Siska August 2026 Newsletter

August 1, 2026

Introduction
Convenient Links
SISKA Partners- Join Mailing Lists
Upcoming SISKA Events
Siska Monthly Meeting Agenda
Monthly Meeting Location
Upcoming Paddle Canada Course Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills for SISKA Members
Upcoming Raft-Up Combined Event Sept 15-16
Closure of the Gorge waterway (at the Selkirk Trestle) in August
Trip Reports
Kayaking In Ireland
Tips From The Trips
Camp Cookery
Safety Item
BC Marine Trails News
SISKA's Kayak Lodge Partner Offerings
SISKA's Kayak Skills Course Partners

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

Siska Monthly Meeting Agenda

by Fred Pishalski

No Meetings until September. See you on the water!

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

Upcoming Paddle Canada Course Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills for SISKA Members

by Jo Nicolson

Coaches Jo Nicolson and Michael Egilson are offering PC Level 2 on two September weekends: September 12-13, and 19-20, 2026. This course includes one night of camping September 19. Building on the skills developed in Level 1, Level 2 refines existing skills and adds new ones allowing the paddler to handle more challenging sea conditions with comfort and confidence. If interested or for more information, email Jo at jnicolson13@shaw.ca or Michael at michael.egilsson@gmail.com.

Upcoming Raft-Up Combined Event Sept 15-16

by Jane Jacek

2026 Comox Valley Raft-Up

2026 Raft Up Info

Closure of the Gorge waterway (at the Selkirk Trestle) in August

by Marika Stephenson / Edmond Duggan

Info Here

More Info From BC Hydro

We've posted our latest project community project construction report, and the July report covers the project’s status and construction activities along the cable route with a focus on Banfield Park, Viaduct Park and the mainly the Gorge Waterway.

Report link:

https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/projects/victoria-cable-replacement/victoria-esquimalt-construction-report-15-2026jul24.pdf

Please note the Gorge Waterway marine closure, on the west side of the Selkirk Trestle, is tracking to begin August 17. A media notice will be issued in advance of the closure. Rogers TV just posted a story that was filmed on Wednesday that covers the Gorge Waterway work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpYylSYkmec&t=1s

These project community construction reports are issued each month. Please forward to others who may be interested. The project website is regularly updated and is at www.bchydro.com/victoriatoesquimalt. The next monthly report is planned to be issued around August 31.

The Galloping Goose Regional Trail detour route may shift around the end of August. Please see this City/CRD postcard PDF on the detour route and please follow https://www.crd.ca/rtwl.

Any questions please let me know. Please note I will be on holiday after today and will be returning August 4.

Thank you for your ongoing patience on this project.

I have also included below a project notice that I issued on Wednesday on the Victoria to Saanich Cable Replacement Project. A very similar project though more than two times the cable length. If you would like to be added to that distribution list please let me know. You can also follow the project web page.

Regards, Stephen

Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Lead
Capital Projects
Steve.watson@bchydro.com
1-250-616-9888

BC Hydro: Victoria to Saanich Cable Replacement Project - investigative work along 7.4 km route begins the week of August 4

Hello everyone,

Please see link to the media notice, issued this morning, on the upcoming investigative work on Interurban Rd, Burnside Rd, Alpha St, Douglas St, and Summit Ave:

https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2026/victoria-saanich-cable-upgrade.html

The media notice is located on the project web page, and some project information has been updated:www.bchydro.com/victoriatosaanich. It includes a new project map with the existing cable route and the replacement cable route:

https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/projects/victoria-cable-replacement/victoria-saanich-cable-project-map.pdf

There will be some in-person and virtual project open houses this fall. Dates to be announced. We will begin project updates going forward, including on how the investigative work is progressing.

If interested, feel free to check out the monthly construction reports, posted since early 2024, on the website for the Victoria to Esquimalt Cable Replacement Project:

https://www.bchydro.com/victoriatoesquimalt.

We’re aiming to have that new cable in-service this November.

Any questions let me know. Jason Macnaughton will be working with me on communications and community engagement on this project, with a focus on the work within the District of Saanich. His contact info is on the website. Please note I will be away end of day July 24 and returning August 4.

Regards, Stephen

Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Lead Capital Projects Steve.watson@bchydro.com
1-250-616-9888

Trip Reports

A Death-Defying Passage Through Hole In The Wall

by Dan Dunaway

Full Report

Island View to D'Arcy Island

by Marika Stephenson

Nine paddlers ventured out to D'Arcy Island from Island View Beach and won the lottery by having the most perfect calm waters throughout the day. This paddle is one of the most challenging to organize due to sea state conditions that can quickly deteriorate for the long 3nm crossing. Let's hope we can organize another paddle out to this magical area soon!

Sea Otter Lodge - July 20-24, 2026

by Debbie Leach

Gliding past colourful ochre sea stars and giant green anemones; pausing to watch sea otters in the middle distance. And calling ‘whale!’ as a humpback meandered through the islands near the lodge. Just another memorable day of glamping in Kyuquot Sound.

Last year Jane Jacek had learned about Sea Otter Lodge and went there with the “Salish Salties” group of paddlers. This July she organized a return trip with Gary, their friend Heather from New Zealand, and nine friends.

The group met at Fair Harbour which is a 1¾ hour drive on a decent gravel road off the Island Highway. Some of us stopped for lunch in Zeballos enroute. After unloading on the dock at Fair Harbor we parked in the overflow lot close to the campground. The trip to Sea Otter Lodge (on Kon Tiki Island near Kyuquot) took about 30 minutes - in two Voyager water taxis driven by Leo Jack and his daughter Trinity. We were greeted by owners Skip and Susan who showed us around the Lodge. The couples took the 4 bedrooms on the main floor and 4 solo women shared the upper floor bedroom with its ensuite and deck. Although the Lodge had WIFI and was well-appointed, we had to shower one-at-a-time to ensure no cold shocks - so we employed a shower stick and ‘passed the baton’. It was cozy seating 12 of us around the dining table; the great room or shady back deck were useful for paddle planning. If we’d had a rainy day there would be plenty of books and DVD’s to keep us busy. The walk around the island was a pleasant 8 minute circuit through the woods.

