About Us

In 1993, Annie Boulding, a former paddler with False Creek, founded the Comox Valley Canoe Racing Club. Alongside a small but passionate group of paddlers, the club began with an OC6 canoe borrowed from the Canadian Outrigger Racing Association, and very little additional equipment.

Annie, along with Sarah McLennan, picked up the canoe from the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club and the two carefully transported the 600-pound boat back to Comox on a truck borrowed from Strathcona Park Lodge. Needless to say, it was a slow journey.

For our first home, Sarah arranged to have the canoe reside on a private beach near Little River, close to the Powell River ferry terminal. The paddlers did not yet own a cart, so in the early days it was rolled across small logs down to the water and back, sometimes 100 metres at low tide. It was really a tough day if only five paddlers showed up for practice. At times, the crew would recruit the neighbours to help with the launch. Launching and returning the boat to its resting spot was back breaking work, and at times a harder workout than the paddling itself. We have Tina Clarke to thank for fronting the $350.00 for our first ever cart.

Early on, Jackie Webber hosted a successful technique clinic that sparked increased interest, and before long we had enough paddlers for two crews. In 1995, Don Irvine, a former Olympian and dragon boat coach, started coaching students from Highland school, one of whom—Jonas Hudson—still races with us today.

As the club grew, we faced new challenges, including the need to purchase new boats. Fortunately, members Carol Millar and Tina Clarke stepped up, purchasing new Calmar canoes, which allowed us to expand. As we outgrew our original beach location, we moved to King Coho Resort, where we enjoyed great sets of surfing waves—until the construction of condos forced us to relocate once more. Jackie Bell secured us a new home at Bates Beach, a good spot, but with the winter storms that made for some wild and unforgettable paddling experiences.

Over the years, we’ve had our share of triumphs and setbacks. Notably, the tragic loss of our beloved coach and friend Rick Nu’u, who moved here with his family from Maui, was felt throughout the club. His impact is still felt today, and we continue to honour his memory every time we paddle. In 1995, we hosted our first race at Airforce Beach, which started well but took a dangerous turn when a novice crew’s ama (outrigger) fell off in the middle of the straight, prompting an emergency rescue that diverted the Powell River ferry and required the Coast Guard’s intervention. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the experience led us to pause hosting races for a while.

In the years since, we’ve continued to grow. Laurel Archer, after moving to Comox, used her connections to secure us a compound at Courtenay’s Air Park, providing a perfect base for winter paddling. With the help of club members like Jackie, Laurel, Lyse Fortin, and others, we established a secure area for our canoes, shared with a local rowing club. Today, we store three OC6s, including our original Calmar, along with two Mirages. The location near the launching ramp and amenities like heated washrooms, Comox Valley Kayaks, and the Air Park café has been a huge asset for our club.

Our club now fields men’s, women’s, and mixed racing crews, and we continue to grow, and we are encouraging of young people who wish to try the sport. On Tuesday nights, we’ve opened our small-boat races at Goose Spit to stand-up paddleboarders, surf ski paddlers, and kayakers, fostering a vibrant paddling community.

Despite our small size, our members adventurous and competitive spirits have led them to race globally, from New Zealand and Australia to Hawaii, Europe, the Cook Islands, and even the World Sprints in Rio, Brazil. And, over the years, our Wahines (women’s crew) have been steadfast.

We owe our success to the dedication of our community, generous members, and our fantastic executive team. A special shoutout goes to Steve Butcher, our commodore, whose leadership and positivity have helped us reach new heights. As we look to the future, we see many sunny days and great surfing waves ahead.

Aloha and Mahalo!