SISKA's December 2021 Newsletter. Upcoming events, reports and articles

December 2021 SISKA Newsletter

Introduction

Dear Tony,

Thanks to those members who contributed photos and materials. After enjoying a SISKA event or paddle, please consider sending a short (100-150 words) summary article; for more information, contact one of us. If you would like to start a regular column, please let us know!

Alan Campbell (SISKA president) and Tony Playfair (editor)

PS: You can find SISKA on Facebook at this link.

PPS: Siska has it's own Youtube Channel HERE

PPPS: You can find the SISKA newsletter archive here: http://goo.gl/VUkafR

Upcoming SISKA Events

For more details, go to the SISKA website

Community Events of Interest

These events are not formally supported by SISKA, but considered to be of interest to a significant number of our members.

Any member may request an event to be included in this section by sending a note to chairperson@siska.ca.

Enjoy your Christmas holiday season!

The next SISKA Monthly Meeting will be Wed Jan 26, when we’re really hoping we can hold it in-person. Look for more information on this in early January.

We are thinking of holding a gear exchange/swap/buy-sell at our upcoming January 26th meeting. So if you end up getting to many paddling presents for Christmas or did not get what you wanted, you might do better at our first meeting of 2022 especially if your garage looks like this -

Vaccination Confirmation for All In-Person SISKA Events Required Jan 1/22

by Alan Campbell

Almost 85% of eligible people in BC (age 5+) have now been vaccinated once, and about 82% have been fully vaccinated. The majority of new cases in BC are among those who have either not yet been vaccinated at all or have had just one dose so far.

Although certain regions of BC remain under tighter pandemic restrictions, some restrictions were eased recently in the Island Health Authority, but only for those who are fully vaccinated.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions

To better protect all those attending any SISKA event, confirmation of vaccination status will be required as of January 1, 2022 for members participating in indoor or outdoor SISKA events including courses, paddles, or other group gatherings.

Thanks to the almost 60% of our members who have confirmed their vaccination status so far. Once this has been done, members only need to identify themselves to organizers to participate in club events.

If you have not done so as yet, (1) upload your BC Vaccine Card to the SISKA website Click Here, or (2) email an image of it to standardsandsafety@siska.ca or (3) go to an in-person club event location to have your card scanned manually.

You can have your card scanned at these in-person club event locations (whether participating or not):

Saturday, December 4^th, 9-10 am – Brentwood Bay Ferry Wharf Launch site (Relaxed Paddle)
Sunday December 5^th, 9-10 am – Telegraph Cove Launch site (Energizer Paddle)
Saturday, December 11^th, 9 am - 3 pm - Gyro Park, Cadboro Bay (Xmas Paddle/Luncheon/Party)

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe while participating in SISKA activities!

NOTE: In addition to confirming your vaccination status, you should only attend SISKA events if you can answer NO to each of these questions: In the past 14 days, have you:
1. experienced any symptoms related to COVID-19?
2. travelled outside Canada, and did not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption?
3. had contact with anyone travelling outside Canada who did not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, or experienced symptoms related to COVID-19?
Review requirements to qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller
We strongly encourage all SISKA members to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible to protect yourselves, fellow paddlers, friends, families, and communities.

Zoom events lined up for December

by Lisa Lasagna

The Off Water Clinic Committee has got more Zoom events lined up for December.

Join us Tomorrow Thursday, December 2 for Alan Campbell's presentation of What to Wear Kayaking. Lots of good information and fun to watch.

Edgar Hulatt is presenting two clinics on VHF radios. Thursday, December 16, is VHF Radio for Kayakers. This presentation is limited to 12 registrants, but Edgar will repeat later in the year if there is demand. (Regrettably this clinic had to be rescheduled from December 7th to the 16th).

On Tuesday, December 14, you can join us for a presentation and discussion on Buying a VHF Radio.

Please see the calendar on the SISKA website for more information.

Lisa Lasagna, OWCC

BE A SISKA SEA STAR, ENTER OUR GIFTING TREE DRAW

by Beth Haysom

Send a donation and enter our draw for a chance to win a beautiful driftwood tree decorated with glass sea stars or some delicious Xmas home baking.

Many thanks to everyone who has already donated. There’s still time (up to Dec 11th) to participate in our annual SISKA fundraiser. And now in addition to the beautiful tree, you could also win a tin of yummy Xmas baking.

