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Benefits of Membership
POA membership benefits include promotion through marketing initiatives planned
and supported in partnership with Ontario Tourism, access to growing Canadian
Tourism based initiatives, quality assurance and access to group rates
for business expenses of the adventure tourism field.
Process of Becoming a New Member
The Paddling Ontario Alliance accepts new membership applications at any time
of the year. Our board of directors reviews applications and makes decisions
along these lines each September. New members are then sent acceptance
notices and encouraged to join our annual general meeting in October and
participate in decisions and initiatives for the year forward.
To apply: please send a letter (emails accepted)
indicating your interest in becoming a member with the Paddling Ontario
Alliance. Please review our minimum standards for membership and indicate
in your letter that your company meets these.
For More Detailed Information on Membership Benefits or new membership application, please contact:
scott@paddlingontario.com
or call our contact for new members on the POA Board of Directors:
Jeremy Dickson
Canoe Canada Outfitters
(807) 597-6418
Standards
POA Mission Statement:
POA is an alliance of Ontario's finest paddling outfitters who provide
access to world class paddling in Ontario. POA is committed to
the sustainability of the paddling resources in Ontario and meeting the
needs of its members. Outfitters will work together to maximize their
collective impact and reach in the following areas:
- Marketing to provide
increased business to member outfitters.
- Quality assurance
through professional development and the continual review of standards.
- Membership benefits and services
that are relevant and useful.
- Advocacy
Core values include:
- Valuing the differences between individual members
- Cooperation between members
- Consultative decision-making
- Creating and providing innovative and original paddling experiences
- Referral between member businesses and
- Market driven decisions supported by sound tracking and recording
All Paddling Ontario members must meet the following minimum standards:
- A history of 3 to 5 years or more of successful operation in the Ontario paddle industry.
- Your business should offer a minimum of at least one and preferably all
three as value added consumer driven elements: packaged, guide-lead and
accommodation based (lodge or camping with all equipment provided) canoeing
or kayaking experiences.
- Carry appropriate business insurance (min. $ 1, 000, 000 with a recommendation for $2,000,000).
- Company must hold a dedicated staff training session for all new staff
and have a staff manual available.
- MOU around standards of safety that states all guide certification must
be valid and up to date for trips as outlined by the following or equivalent
regulatory bodies: ORCA, CRCA, OWWA, BCU, AECSKO, or ACA.
- Guides have CPR and Wilderness First
Aid certification
- Offer lodge-based and/or guided packages from an established business location in Ontario.
- Be licensed to operate a tourist business in Ontario.
- Have dedicated staff training session for all new staff and have a staff manual available.
- Have a risk and emergency management plan for all trips.
- Have the fulfillment capability to respond to inquiries by phone, email or post within 24 to 48 hrs.
- Cross market of POA membership through display of POA brochure, POA logo on individual brochure, POA logo link
on individual website.
- Registered business with a store front presence or identifiable location in Ontario.
- Annual fee of $2000.00.
- Initiation fee of $500.00 for new members.
Paddling Ontario Alliance members must comply with the practices as outlined in
the "Environmental Policy" to ensure that clients, guides and
workers leave no evidence of their travels in the wilderness.
No-trace wilderness travel and waste disposal requirements
Paddling Ontario Alliance members comply with the practices as outlined
below to ensure that clients, guides and workers leave no evidence of
their travels in the wilderness. Each POA member must have an Environmental
policy in place that deals with protecting the resource.
As a POA member your party must:
- Leave no more evidence of human activity at campsites than existed when you arrived.
- Use biodegradable soap products for dishwashing, bathing and shampooing in any body of water.
- Pack out all unburned food.
- Pack out all garbage.
- Pack out all human solid waste or bury it under at least 15 cm of soil,
and at least 30 meters away from the high water mark of all water-bodies,
and where there are no pit privies, pack out used toilet paper or burn
it completely in a campfire.
Special requirements for operating inside an Ontario Park
In addition to the above requirements, Paddling Ontario Alliance members,
when operating trips inside an Ontario Park , must comply with all Park
Regulations and ensure that:
- All camping and day use fees are paid.
- Groups have followed all required registration and reservation procedures.
- Party size does not exceed campsite limits.
- Can and bottle restrictions, where applicable, are followed.
- Campfires are constructed in a safe manner and that trees are not damaged.
- Any appropriate information or concerns about the Park are reported to the Park Superintendent.
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