Long-time Yellowknifer Dan Wong is using his love of the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 rivers and lakes to give paddlers new and old the tools to explore the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 plentiful lakes and rivers.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen you're able to canoe and kayak safely, it's like you have a special driving licence to all these private spectacular highways,SA国际影视传媒� said Wong, who owns and operates Jackpine Paddle. SA国际影视传媒淭here are so many places to explore and if you have basic skills and safety and paddling, the possibilities are endless,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

This year, Jackpine will expand to offer seven to nine day sea kayaking tours on the East Arm, which boasts world class fishing, rising cliffs and deep, clear water.

Jackpine is continuing its youth camps for grades three to eight, with four day canoe trips. After experiencing business growth with the youth camps and paddling courses, Wong decided to expand.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e taking folks from Yellowknife, and as far away as Ontario,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

JackpineSA国际影视传媒檚 paddling workshops are open to canoers and kayakers who have never been in a canoe or kayak before, but theySA国际影视传媒檙e also open to individuals looking to expand their skill set.

Jackpine teaches paddlers fundamental strokes and rescues, and how to assist if a canoe capsizes. It also teaches higher level whitewater canoe courses for keeping safe on larger backcountry trips SA国际影视传媒� including how to safely swim in white water and unpin canoes.

SA国际影视传媒淚 get to get on the water with folks that are learning how to canoe or kayak for the first time and help make them better paddlers and safer paddlers so they feel more confident to go on their own adventures,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Wong first learned to paddle on the lakes and rivers of the NWT, and is aiming for greater partnerships with communities whose land encompasses paddling routes.

Jackpine has a permit for the Sahtu, but is looking to grow into canoe tours for the Nahanni, currently monopolized largely by companies from Alberta and Ontario.

Wong hopes to model the tours SA国际影视传媒渋n a way that really connects with the communities and the regions,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's something I think the current operators could do a better job of up here, is having meaningful partnerships with folks in communities of whose land theySA国际影视传媒檙e paddling on,SA国际影视传媒� said Wong.

Future tours could feature a cultural component, directed by what types of partnerships communities are interested in.

Wong is meeting with Tulita and Norman Wells, as well as Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈.

SA国际影视传媒淵ellowknife is a great place to be if you are looking for outdoor adventure on the water,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's really rewarding to have someone that's really nervous about paddling and a bit scared of capsizing and to have them at the end of a one day course to see how confident they are and how much better they can control the boat in wind,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Some of WongSA国际影视传媒檚 favourite rivers are the Mantle River, upstream of Nahanni, and the Keele and Mountain Rivers in the Sahtu.
After graduating university, Wong went on a two-week expedition through the Peel watershed.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was the first truly remote extended trip I had been on. I was just hooked after that and pretty much every single day of vacation time since then for the last decade has been dedicated to exploring new rivers, exploring new lakes and taking paddling courses,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are so many amazing rivers, you could spend several lifetimes exploring them all.SA国际影视传媒