How to enter? Choose one or more from the list below to donate. Tax receipts are issued for donations of $20 or more.

Then send Beth Haysom a message bethhaysom@shaw.ca or text (778-350-8272) and she will enter your name in our draw.

SANTA’S ANONYMOUS –.
Click on this link https://www.cfaxsantas.com/collections to either buy a gift or send a cash donation for one of the children on their list. You can either drop off gifts at the suggested Santa’s Anonymous drop off points or bring them to the SISKA Gyro Park Xmas party and we’ll deliver them for you. BTW if you need guidance choosing gifts email Beth Haysom for suggestions from the Santa’s Anonymous Wish List.

POWER TO BE –
Says that “being in nature fuels the body, guides the heart and mends the soul.” Right now they need a new kayak, adaptive pontoons and backrests. We can help. So go to their website and click on their donation link. https://powertobe.ca/donate/

OUR PLACE –
Click https://www.ourplacesociety.com/how-you-can-help/donate/ to donate to their Christmas stocking campaign.
Or bring some of the much-needed items such as toiletries, socks, hats, scarves, gloves etc to SISKA’S December 11th Xmas Party at Gyro Park. We’ll have boxes for cash donations too. For each donation we’ll enter your name in the Christmas tree draw.

**************************

The draw for SISKA SEA STAR XMAS TREE and the tins of home baking will take place at the Dec 11 SISKA Xmas party at Gyro Park. Please note you don’t have to be at the party to win. We’ll deliver your prize wherever!

SISKA’S KAYAK SKILLS PARTNERS FOR 2022

by Alan Campbell

Each year SISKA encourages kayaking businesses that offer paddling skills courses in our area to become or remain our partners by offering a discount from their regular prices to our club members.

Although the past couple of years have been very difficult due to the continuing pandemic, we are pleased to have even more businesses partnering with us in 2022!

Partner discounts offered in 2022 are now listed on our website. From the homepage click on the General Interest tab and select SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners, or follow this link:
https://siska.ca/prod/docs_private/siska_docs/siskas_kayak_skills_course_partners.pdf

We recommend you consider patronizing our partner companies listed below:

BC Kayak Centre www.bckayakcentre.com
Blue Dog Kayaking www.bluedogkayaking.com
Cloud 9 Adventures www.cloud9adventures.ca
Dancing with the Sea www.dancingwiththesea.com
Go Kayak www.gokayak.ca
Ocean River www.oceanriver.com
Saturna Kayaking www.kayakingskills.com
www.skils.ca

SISKA Christmas Paddle & Lunch Party! Sat Dec 11 @ Gyro Park

by Alan Campbell

Paddle and return for lunch or come for lunch and enjoy the fun and games!
BYO chair and rain gear - we'll have canopies up and lots to warm your heart!

Morning - Festive Christmas Light Paddle
Follow this link to the paddle description for details and to register to join the paddle:
https://siska.ca/prod/calendar/view-siska-s-calendar/1069
Prizes awarded for best-dressed kayak and paddler!

12:00 - 1:15 Christmas Box Luncheon Social at Gyro Park

1:15 - 2:30 Bring on the Fun and Games!
     Pin the tail on Rudolph the Reindeer!
     Navigate obstacles while carrying an ornament - on a spoon!
     Tell kayak tales or be an appreciative audience for those who do!
     Prizes for feats and yarns, and random (out)door prizes too!

2:30 We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
Music-Meister Ian Haysom will keep us in the holiday mood throughout with his curated musical playlist, and guitarist/vocalist Bob McKechnie will lead us in a Christmas singalong. Then we'll send each other off with a rousing rendition of this popular Christmas song!

Spring Training 2022

by Alan Campbell

SISKA Members,
You’ve heard it before but it is worth repeating!...
We all agree that sea kayaking is a fantastic sport, and Vancouver Island is definitely the best place in the world to paddle! But…in order to enjoy this amazing experience along our ocean shores, each one of us must be well prepared every season to get out there (and back again!) safely.

So, in addition to our great lineup of pool sessions, on-water and off-water kayaking courses already underway or in the works for next year, we have organized, for members only, a terrific series of inexpensive on-water paddling workshops offered by our paddling skills partners - your chance to do some serious “Spring Training” for the warm weather paddling season just ahead! Most workshops launch from the beach at Gyro Park, Cadboro Bay, in Victoria, but other locations are also used as noted.

Beginning in mid-March.....Click HERE to read the full article (Lots of information!)