable=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawQed49leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDZXhLdlhjNlRuQkVFNUVWc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqXIR4daRU4Y7ntbu-vwI0B-KapF7hh4s2c6hNMd22vJpZgeVjv4Zz3xWHwR_aem_3pbROoTpGLuy01kh9HMXwQ

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non-native plants, animals and disease that can be harmful to park waters. Find out how to comply with AIS prevention permit requirements.

03/10/2026

📣 Paddlers — your voice matters for the future of Ghost & Kananaskis!

The Government of Alberta is developing a Ghost-Kananaskis Sub-regional Plan, which will guide how this area is managed for recreation, conservation, tourism, and industry into the future. This region includes many places paddlers explore and care about.

Right now, they’re asking for public input on a draft vision and outcomes for the area, and they want to know where people recreate through an interactive mapping tool.

🛶 If you paddle in the Ghost and or Kananaskis please take a few minutes to share your perspective. Input from paddlers helps ensure water access, recreation opportunities, and healthy headwaters are considered in future decisions.

👉 Take the survey here:
https://www.alberta.ca/ghost-kananaskis-sub-regional-plan-engagement

🗺 Important: Add paddling locations to the Visitation and Use Map

Place pins along paddling routes and label them “Physical activities (non-motorized)”

Add pins for put-in and take-out access points and label them “Amenities”

Please add as many routes and access points as you can

The more input paddlers provide, the more likely it is that paddling will be properly considered and included in future recreation planning.

The feedback collected now will help shape a draft plan that guides management of the region for years to come.

Please share with other paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts so our community’s voice is heard.

03/10/2026

🛶 Peace 2026 – Peace River Voyageur Canoe Brigade

Join paddlers from across western Canada for an unforgettable 236 km voyageur canoe journey on the Peace River from July 4–10, 2026.

Travel from Clayhurst Bridge, BC to Peace River, AB, paddling together as a brigade in traditional big canoes, sharing meals, stories, and campfires along the way. This event is all about teamwork, river travel, and community—not racing.

Gather your crew, bring your paddles, and be part of the adventure.

👉 Registration details on the CVBS website.
https://voyageurbrigade.org/

The Canadian Voyageur Brigade Society has evolved from the 2008 David Thompson Brigade.  Through our society’s planning and administrative support, materials, skills, and funds remaining from past brigades, we are available to support future brigades. This will ensure that voyageur brigades, the ...

02/27/2026

This just in.

01/30/2026

🛶 Paddlers: Alberta’s new Plan for Parks matters to you 🌊

The Province has released a new Plan for Parks (2026), and it includes clear direction that affects paddling access across Alberta.

Bottom line for paddlers:
✅ Paddling is recognized as a legitimate, nature-based activity
✅ The plan supports water access, paddling put-ins, and river routes
✅ There’s an explicit opening for paddling organizations to help shape access planning

At the same time, more visitor management is coming — which means now is the right time for paddlers to be paying attention and getting involved.

📄 We encourage our community to read through the plan and understand how it may shape where and how we paddle in the years ahead.

👉 Link to the Plan for Parks
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/1e7f6046-28fc-4165-a3e1-35adde16192b/resource/cb114f36-ef5f-439f-8a6f-b3c37b8b4059/download/fp-plan-for-parks-2026.pdf

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