Dear KPC Members,

It’s hard to believe that it is the beginning of September. I feel like it was just yesterday that I stowed my neoprene pants in the closet and applied storage wax to my skis. The sun sits lower on the horizon each morning when I put my boat in the water, and dusk comes earlier every evening. That being said, the changing of the seasons is a constant we can depend on in a world that often seems turbulent and confusing. 

This season at KPC has not been without its challenges and many of you have let us know that things are different and not always in a good way. As Denis addressed in the July update, there are significant hurdles that we are still working through regarding negotiating a new lease and planning the future of KPC. We share in your frustrations and please believe me when I say I want changerooms that don’t smell like mildew and feet just as much as you. 

We want to give a big thanks to all of you who filled out our Members Survey. Your responses have been reviewed and we heard you loud and clear. The KPC board and staff are committed to taking steps to improve the club and ensuring that it is a fun and welcoming place for all. I’ve highlighted some of the points that came up in the survey and have included a bit more background that will hopefully give you a better idea of what is happening around KPC.

Things you said we were doing well at:

Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere

We heard from many of you that you enjoy the community atmosphere and feel welcomed by both staff and other members. This is something we are constantly working to build and maintain. If you're a long-time member say hello, when you see a new face and if you're just learning the ropes, don't be shy. If there's something paddle people love, it's talking about boats and paddling. We're happy to chat and are so happy to see people falling in love with the sport. 

Skills Progression

The fact that we have programs for a variety of skill sets was something that a lot of you liked. Providing opportunities for people to improve their skills is an important aspect of the program design at KPC. Even if racing is not a goal of yours, improving technique and stamina is great for injury prevention and helping you feel your best. Our goal going into next year is to more clearly articulate what each of our classes offer and ensure they run at a variety of times through the week to accommodate the schedules of more members.

Diverse Events

We do our best to host a variety of events to include as many club members as possible. Hopefully you had a chance to attend a pancake breakfast, BBQ, the Waterman small boat race, a pastry paddle, or a time trial. We are also open to hearing feedback and suggestions about events you would like to see. Recreational small boat groups, more performance programming, and opportunities for socializing after paddling all came up as things you would like to see more of. We’ll work to include more of these heading into next season.

Encouraging Safety and Water Skills

Safety is our first priority at KPC and we were glad to hear that many of you feel safe going out on the water and feel that you have the resources to make good choices. Our safety plan is available in the marked locker beside the ladies change room and is also on the website. As we head into the quieter shoulder season, check the weather before you head out, always make sure that someone knows that you're on the water, and take a buddy if you are able.

Things We Can Improve On

Communicating 

Difficulty getting through on the phone, not receiving answers to emails, and not being made aware of club events and activities were all challenges we heard about through the survey. We know how frustrating this is and are sorry that we have let our members down. A communications strategy has been put in place. Hopefully you have been seeing more of our posts in your social media feed, newsletters in your inboxes, and posters around the club. We have instituted a 48-hour turnaround time for email replies (i.e. you should receive a reply or acknowledgement within two business days) and have set up the phone system to route you to a staff member during operating hours (currently 930am to 530pm on weekdays and 8am to 12pm on weekends). 

Improving the Appearance of the Buildings and Change Rooms

As you're likely aware, we are gearing up for a big renovation of the paddle centre that will include new change rooms and community space. The initial plans had renovations starting in October 2024, but negotiations with the city have taken longer than expected causing the construction date to be pushed until at least the fall of 2026. We have been reluctant to invest too much in the current facility knowing that it will be under construction soon, but acknowledge that this has led to the club looking shabby and tired. Our team has been working to improve the appearance by painting, gardening, and weeding wherever possible. The frequency with which the change rooms and washrooms are cleaned has increased and we're looking for ways to improve the lighting, ventilation, and smell in the changerooms. 

Recognizing our donors and volunteers

It was clear in the responses that we have not done a good job at recognizing the contributions that people have made to KPC. Our donors and volunteers make it possible for KPC to offer a wide range of activities and programs and it is a failure on our part when we don't recognize this and make our appreciation known. Please accept our deepest apologies, the oversight was unintentional but we take responsibility and will work to make it right. 

Providing Updates on the Building Project

Many of you wanted more information about the building project, timelines, and what is happening with the road work outside the club. Negotiations with the city have been slow, and while we did get our development permit approved earlier this summer, we are still working with the city to put a lease in place. Without the lease we are unable to move forward with financing and fundraising. We know it's frustrating to hear this, as a board we're also frustrated with the length of time this is taking. We want to move forward with the project but need to ensure that we have a firm foundation and a solid agreement with the city prior to doing so. We have also committed to sending out a quarterly email update from the board to keep you in the loop. 

If you have made it this far, I commend you. There was a lot I wanted to convey and I know brevity is not my strongest trait. I hope I have been able to give you a better understanding of how some of the decisions at the club are being made. Myself and the other board members are always happy to chat if you have questions, concerns, or words of encouragement. KPC is a vibrant community and we’re doing our best to build and maintain solid systems that will keep it accessible to our members and the community for many years to come. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you on the water (and soon snow!).

Warmest regards,

Kirsten