MEC Paddlefest Toronto

Paddlefest 2009 was a huge success and a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who participated in this years' festivities. We estimate that over 800 people got out on the water this year, either by taking a class or demoing a boat. Thanks also to our special guests Bryan Smith, Kevin Callan, and Michael Pardy. Paddlefest 2010 will be June 12-13, so mark your calendars. We look forward to seeing you next year.

June 12-13, 2010
at Sunnyside Beach, Toronto

Event Description

Our courses are for all abilities, from introductory to advanced, and are taught by some of North America's greatest paddle sports instructors. Courses are just $5 and include all the gear you need to get on the water.

This is a family event and kids are welcome. MEC Paddlefest has something for every paddler and aspiring paddler, including opportunities to test boats from North America's leading manufacturers.

If it rains we get wet. Unless it's unsafe, we are on the water.

Location

Sunnyside Beach, in Toronto's Western Beaches is on the Southside of Lakeshore Boulevard. Across from where Parkside Drive meets the Queensway. It is accessible by public transit via Routes 501, 508, 80 along the Queensway. It is a five minute walk from the streetcar stop, south under the QEW. By bike, Sunnyside is best accessed along the waterfront trail. There is also ample parking accessible from eastbound lanes of Lakeshore Boulevard.

Map and Directions

Driving directions

Paddlefest 2009 Headliners

Thanks a lot to Kevin and Bryan for offering courses and seminars during the day at Sunnyside and presenting at our Saturday Night Social.

Kevin Callan is the author of twelve books, including his best selling The Happy Camper, his incredibly popular series of paddling guides, and his latest, Wilderness Pleasures: A Practical Guide to Camping Bliss. He presents across North America and has been a key speaker at all the major canoe events for over 20 years. Callan is a frequent guest on radio and television, and a field editor for Explore magazine. He is also a winner of four National Magazine Awards and three film awards. For the last 19 years he has taught Environmental Issues and Sciences at Sir Sandford Fleming College and lives in Peterborough, the birthplace of the modern day canoe.

Kevin Callan                                               Bryan Smith's new DVD

Bryan is an adventure filmmaker and expedition kayaker based out of Squamish, British Columbia. His involvement in the paddling industry spans both the sea and whitewater realms. He built an extensive set of credentials on the sea through the British Canoe Union system, has paddled first river descents around the world and was a co-founder of Body Boat Blade International sea kayaking school.

He shares his passion for kayaking and cinematography with his wife Lise-Anne Beyries, and together they make up Reel H20 Productions. Specializing in kayaking adventure films, they have produced several award winning films. The first in their "Horizons" series, Pacific Horizons: Exploring the Northwest Coast by Kayak won "Best Sea Kayaking Film" at the 2008 Reel Paddling Film festival. It also was a finalist in the 2007 Banff Mountain Film Festival, and an official selection at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. Their documentary 49 Megawatts won "Best Environmental Film" at the 2008 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival and was featured in Toronto's prized Planet In Focus festival.

    View trailer for Eastern Horizons

Our Program

Examples of Workshops