Siska Newsletters

Kayaking Victoria BC

Siska June 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


Saturday, June 06th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Kayakfest and Gear Swap
Saturday, June 06th, 2026 - 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Light Paddle - Cadboro Bay to Caddy Bay Tour Paddle
Sunday, June 07th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Energizer Paddle - Beecher Bay Marina to Iron Mine Bay Paddle
Monday, June 15th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Energizer Paddle - Port Browning on Pender Island Multi-day Camping Paddle
Saturday, June 20th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Telegraph Cove to Margaret Bay Paddle
Sunday, June 21st, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Oak Bay Marina to Ten Mile Point NEW MEMBERS
Saturday, June 27th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM - Energizer Paddle - Fleming Beach to Portage Park
Sunday, June 28th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Brentwood Bay Ferry Wharf to Mackenzie Bight
Sunday, July 05th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM - Energizer Paddle - Whiffin Spit to Cabin Point
Sunday, July 05th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Island View Beach to James Island Circumnavigation NEW MEMBERS Paddle
Sunday, July 19th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Energizer Paddle - Island View Beach to D'Arcy Island Paddle
Sunday, July 26th, 2026 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - Relaxed Paddle - Agate Lane to Margaret Bay Paddle

Kayakfest 2026 and Gear Swap

by Jane Jacek

SISKA Kayakfest Saturday June 6th Cadboro Bay Gyro Beach 9am-3pm

There is still 2 spaces available for the following clinic: Register at president@siska.ca

(for SISKA members only)

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Waitlist being taken for the following :

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No registration required for the following, open to all:

Plus join us for much more:

Come hang out, learn a few things, and connect with your paddling community.

We’ll have free demos, hands-on clinics, and beachside browsing.

Try out a new kayak, chat with experienced paddlers, and pick up tips whether you’re planning your first outing or your next big trip.

Bring your lunch and a mug. Coffee and light snacks provided.

Demos by our members: (9am start)

Gear Swap: (9am-12pm)

Community Displays/Demos

No pressure, no cost — just a great day to learn, explore, and enjoy being around kayaks

Upcoming NON-Siska Events

by Jane Jacek

Ocean Week Victoria

CELEBRATE AND EXPLORE OCEAN WEEK VICTORIA

MAY 30 - JUNE 8, 2026

WORLD OCEAN DAY

SIDNEY CELEBRATION

JUNE 1, 2026 11am-3pm

https://oceanweekcan.ca/events/world-ocean-day-celebration-in-sidney/

BCMT Ocean Week Challenge

Imagine if every one of BCMT's 1500+ members performed a personal beach clean this Ocean Week. Better yet, what if each member submitted a Site Condition Report? Together, our community can have a monumental impact. We’re calling on every BCMT member to join us in this challenge. Are you in?

More Info

2026 Comox Valley Raft-Up

2026 Raft Up Info

Siska June/July/August 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

New SISKA Web & Mobile Site - Coming Soon!

by Konrad Sechley

Ginny Flood, Andrew Cusack, Konrad Sechley

There has been much activity in redesigning the SISKA web site to streamline the database, reduce issues, increase security, and make the site mobile friendly - and all of this work is finally coming to fruition with an anticipated release date at the end of August. Many thanks to Geoff Nicol for the many hours he has put into this project and to Dave O for his continued support of the project and web site.

A presentation introducing the revised SISKA web site was made during SISKA AGM meeting in April and members were encouraged to test the site and provide feedback. This process is ongoing and members are encouraged to test drive the new site both from their home computer and mobile device.

The test site (use your regular log-in ID) can be accessed at: https://v6.siska.ca

The test site is isolated from the main SISKA database, so you can play around with the site without fear of making any alterations to the main data base - sign up for a paddle, become a SISKA member, check out the calendar. If you send out an email it will just go to you and no one else. If you are a paddle leader, set up a paddle and test the various options.

