Staff & Board

The Calgary Canoe Club (CCC) is a non-profit organization situated in the heart of Calgary on the Glenmore Reservoir and located in the North Glenmore Park. This location offers 14km of shoreline to paddle, sweeping views of the Foothills and Rocky Mountains, and a nature reserve at our doorstep (Weaselhead Flats). This is the perfect setting for offering paddling programs for all ages and all levels.

The CCC was established in 1959 and is a non-profit organization that provides training and promotes excellence in competitive paddling disciplines (sprint canoe/kayak and outrigger), and provides the opportunity to all members of the community to experience lifelong learning skills through paddling.

On water programs run May through October (weather permitting). The City bylaw allows us to be on the reservoir during this 6 month period with no exceptions for earlier or later access. Additional City bylaws must be adhered to and include: wearing a DOT approved PFD (lifejacket), no swimming in the reservoir, no pets allowed, and shore landing only at one of the 3 dock areas around the reservoir.

Please note: The Canoe Club location is by far the most congested parking area on the reservoir. If you are a recreation user with your own boat we strongly suggest you park at either Heritage Park (14th St/Heritage Park) or the Sailing Club (90th Ave/24th St) for dock access.

During the offseason our coaches run dryland competitive programs for the respective canoe/kayak and outrigger paddlers. Indoor training facilities are available for these members.

Our Programs include:

  • School/Group Dragon Boating and/or recreational canoe/kayak sessions (must be booked in advance and based on availability)
  • Adult outrigger and sprint canoe/kayak programs
  • Adult Corporate sessions in Dragon Boating, outrigger, and/or recreational canoe/kayak
  • Youth Learn 2 Paddle camps for kids age 9-12
  • Sprint canoe/kayak programs for kids age 9-18+

The Calgary Canoe Club is affiliated with many partner organizations. CCC is a member of the Sprint Canoe/Kayak governing bodies, Alberta Sprint Racing Association (ASRCA) and the national sport organization Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC). We are also a member of the Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (CORA).

STAFF AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

Club staff

Manager Lynda Roberts
Head Coach Mike Robinson

2023 Club Executive Committee

The executive is elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. All Calgary Canoe Club members are eligible to let their names stand for a position. To email the Board please email: canoeclubboard@gmail.com . The Commodore monitors this email. If not replied to in a timely manner you may let the manager know an email has been sent.

Commodore

Mike Leach

Vice Commodore

Jon Ketchum

Treasurer

Ian Lewis

Secretary

Judy Scott

Outrigger Programs

Kristine Malmqvist

Youth / Sprint Programs

Caroline Sangret (interim)

Member at Large

Kurt Middleton

Building

Tracy Quon

CLUB BY-LAWS

OUR HISTORY 

(by John Dicey)

In 1957, a group of us were touring Alberta rivers  using our own canoes and kayaks. Chris Von Schoening had quite a following of Klepper kayaks but most of us had wood and canvas canoes. The spur to forming a canoe club came when we organized the Banff to Calgary race, and in 1958, we registered the Calgary Canoe Club (changed briefly to Calgary Canoe and Kayak Club). We developed races whenever we could with no meeting place except members homes. Initial memberships cost $3. Believe it or not, we lost a few people when we started charging this princely sum.

As years went by, we felt it would make good sense to have a safer spot to train novices in the skills of safe canoeing. I wrote to the Canadian Canoe Association and heard back from their secretary Frank Clement, who suggested we look at flatwater racing. He came by to see Glenmore Reservoir, offered us a loan of $2500 to help us buy original flatwater canoes and kayaks (Chris Von Schoening and I put our names on the line for this first loan), and we progressed from there. Boats were stored in my back yard and we could top them to Glenmore down a track, where the club is now (thought to be Sam Livingston’s access to his farm), through dense bushes to the water.

With a little pressure from home, I approached Harry Bootham, Calgary’s Parks Superintendent, saying we wanted to build a boat house on the shore of the reservoir. He had been most helpful in helping us locate a Rugby Clubhouse at Kingsland, but was not in favor of our locating on the north shore. Instead, he wanted us to locate with the sailors on the south shore. The Rowing Club was forming at the time and Dave Matthews came up with a wind study which showed the sheltered water on the north side.

Dave had spotted an old construction shed near the waterworks building which was full of black filtrate (coal dust). The shed was used when Glenmore Dam was being built in 1930 and was good in frame only. The city had just sold the building to entrepreneur and Dave persuaded the man not to buy it. Then we went to city council to persuade them that we needed the sheltered north shore location. Ron Farran was on the council then, Jack Leslie was the mayor, and with five minutes to speak against the Parks proposal, we carried the day. Bill Wearmouth agreed to move the building, but Harry Bootham came behind us hook, line, and sinker. City Parks bulldozed an area, moved the building and re-furbished it, garage door and all. We determined that one side was for the Canoe Club, the other for the Rowing Club.

Extensions came in Bert Matthews’ day, and with gas and electricity when Ray Palmer became Commodore.  Thereafter we were badgered by on city commissioner to put toilets in at our expense. After pointing out that this was financially impossible, the city decided to look into toilets for the two clubs and the public using the park. A study developed into a plan, from toilets, to toilets with a change room and showers, to the architectural draft we have today. Ray Palmer, Dave Matthews and myself lobbied local politicians and Parks’ Dave Kalinovitch and were successful in getting the fine facilities we have now.

Many people contributed to the club’s progress: Roberts Sims with whitewater, Herb Benthin with wilderness appreciation, Bert Matthews with the flatwater program, and Ray Palmer with political clout and the school board program. No one person does it all, but people working together make a club.