GUIDES: Certification: 2008 Spring Exchange

Certification, training, mentorship and more... for SKGABC guides.

SKGABC News

• 2008 Spring Exchange - Victoria, BC
  The spring exchange will be held April 18-20th, 2008 in Victoria, BC.  The exchange will be hosted by Ocean River Sports. More info
  
  
• Class 4 Waters Endorsement
  The SKGABC has recently created a new endorsement that allows guides to work in class 4 waters. More info
  
  
• Sea Kayaking BC Study
  The SKGABC and Tourism BC teamed up with Malaspina to create an extensive study on the sea kayaking sector in BC. Please log into the members section to access the full report.
  
  
• 2008 Exam Dates
  Spring 2008 Level 2 and 3 exam dates are now posted. Please click here for dates and locations
  
  
• Risk Management Session.   At the Spring 2007
  Egmont exchange, David Lecovin presented a session on current issues in Risk Management and legal liability. Click here to download the notes from David's session. At the Spring 2008 exchange in Victoria, David Lecovin will present a follow-up session on Legal Liability and Risk Management.
  
  
• SKGABC Executive Elections 2007 and AGM - more info here
  
  
• The Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC is now able to take credit card and debit payments for membership and exams through Paypal.  Once you fill out the form here you will be directed to the secure Paypal website where you can make payments to SKGABC.
  
  
• Uclulet Provincial Court finds a non-SKGABC sea kayaking company guilty of operating without a permit in the Broken Group Islands
  Click here for more details.
  
  
• SKGABC Certified Guides Page now on the website
  A listing of guides who have asked to have their name, certification level and date of certification is now on the SKGABC website. You can view the pages here. If you have been certified by the SKGABC and would like to have your name and certification level listed on the website please contact info@skgabc.com
  
  
• SKGABC Members Page
  The SKGABC has a new members only section on our website. Access to this page is restricted to members of the SKGABC. All members in good standing of the SKGABC will receive login information via email March 3, 2006
  
  
• Changes to the SKGABC Guide Certification Levels
  The SKGABC has made several changes to our certification levels. Level One Guide certification replaces Day Guide. Assistant Overnight Guide certification replaces Assistant Guide Certification. Level Two Guide certification is a new level. Level Three Guide certification replaces Full Guide certification. More Information.
  
  
• Cetus Research & Conservation Society
  Cetus Research & Conservation Society has new contact information for their marine education and monitoring programs - Straitwatch and the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program. Please update your address book with the this information
  
  
• Are you an Employee or Independent Contractor?
  A recent presentation to the SKGABC by the Rulings Division of the Federal Government's Canada Revenue Agency indicated that in almost all circumstances, guides are employees. Get a ruling and get paid correctly - More information
  
  
• If you hire people to work for your guiding company – whether they work full-time, part-time or on a casual or contract basis – you’re required to register with the Workers’ Compensation Board. More information ...
  
  
• The SKGABC Logo Usage Guidelines are now available. More information...

If you have a question about the SKGABC, please contact us!

2008 Exchange
Victoria April 18, 19 and 20th

The 2008 Spring Exchange is going to be held in Victoria April 18, 19 and 20th.  Schedule updated Below.

This springs exchange is going to be hosted by the premier kayaking retailer Ocean River Sports, located at 1842 Store Street in Victoria.

Guides of all levels are encouraged to attend.  Preregistration is not necessary.  Please register at Ocean River Sports upon arrival.

This exchange will begin earlier than usual as the CPR C re cert will be beginning in the morning on Friday at 11 am and should be completed by 3pm. Registration will open at Ocean River's Adventure Centre at 10am, and the cost of the exchange is $75.00. Friday evening will be open and up to you what you do.

Slipstream Wilderness First Aid will be doing the re cert for us at a cost of $15.00 per person.
This re-cert is limited to all current holders of CPR C that need to be updated for this year.

Friday and Saturday night camping will be available at Brian Henry's vast estate complete with availability to a washroom and shower. 
There are other alternatives in Victoria like The Backpackers Hostel.

Saturday morning will begin at 8am at the Sunset Room beside ORS with breakfast and then continuing onto a session regarding Parks “pack it in/pack it out”  requirements.
The next on-land session will be a follow-up with David Lecovin on his presentation of Risk Management continued from the Skook exchange.

We will then move to McNeil Bay and Trial Island for the afternoon on water sessions. We have been able to entice some the “old” gurus of kayaking to lead sessions on currents, rough/moving water rescues, tide lines and just having a ton of fun on moving waters.
Ocean River, Delta Kayaks, and Current Designs are offering some boats for us to use at no charge. Way to go guys! Just remember that waivers have to be signed  when you attend an Exchange. Ocean River will also be supplying a van and a trailer so that we will be able to move some boats to and fro.

Saturday night will hosted by Ocean River at the store with a BBQ and slide show on Hiada Gwaii. The format for Saturday night will be more social so that guides that hardly ever see each other off the water can talk and chat. Those of you that are raconteurs may want to get up and tell us of your more memorable good or bad trips.

Sunday morning will begin at 8am sharp with a scenario being put on by Slipstream First Aid till noon. That should get all our senses up and running prior to the season starting up.

Schedule of Events

Friday April 18, 2008.

Register at the Adventure Centre Desk at Ocean River Sports

9:30am to 5:30 pm

11am-3pm CPR “C” Re cert

4:30 to 6:00pm On the Gorge from ORS dock –

peer practice/coaching - any takers for leader?

Saturday April 19^th

9am – David Lecovin/Basic Legal Issues That Will Affect Me.

1045am -Noon Navigation/Shawn Quinton

BYO Lunch 12-1

1pm – 5pm On water sessions

Playing in Currents with Gary Doran/Enterprise Channel

Baynes Channel/Exam based scenarios with Jack Rosen

Something with Liam Edwards somewhere

*volunteer assistants may be required please

Dinner 6-7

7-730pm Icebreaker Presentation (Pro-deals also!!!!)

745pm Haida Gwaii Slide Show with Jordie Allen-Newman

Sunday April 20

8am-Noon Slipstream Scenarios

8am-Noon on water sessions

On water navigation at Gyro Park Beach with Shawn Quinton

*volunteer session leaders step up please

BYO Lunch 12-1

1-3pm On Water Sessions

something with Liam Edwards??

*any ideas – volunteers requested

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