Instructional videos about the revised web site will be available later this summer and will be accessible through the current SISKA web site and the test web site. Once these videos are ready a note will be sent out to the membership.

If you have any suggestions or identify any issues while testing the site please send your comments to: Geoff Nicol and Dave O at: web@siska.ca

Once the web site is officially released in late August any issues with the site should be sent to: web@siska.ca

Many thanks to Geoff and Dave for this effort!

Trip Reports

An Excursion to Capernwray
by Dan Dunaway

Full Report

Kagoagh Lodge, in Hecate Cove, Quatsino Sound
by Rod Stiebel

The Lodge, the Legend.

This place is a Wilderness Wonderland! The Kagoagh Lodge, (pronounced Kay-Oh). Run by Tyler and Gina, it’s a family owned resort, mostly for fishing, but they have graciously opened up the lodge for groups of paddlers the last few years. They can accommodate up to 16 paddlers, in full luxury, with gourmet meals every day, with super attentive staff, including Mac, Gina’s right hand Gal.

The hot tub comes in handy after a long paddle, and pool, table tennis and more await in the grand hall of the resort. Here, you want for nothing, including Bloody Caesars, made by Mac, delish!

This place offers a little bit of everything when it comes to paddling. You can go on the “Wild Side”, as BJ will explain in the first trip, visiting Marble River for some active water play. Or go for the “Mild Side”, where the pace is slower, the tides are lower and the intertidal viewing is unmatched.

You can decide what you like, after you hear our stories..

BJ Porter. The Wild Side May 10 to 14, 2026

The Wild Side Gang

We were a combination of returning and first time guests of Kagoagh Lodge, and as expected Gina and Tyler’s hospitality was kind, skilful and unstinting.

We arranged our own accommodation for the night of May 9th but we met up as a large group to share a meal at the pub at the Kwa'lilas Hotel. That was just for fun but we met briefly after to discuss water taxi and paddling plans. Each subsequent evening we discussed plans for the following day.

Paddling in and out via Quatsino Narrows was fun; we were close to maximum flood and ebb for the days we were there.

There was still more fun to be had on a day trip to the Marble River! There is an infamous grotto that shall henceforward be named The Cave That Swallows Boats, after four SISKA capsizes in three years. It is a right angle turn downstream from an overflowing ‘V’ that is often very high volume and fast.

This year I was one of its hapless victims, playing successfully on the right of the ‘V’ and then helplessly pushed backward into the wall under the overhang when I tried the left hand side. Another paddler, heading downstream, underestimated the strength of the water pushing his boat into that same wall and thought the main flow would take him around safely; not so much. Helmets are now STRONGLY recommended for anyone exploring the Marble River.

We lined our kayaks (with great effort) around the offending ‘V’ only to find a waterfall impeding our travel upstream almost right away. More fun at the base of the falls.

Each paddling day we had a shorter and a longer paddle, which served everyone’s needs admirably. The longest paddle was a circumnavigation of Drake Island.

One wildlife highlight, seen by some lucky folk, was an eagle unable to take flight with a large fish, swimming breast stroke style to shore with it. We saw a number of sea otters, principally in the Marble River estuary where we estimated their numbers as twenty-five plus.

Maybe it’s not such a wild life any more, but we enjoyed really fun evenings showing off the laughable depth of our incompetence in ping pong, pool, chess, darts, and air hockey.

Rod Stiebel. The Mild Side. May 19 to 23, 2026

The Mild Side Gang

We had a compliment of 14 paddlers and my non-paddling assistant, my lovely wife, Andrea, who loves the walks in the woods with Stella, the Lodge Dog, the camaraderie and the scrumptious meals served daily. We had some new folks, and, of course the regulars, like ourselves, who have been going for 3 years now, and a 4th to follow!

Our group also met at Kwa’lillas for dinner the night before our water taxi departure, it is a lovely Indigenous run hotel in Port Hardy, we stayed there also, and would recommend it to anyone. It is only a 20 minute drive from there to Coal Harbour and the water taxi.

