Humans have been travelling British Columbia’s waterways by paddlecraft since time immemorial. Coastal First Nations carved ocean-going canoes from western red cedar to navigate the Salish Sea, while Indigenous Peoples throughout the Interior crafted boats from birch bark, willow, and other natural materials to travel rivers and lakes. Today, a new initiative is celebrating that rich paddling heritage while inspiring residents and visitors alike to experience the province’s waterways for themselves.
Launched this week, Paddle BC is a collaboration between paddling organizations and tourism partners across British Columbia, including Fishing BC. The initiative has two primary goals. First, it aims to promote British Columbia as one of the world’s premier paddling destinations. With more than 25,000 kilometres of Pacific coastline, thousands of rivers and streams, and more than 20,000 lakes spread across a landmass larger than France and Germany combined, BC offers an unmatched diversity of paddling experiences.
The initiative’s second goal is to promote safe paddling by connecting visitors with trusted local experts, businesses, clubs, associations, outfitters, accommodations, and tourism organizations. Paddle BC also features trip ideas, recommended waterways, and educational articles designed to help paddlers safely discover why British Columbia is one of the world’s great destinations for exploring by water.
Paddle BC was created by Andrea Ryman, Marketing Director for Destination Castlegar, co-owner of Endless Adventure Rafting & Kayaking, and a certified stand-up paddleboard instructor. The initiative is proudly supported by Destination British Columbia and draws on the expertise of partners including the BC River Outfitters Association, Tourism Kamloops, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism, Tourism Fernie, Fishing BC, Tourism Squamish, Indigenous Tourism BC, and Tourism Golden.
“I love to paddle everything, from lakes and rivers to the ocean, and whenever I travel my paddleboard comes with me,” says Ryman. “After working in tourism for more than 15 years, I noticed that fishing and mountain biking had become major drivers of adventure tourism in BC. With so many incredible waterways throughout the province, creating Paddle BC felt like the natural next step in showcasing British Columbia’s outdoor playground.”
Visitors to PaddleBC.ca can explore the province through three primary categories: regions, waterways, and paddling experiences. Experiences include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and kayak fishing. Waterways range from lakes and rivers to the Pacific Ocean, while destinations span six regions: Kootenay Rockies, Thompson Okanagan, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Northern BC, Vancouver Island, and Vancouver, Coast & Mountains.
