Siska Newsletters

Kayaking Victoria BC

Siska April 2026 Newsletter

Introduction

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, newsletter@siska.ca . If you would like to start a regular column, please let us know!

Jane Jacek (SISKA president) and Tony Playfair (editor)

Convenient Links

SISKA on Facebook

Siska's Youtube Channel

Siska's Newsletter Archive - Mailchimp or Siska Newsletters Website

List of all stewardship fees

Rocky Point Demolition Blasting Notices

SISKA Partners- Join Mailing Lists

by Jane Jacek

To receive regular emails and newsletters from our kayak partners, in which you will read about courses/clinics they are offering and possible club member discounts, please follow this link.

Upcoming SISKA Events


Friday, April 03rd, 2026 - 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Baynes Fun
Saturday, April 04th, 2026 - 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Kayak Surfing for Beginners
Saturday, April 04th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Spirit Bay to Aylard Farm Paddle
Saturday, April 04th, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Forward Strokes Session
Sunday, April 05th, 2026 - 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Current Clinic
Sunday, April 05th, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Introduction to Rescues
Tuesday, April 07th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM - Greenland strokes
Tuesday, April 07th, 2026 - 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM - Turning Strokes with Greenland paddle
Wednesday, April 08th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM - Edging & Bracing
Wednesday, April 08th, 2026 - 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM - Self and assisted rescues
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Telegraph Cove to Margaret Bay Paddle
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM - Manoeuvring and Turning Strokes
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Currents at Tillicum Bridge
Sunday, April 12th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Energizer Paddle - Amherst to Portland Island Paddle
Sunday, April 12th, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Advanced Re-Entries
Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM - Greenland strokes
Thursday, April 16th, 2026 - 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Intro to Tripping in Currents - Race Rocks
Saturday, April 18th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Energizer Paddle - Cooper Cove to Roche Cove/Anderson Cove Paddle
Saturday, April 18th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Willows Beach to Intertidal Exploration Paddle
Saturday, April 18th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM - SECOND Kayak Repair Clinic
Monday, April 20th, 2026 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Forward Stroke
Monday, April 20th, 2026 - 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Fun at Trial
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 - 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM - Baynes Fun
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 - 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM - Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Underwater Composure
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Rescue Scenarios
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM - Underwater Composure
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Staying Found: Fixing your Location on a Chart
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 - 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM - Chart and Navigation (In-Class and On-water)
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Island View Beach to James Island Circumnavigation NEW MEMBERS Paddle
Sunday, April 26th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Energizer Paddle - Amherst to Rum Island Paddle
Sunday, April 26th, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Go Tarp 101 – On Land
Thursday, April 30th, 2026 - 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Fun at Trial
Saturday, May 02nd, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Intro to Greenland Strokes
Sunday, May 03rd, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Greenland Paddle 2: Edging and Turning
Sunday, May 03rd, 2026 - 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Rolling Euro-style
Sunday, May 03rd, 2026 - 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Rolling: Greenland style
Friday, May 08th, 2026 - 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM - Currents at Tillicum Bridge
Saturday, May 09th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Energizer Paddle - Moses Point to Russell Island Paddle
Saturday, May 09th, 2026 - 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Refining Strokes and Towing
Sunday, May 10th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Greenland Paddle 3: Paddling with Stability:
Sunday, May 10th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Relaxed Paddle - Telegraph Cove to Margaret Bay NEW MEMBERS Paddle
Sunday, May 10th, 2026 - 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Wet Exits and Re-entries
Monday, May 11th, 2026 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Edging and Bracing (The Grey Zone)
Monday, May 11th, 2026 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Beginner and Intermediate Re-Entries:
Saturday, May 16th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Intro to Rock Gardening - Port Renfrew
Saturday, May 16th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Willows Beach to Intertidal Exploration Paddle
Sunday, May 17th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Rolling for Beginners
Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM - Energizer Paddle - Oak Bay Marina to Discovery Island
Sunday, May 24th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Brentwood Bay Ferry Wharf to Mackenzie Bight
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Monthly Meeting

Upcoming Non-Siska Events

by Jane Jacek

MERS - Marine Education and Research Society

https://mersociety.org/

Whale Safe Boating Course Free Online course for boaters (motorized and non-motorized)

A free, online course about safer vessel operation around marine mammals.

https://courses.mersociety.org/courses/whale-safe-boating

It also has a free, supplemental add-on that is an overview of marine mammals and other large marine vertebrates in BC.