We had the lower tides, and could not paddle out this year, as the currents through the narrows were too fast at arrival time. That said, because we had low tides, the wild life viewing was quite rewarding. We did 3 full days of paddling, not including a short one late afternoon on arrival day. A circumnavigation of Drake Island, and visit to Pamphlet Cove and Atkins Cove did not disappoint on all the intertidal life, and yes! The stars are back! Ochre, Leather, Bat and Blood stars galore. We also were treated to number of Sea Otters, and a very curious River Otter in Pamphlet Cove.

The mandatory visit to the Quatsino Village Museum was also accomplished on one of the shorter paddles. We did put in approximately 32nm, or 60 kms. It was easy going as we had lovely weather and almost no winds.

Being the "Mild Side" gang, we had no capsizes, but maybe a few equipment issues, that were easily repaired by the Pit Crew, spear-headed by Gary J. We did have at least one brave soul that took a dip in the Saltchuck, brava Karen! The hot tub did get frequent use, so nice after a long paddle.

Bottom line, if you can, get out there, Gina and Tyler are great hosts, the paddling is super, as is the food and accommodations. There are plans to have a SISKA led group next year, all that is needed is a paddle leader willing to organize and lead a group. If you enjoyed the Broken Group, this will that plus LUXURY. For a peek at what Kagoagh is all about go to: https://www.kagoagh.com/

Stars!

Tips From The Trips

by Debbie Leach

On the Go? Can’t wash that stinky garment? Mist it with a 1:1 solution of vodka and water. Hang to dry. The neutral smelling alcohol evaporates and helps kill odour-causing bacteria.

Camp Cookery

by Lynn Baier

Trail Salad

Thanks to Heather J for sending this Paddling Magazine recipe for trail salad. Looks delicious! I’m going to try it for sure.

https://share.google/rStIX3YMhcVssoABu

Safety Item - Heat Exhaustion

by Sybil Seitzinger

Prepare for—and Avoid—Heat Exhaustion

Summer paddling is some of the best of the year, although with the warmer temperatures heat exhaustion can be a problem. Heat exhaustion is serious, but it’s also very preventable. It can sneak up on you when you mix warm weather, sun, and steady paddling—and a dry suit can intensify the effect. Watch for signs like dizziness, fatigue, heavy sweating, nausea, or a headache—those are your cues to act early and very importantly avoid heatstroke. A little planning, on and off the water, goes a long way in avoiding heat exhaustion and dehydration. Most of this will sound familiar—but it’s worth keeping top of mind before heading out.

A few key things to keep in mind:

Time of day: If you’re organizing your own paddle, aim for earlier or late afternoon starts to avoid peak heat. Many SISKA paddles run right through the warmest part of the day (roughly 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), so plan accordingly and pace yourself.

Hydration: Start hydrating before you launch (or even the night before) and keep drinking regularly—about 300 ml (10 oz) per hour is a good target. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Cold drinks, or adding a bit of diluted juice or sports drink, can make it easier to keep drinking.

Food: Eat before and during your paddle. Snacks that help replace electrolytes—like fruit, nuts, yogurt, or something salty—can make a difference over a long day.

Clothing and sunscreen: Wear light, breathable layers under your drysuit when possible, and bring a hat. Apply sunscreen to exposed skin and reapply regularly.

Cool off: Use the water to your advantage—dip your hands, splash your face, or pour water over your head. A wet cloth around your neck or forehead helps. And if you’re comfortable rolling, that works too.

Seek shade: Take breaks when you can. The shady side of an island or a short shore stop in the shade can help you cool down and reset.

If you experience increasing symptoms of heat exhaustion, alert your fellow paddlers—including the trip leader—right away. Take immediate steps to cool down and rehydrate, as symptoms can quickly progress to life-threatening heatstroke if ignored.

BC Marine Trails News

May 2026 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.

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: