International recognition for Madawaska Kanu Centre founders

Hermann and Christa Kerckhoff, who founded Madawaska Kanu Centre (MKC) in 1972, were inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF) at Nuremburg, Germany on October 5th during the annual PaddleExpo industry trade show. The Kerckhoffs join other honorees in an esteemed group of 46 of the world’s most accomplished whitewater pioneers, explorers, champions, and advocates. Present to accept the Pioneer Award on behalf of her parents was Claudia Van Wijk with her husband Dirk and daughters Stefani and Katrina. Above from left: Dirk, Katrina, Stefani and Claudia Van Wijk with presenter Klaus Lettmann (photo PaddleExpo Peter Lintner) Claudia and Dirk took over both MKC and OWL Rafting in 1988, and are now transitioning the business to the third generation.

IWHoF describes the Kerckhoffs as suitable honorees in the Pioneer category because they were responsible for Canada’s longest-running whitewater instruction school, the first whitewater management plan guaranteeing whitewater flows, and purchased access to the Ottawa River.

Van Wijk explained how she felt accepting the award, saying:

It was a great honour to be in Nurnberg at Paddle Expo to accept the Pioneer Award on behalf of my parents. And an even greater honour to receive the award from former inductee, Klaus Lettmann, who we have to thank for convincing us to start OWL Rafting – this when he and his wife visited us at MKC after the 1979 Worlds in Jonquiere, QC. They went rafting with WT, and came back saying “You’d be crazy not to start a rafting company — when you already own land at the put in.”

Click below to view Claudia Van Wijk’s acceptance speech:

The Kerckhoffs were inducted with two other honorees in 2019, both in the Advocate category:

  • Joe Pulliam (USA), an outstanding contributor to whitewater as a manufacturer (Perception, Dagger, Jackson Kayak) and supporter of whitewater river stewardship for four decades; and
  • Chris Hawkesworth (UK), early adventurer, early filmmaker, contributor to the development of standards for helmets and other safety equipment, and advocate for whitewater course development through a fifty-plus year period.

The International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) is a program of the American Canoe Association (ACA) and is designed to recognize and celebrate significant contributions to paddlesports. IWHOF is led by an international Board of Governors who hail from various paddling backgrounds. Nominations are sought and submitted through IWHOF Affiliates around the world and screened by an international panel. Each year up to two honorees may be chosen in the categories of Pioneer, Explorer, Champion and Advocate. See past inductees and find more information at www.IWHoF.org

 

Video submitted.

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