Ontario Youth Paddle the Rouge
With the Premier!

On Father’s Day CPAWS Wildlands League welcomed more than 150 paddlers to Paddle the Rouge, including 130 kids ranging in ages from 5-18 who enjoyed free paddling lessons and a paddle.  Our 4th Annual Paddle the Rouge rose above the flood waters to become a huge success!

We were honoured to have the Premier of Ontario and the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change lead the way. Read more here and in the Toronto Star here.

Everyone knows the Premier is a runner but did you also know she is an avid paddler?

And all that extra paddling helped inch Rouge even closer to completion because one day later, Bill C-18 received Royal Assent, officially amending the Rouge National Urban Park legislation. This means Ecological Integrity will be the first priority in managing Rouge National Urban Park.

Thank you Minister!

Paddle the Rouge a charitable fundraiser, intended to inspire the next generation of champions for Rouge and all of Canada’s irreplaceable wilderness areas.

This year we enhanced the day for families by adding fun activities with a focus on different ways you can connect with nature.  We had face painters with animal themes, Parks Canada’s Learn to Camp, Captain Sunshine (a Blanding’s Turtle, from the Adopt-A-Zoo program at Toronto Zoo), cultural programming from the Métis Nation of Ontario, live music, Fly tying, learning about watershed and so much more. More than 70 volunteer supported the day, making it our biggest and best event ever!