BC Whitewater - Cheakamus River - Balls to the Wall - Board of Directors & Access Denied / Banned

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"Our Team"  BC Whitewater | Our Team

Board of Directors

• President: Steve Arns
• Vice President: Nick Gottlieb
• Secretary: Seamus Boyd-Porter
• Treasurer: Phil Mitchell
• Director at Large: Dave Wortley
• Director at Large: Maddy Loewen
• Director at Large: Simon Ward-Able
• Director at Large: Tara Stevens
• Director at Large: James Hamilton
• Director at Large: Louise Stanway
• Director at Large: Keiran Rankin

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"BC Whitewater

April 30 at 6:36 PM ·

Important Update: Mount Robson Provincial Park Boating Ban

A new boating ban has just been announced for Mount Robson Provincial Park effective Monday, May 4, 2026. This prohibits all watercraft and wading gear in all park waters to prevent the spread of whirling disease. This means multiple world-class sections of the Fraser River are now inaccessible to paddlers.

Our Stance and Action:

We are disappointed by the lack of stakeholder engagement and the sudden nature of this announcement. BC Whitewater is currently coordinating with the Alberta Whitewater Association (AWA) and Transport Canada to address these developments and formulate our next steps.

Last week, BC Whitewater met with two Parks Canada officials from Ottawa regarding the recently announced closures in Banff and Kootenay National Parks. We are scheduling a follow-up workshop in Banff next month to explore tangible ways we can better work together moving forward. Our goal is to find pathways that prioritize both river health and safe (even if moderated) access for the paddling community.

What you can do:

Support BC Whitewater or Alberta Whitewater Association and our advocacy efforts by becoming a member (link in bio to become a BCWW member).

Join our member Slack channel to participate in the AIS conversation. DM us to be added.

Write to BC Parks and your MLA to share your concerns.

BC Parks Contact Directory: https://dir.gov.bc.ca/gtds.cgi?Index=ByUnitHier&OrgCode=ENV

Important takeaway:

While these closures are a disappointing and significant hit to our community, the threat of aquatic invasive species is real.

Please continue to clean, drain, and dry all gear. Stay tuned for free training resources from the CMI Institute. We will share these on our channel in the coming days.

Questions? DM us or email info@bcwhitewater.org

Closure Details and Links:

The ban includes all motorized and non-motorized boats (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards) and fishing waders/boots.

Official Media Release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026ENV0021-000475

#bcwhitewater

#aisclosures

[Photos: Louise Stanway]"