Siska 2026 AGM Elections

by Jane Jacek

SISKA is a volunteer-run organization. We have no paid staff and our many activities continue due to the shared enthusiasm and skills of our membership. Thank you!

SISKA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is happening on Wednesday April 22, 2026 and we want to share with you some interesting volunteer opportunities. Please consider how you can contribute to the wealth of skills training, kayak paddling, and fun that we have together.

Executive positions available - Our bylaws state that no one can serve more than four consecutive years in any one position on our Executive, unless the membership agrees to extend the term of office at a SISKA general meeting.

Secretary - Our secretary, Lisa Lasagna , will be finishing her second 2-year term. This position will be taking nominations at the AGM. If you wish a job description please contact our president.

Thank you to Lisa for her dedication and commitment to SISKA over the past 4 years as Secretary.

Treasurer - Our treasurer, Heather Thompson, will be completing her first 2-year term. She has kindly agreed to stand for reelection, for another 2 year term,

Member-at-large - Member at large, Konrad Sechley, will be completing his first 2-year term. He has kindly agreed to stand for reelection, for another 2 year term.

How to Run For Office - Any SISKA member can run for one of these positions. You can be nominated or nominate yourself, up to and including at the AGM. Even if you cannot attend that night, you can run by having someone nominate you and indicating in advance (e.g. by email) that you are willing to stand.

Finally, a gentle reminder to renew your SISKA membership for 2026 so that you can vote at the April AGM!

Siska April Monthly Meeting Agenda

by Fred Pishalski

SISKA 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

7:00pm April 22, 2026

Beyond the Beaten Path: The Northwest Territories by Kayak and Canoe

with Hannah Goodings
Marketing Director, Jackpine Paddle
Yellowknife, NWT

The Northwest Territories offers some of North America's most remote and pristine wilderness paddling experiences. This presentation will cover the diverse paddling regions across the Northwest Territories, from legendary tundra rivers that cross into the Arctic Circle to the vast waters and towering cliffs of Great Slave Lake. Join Jackpine Paddle guide Hannah Goodings as she shares what makes paddling in Canada's North unique and a must-have on every paddler's bucket list.

Hannah Goodings is an experienced canoe and sea-kayak guide and instructor with Jackpine Paddle in Yellowknife, NWT. She spends summers guiding sea-kayaking and whitewater canoe expeditions on remote waterways across the North, and winters in Whitehorse, Yukon as Jackpine Paddle's Director of Operations and Outreach. After growing up in Ontario on the shores of Georgian Bay, her drive to spend as much time as possible outside led her first west, then north — where there are endless rivers to paddle, mountains to ski and trails to bike.

Monthly Meeting Location

by Jane Jacek

The location is the Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria, formerly known as First Unitarian Church of Victoria. Address: 5575 West Saanich Road Victoria, BC

Map

Monthly Meeting Presenter Coordinator Job

by Jane Jacek

Fred Pishalski, who has been our monthly meeting presenter coordinator for many years, has informed us that he will be stepping down from this position as of December 2026.

Job Description:

Is this a volunteer position you would be interested in assuming, either on your own or working with others as a team?

If so, please contact me at president@siska.ca

Thank you,
Jane

Save The Date - Kayakfest 2026 - June 6th

by Pat Hill

2026 RaftUp in the Comox Valley - Sept 15/16

by Jane Jacek

Information

Help Wanted For KayakFriendly

by Beth Haysom

Kayak Friendly Lodging is a website for paddlers wanting to explore Vancouver Island area staying in comfortable lodgings with food available. Now the team responsible for the website is looking for some Springtime assistance.

In the short term we need people to help check the current listings. It’s easy. Just a quick phonecall or email to our lodgings hosts. The bonus is that you’ll find out about all the cool places to stay around our coast. You may even decide you want to join the team.

For more information please contact Norm Smyth nrasmyth@gmail.com or Jim Lamb jamesslamb@gmail.com

First Siska On Water Course Report - 2026

by Elizabeth Purdon

The bright but chilly morning of January 24 saw 3 intrepid SISKA kayakers and two instructors (Jennie Sutton assisted by Elizabeth Purdon) on the beach by 8:00 AM for the first SISKA on water course of 2026. After a short session on land, we headed from Gyro beach to Cadboro Point for learning and fun in the currents. We stopped on the way out to practice low brace turns. Students gradually got the feel of crossing the current, ferry glides and entering and exiting the eddies. Some were even surfing on the small waves by the end of the session. Everyone stayed dry and had fun on this beautiful January day!

