A Year-End Message From Our Director
Dear Members,
As the year winds to an end and the rivers sleep under a blanket of snow, we trade in paddles for skis and reflect on the incredible season behind us.
2025 was the first full season in our sweet home that now belongs to us – the members and community of Paddler Co-op – and we welcomed a record-breaking 310 youth into our programs, ran 89 courses and shared this newly protected slice of riverside paradise with over 1900 members.
We are grateful to all those who chose to spend time with us this year, being active members of the co-op, especially when times are uncertain and we are unsure of what lies ahead. During these times, places like ours are a grounding and connecting thread that allows us to sit with the uncertainty, but also to celebrate and be grateful for what we have – clean waters, beautiful wilderness, a supportive community to help us laugh, learn, grow and challenge ourselves, at our home away from home.
Thank you for supporting Paddler Co-op through this quieter season (a theme among all paddlesports operators we have connected with), and please continue that support in the new year and season ahead.
It has been a pleasure to lead this organization for the fifth consecutive season as Executive Director and I welcome feedback and your perspective on how you feel our Co-op is doing and the direction we are headed.
We have exciting plans for 2026 like facility improvements, a new pilot youth program, more live entertainment and gatherings, and refined program and course offerings to better serve you. Planning for our next phase of fundraising begins next year, to preserve our riverside base and access point and work towards our vision of a land trust for permanent, secure river access for generations to come. Stay tuned for more details on the exciting changes in the new year!
To foster community and connection during the off-season, we’ll be at the Hamilton Adventure Expo on January 24-25, 2026, and the Toronto Outdoor Adventure show Feb 20-22, 2026, hoping to see you in person this winter. Please come say hi 🙂
May the holiday season bring you and your family peace, joy, and play, cherished time with loved ones, and time to dream up your next paddling adventure in Ontario or beyond.
With Love and Gratitude,
Ryan