Sylvia Grinnell produces new generation of kayakers

The first week of July was an exciting one for a group of young Nunavummiut who had the opportunity to learn from and take part in the Canadian National Whitewater Kayaking Championships held on the Madawaska River in Ontario.

Congratulations to the members of the Frobisher Bay Kayaking Club and the Nunavut Paddling Association, who put together this trip with the help of numerous sponsors and the generous donations of many of your readers.

As a former longtime resident of Nunavut and a Canadian National Kayak Team member, I am very proud to have worked with these youth and their mentors – they worked hard and demonstrated considerable skill and determination.

Many of these youth have the potential to move well beyond their current skills and might even see themselves representing Nunavut and Canada at ever higher levels of the sport.

Like these youth, I began my kayaking career on the Sylvia Grinnell River. I am encouraged to see the river producing a new generation of paddlers who are learning to enjoy and respect their environment.

As the first Nunavummiut to represent the new territory at a National kayaking event, these youth are to be congratulated.

They represented Nunavut well and impressed all of the participants at this event. They can all be proud of their accomplishments. Good luck in the future, and keep on paddling!

Tim Stuempel
Ottawa (formerly of Iqaluit)
timstuempel@rogers.com