We had light winds for 3 days and the last one was overcast with less than 10 knots wind. Low tides at mid day made for easy launching from the cobble beach down from the Lodge and dock. Gary and Jane lead paddles after group decision-making the previous evening. We were on the water by 9 a.m. and typically back by 2 pm to avoid afternoon winds.

Gary’s tracks summarized our routes. We experienced SW swell and had a few long crossings.

Monday we paddled to Spring Island for lunch and a chance to explore the campsite, conduct a Site Condition Report for BC Marine Trails, hike to the abandoned radar station and basketball court as well as collect marine debris.(Red line, 8.1 NM) Challenges included SW swells and longer crossings.

Tuesday's route was to Union Island and an exploration of Kyuquot Bay where we ate lunch at an abandoned campsite on a rocky shore. (Yellow-green line, 9.7 NM).

Wednesday's shoreline paddle took us to McLean Island. On the way back we pulled in below the dock in Kyuquot (used by the Uchuck) , shopped at the store and walked 10 minutes along the shore but knew the restaurant at Kyuquot Inn wasn’t open til 4:30. Some of us ventured into McKay Cove where we spied a black bear grazing. (Turquoise line, 10.1 NM)

Thursday’s route was up Crowther Channel (with traffic signs posted in the trees) to Surprise Island. (Dark blue line, 8.7 NM] Be careful, since power boats zip up and down this channel!

Paddlers brought their own breakfasts and lunches and 4 pairs took turns preparing dinners. Jaceks provided appies featuring local salmon and cheeses with baklava and chocolate for dessert..

Our group shared good times and tasty meals as well as fond memories and photos/tracks. We learned that Nanaimo Paddlers would be staying the next week. They return often and SISKA members should take advantage of this opportunity to experience the west coast and relax in comfort at Sea Otter Lodge.

Kayaking In Ireland

by Norm Smyth / Vic Turkington

While in Ireland in July, Norm Smyth met John Vance, a very accomplished sea kayaker and past president of the Causeway Coast Kayaking Association. This club has 77 members plus spare kayaks and gear, and is partnered with SISKA to assist club members do kayaking trips in each other’s waters.

https://ccka.co.uk/newsite/

Vic Turkington is SISKA’s point of contact. Anyone wanting to do some kayaking in Ireland should contact Vic (victorturkington@gmail.com) who has maps and documents to lend you and has the contact information for CCSA’s John Vance.

Tips From The Trips

by Debbie Leach

TAKE A BOW. Line, that is. Keeping a line on your bow makes it easy to tie up onshore, launch or land your kayak from a dock, line through shallows and tie down on your car.

Camp Cookery

by Lynn Baier

Cold Soak Salad

Of the many cold soak salad recipes out there, this one especially appeals to me. Very nice for a summer lunch.

https://www.backpackingchef.com/zesty-apple-bulgur-cold-soak-salad.html

Safety Item

by Sybil Seitzinger

Marine Radios: "Line of Sight" Really Matters

So, everyone has a marine radio and operator's certificate now, right? …And you always carry your radio when you're on the water? Great! We all know VHF marine radios work only in line of sight. But it's surprising how little land it takes to block the signal. Picture this: you're paddling with a buddy along the coast. You look up and they're gone. You call them on the agreed Channel 69 for communication—no response. You try again a few minutes later. Still nothing. Why are they not responding? You imagine the worst (e.g., flipped over; couldn’t self-rescue and have drifted out of sight). You search ahead and behind, but there's no sign of them or their kayak. As 20–30 minutes pass, you're beginning to wonder whether it's time to call the Coast Guard.

Then your buddy finally appears, paddling around a small headland just across the bay. What happened? The headland blocked the radio signal. Your buddy had been calling you too and was searching but in the opposite direction from you, and neither of you was within line of sight. When they couldn't reach you, they retraced their route to the last place they'd seen you—and eventually found you.

Of course, we all know we should stay within line of sight—but sometimes the unexpected happens. The next time you're out paddling, try an experiment. Have one paddler remain in place while the other disappears behind a point of land, staying in radio contact until the signal is lost. You may be surprised how little rock or shoreline it takes to block a VHF transmission. Understanding your radio's limitations can help prevent unnecessary worry—and perhaps save an embarrassing call to the Coast Guard.

BC Marine Trails News

July Newsletter

SISKA's Kayak Lodge Partner Offerings

by Jane Jacek

Want to explore the West coast of Vancouver Island by kayak and stay in top notch accommodation?

The following lodges are offering discounts to SISKA members. Members can view full details of the current offerings by logging in to our website clicking on Members, then Documents. Then go to Resource Info and click on SISKA Kayak Lodge Partner Offerings.

Sea Otter Lodge

Sea Otter Lodge is a secluded private island retreat in Kyuquot on the Wild West Coast of Vancouver Island perfect for groups ranging in size from 2-12 people. Come & discover British Columbia's most untouched wild coastal region.

Kagoagh Resort and Fishing Lodge

Welcome to Kagoagh Resort and Fishing Lodge, a unique coastal retreat just a 20 minute boat ride from Coal Harbour on the rugged northwest coast of Vancouver Island. It features eight spacious guest rooms. Come and discover this remarkable and remote part of the coast.