Wind Trap

by Gary Jacek

As I write this we are expecting strong wind in Victoria this coming Wednesday.

With the wind generally from the west, one of our go to locations is in the lee along the Gordon Head coastline which runs generally south to north, from Telegraph Bay to Margaret Bay.

This coastline is mostly made up of high banks and cliffs which shield paddlers from westerly winds. The one exception being a gap at Queen Alexandra where wind may accelerate through the gap. (Gap Wind)

However, there is a hidden hazard here that paddlers should consider. This route selection under these conditions also sets up a “Wind Trap”

If you examine the two screenshots below, you can see our planned route from location “0” through “6”, plus a return along the same route.

The corresponding wind prediction is 20 knots WSW. And it is pretty clear that the wind will be coming over the top of the high banks and cliffs.

It takes some distance for the wind to descend back to water level. You will see evidence of this close to shore, in the form of “cat paws”—gentle disturbances on the water.

Farther away from shore you will see waves begin to form as a result of the strong wind. Since the waves will be moving away from you, you won’t see the wave height or any breaking waves.

From your vantage point the conditions appear to be benign. And this is the “Wind Trap”.

If you paddle close to shore, you are in a protected apron of water. On the other hand, if you paddle farther from shore into areas where waves are beginning to form and the wind is stronger, you may not recognize you are getting into trouble. Once you are past the point where you can paddle into the wind and make headway back to shore, the offshore wind will carry you out into ever larger waves, then breaking waves and ever stronger wind. Eventually the worsening conditions exceed your ability to stay upright.

So the lesson here for SISKA trip participants is to listen carefully to your trip leader regarding expected wind and wave conditions.

And if you trip leader tells you to keep close the shore, it may be because they have recognized a Wind Trap and they want you safely tucked in.

Tips From The Trips

by Debbie Leach

Avoid the crowds. When you are planning a multi-day paddling trip, check to see if guided groups might be looking for the same camp spots. Google “guided kayak tours” for the area you want to visit to learn when they will be in the same area.

Camp Cookery

by Lynn Baier

Nut Bars

I really like the Kirkland nut bars, and thought that they would be easy enough to duplicate, so here is my recipe and product. I sifted through a few recipes and came up with my own version, which I’m pretty pleased with.

Mix together eight cups of nuts and add -ins. I used whole almonds, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Alternatives might include coconut, peanuts, hazelnuts, raisins or cranberries. I mixed the whole lot together with one cup of maple syrup. I lined an 11” x 17” baking pan with parchment paper that was also sprayed with vegetable oil (Pam). The mixture was spread evenly throughout the pan and pressed down as best I could. I baked it for 40 minutes at 320 F. (Next time I’ll only give it 35 minutes, as I felt they were a bit overcooked). I melted about a cup of dark chocolate chips and spread them on the bottom of the bars after carefully turning them over. When they were completely cool I cut them into bars. There were a few crumbly bits after I cut them, which I just put in with my breakfast granola mix. I hope you enjoy this recipe.

Safety Item

by Sybil Seitzinger

Shake Off Winter: Time for Your Kayak Check-Up

Whether you’ve been paddling all winter or are just emerging from hibernation and looking ahead to some great spring outings, now is the perfect time to give your kayak a thorough inspection and a bit of maintenance. A little attention now can make a big difference in performance, safety, and enjoyment on the water.

Spring Tune-Up Checklist – the basics:

If your kayak has a rudder, there are several helpful maintenance videos available online that walk through the process step-by-step— find one that matches your setup. Well worth a check and maintenance before your first trip of the season.

And don’t forget to check the kayak rack on your car (all attachments and straps).

Yes, you know all the above…..so just do it!

Sybil Seitzinger
SISKA Safety Coordinator

BC Marine Trails News

March Newsletter

Kayak Accommodation Partner - Sea Otter Lodge

by Jane Jacek

Sea Otter Lodge welcomes all SISKA paddlers with a 10% discount on custom lodge rentals. Comfortably accommodating 10–12 guests.

Learn more and book your trip:

https://www.seaotterlodgebc.com

SISKA's Kayak Skills Course Partners

There are some fine discounts available from our kayak skills course partners for SISKA members who sign up for their skills training programs.

Our partners are: