MEC Paddlefest

MEC Paddlefest is an annual paddling festival that takes place during the summer months in major cities across Canada. Hosted by the outdoor equipment consumers' cooperative, Mountain Equipment Co-op, the festival is dedicated to kayaking and canoeing, and other forms of paddling. The event is a one day event in each location except in Toronto, where it is a week-end long event.

While MEC Paddlefest is organized and sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op, it functions as a non-partisan event that features a variety of local and national organizations, from paddling community retailers and manufacturers, to guiding and training services, as well as paddling clubs and non-profit community groups.

Festival Overview

Described as a family event, the festival provides visitors with paddling clinics and workshops for a spectrum of skill levels, as well as the opportunity to try out equipment. MEC Paddlefest is a free event, open to anyone interested in paddlesports. In 2010 a used boat and paddling equipment market was added to the event. In some MEC Paddlefest locations, participants also have the opportunity win prizes.

The types of clinics that are offered at the event include introductory kayaking, the basics of tandem canoeing, assisted kayak rescue, canoe strokes, introduction to stand up paddle boarding, understanding weather, and navigation. Clinics are offered at little or no cost and in most locations require pre-registration as the courses are very popular and sell out quickly. Along with instruction, clinics include the use of a boat, a life jacket and a paddle.

Apart from canoeing and kayaking, the other types of paddlesports that can be found at MEC Paddlefest are Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Voyager Canoes, Dragon Boats, Outriggers, Surf Skis, and Canoe Polo. Some examples of paddle sport companies that have participated in Paddlefest include P&H Kayaks, Current Designs, Evergreen Canoes, MaelstroM Kayaks, Nova Craft Canoes, Kokatat, Teva and Seals Spray Skirts.

Paddlefest Cities

Victoria, BC
Vancouver, BC
North Vancouver, BC
Calgary, Alb
Edmonton, Alb
Toronto, Ont
Barrie, Ont
Burlington, Ont
Ottawa, Ont
Montreal, Que
Quebec City, Que
Halifax, NS

History

MEC Paddlefest was first held in the fall of 2005 in Toronto, on the Toronto Islands. In 2008 the event was expanded to include 12 cities around Canada. The number of attendees at each event location has grown steadily each year.