Mother/daughter team Claudia and Stefi Van Wijk recently announced that Madawaska Kanu Centre is open for the season. This year there are some changes because of COVID-19 but whether you want a rafting experience or expert paddling instruction, you’ll find it at MKC.
As soon as the province gave the green light, MKC began the season with certification courses for industry professionals. Also open is the Riverside Café serving Madawaska Coffee, homemade pastries and panini sandwiches – you can sit on the deck or walk to the rivers’ edge and catch a glimpse of a kayak or canoeist paddle by while sipping your favourite beverage.
Two-hour raft trips on the Madawaska from July 6th cater only to “social bubbles.” A private group of at least four can have their own raft, steered by the skilled guide two metres away at the stern and/or wearing a mask. MKC offers just two trips a day to accommodate the additional cleaning and disinfecting protocols between trips.
Regular week-long paddling courses start July 13th and run Monday to Friday each week, for all skill levels in both whitewater kayak and canoe.
Referring to the period of lockdown, both women said they were optimistic all along about opening some form of whitewater recreation on the Madawaska this season. Stefi added, “But, this was not the year to be the leader. Instead, we have watched, listened and analyzed what others around the world were doing to follow COVID protocols.”
During the long wait this spring, the MKC team was not idle. Instead in true paddler spirit they ran an online #CouchSurfing contest with MKC Gift Certificates as prizes for the most creative, fun photos of paddlers. Entries ranged from bathtubs to hot tubs to garden slides to pickup trucks … you get the idea. Stefi said on Facebook, “We want to thank EVERYONE that participated. We had the most fun ever with this one.”
“This summer sends me back to 1970 when we first began – only running rafting and paddling courses in July and August, during the week when the river flowed,” recalled Claudia. “I was just ten years old, when my parents came up with this amazing idea of choosing the Madawaska Valley which in turn has turned into a whitewater mecca. As weekends were our free time, I remember exploring the area from hiking to paddling to jumping off bridges and making new local friends. Fifty years later, it’s our time to invite the local community to explore their own back yard, and we hope it will include dropping in on River Road.”
Photo MKC