Doors open at 7:00. All Slide Shows start at 7:30 at the BWCC Clubhouse at 1975 - 26 St SE. Admission is free and is open to all.
Winter/Spring 2012
June 6, 2012: Special Presentation on Canoe Tripping, Safety and Camping Presented by: TBA
May 2, 2012: Celebration of 40th Anniversary of BWCC Presented by: Linda Wiggins
April 4th, 2012: Paull River, Saskatchewan:
Come out to see the remote beauty of shield country in Northern Saskatchewan.
Presented by: Joe Lenham
March 7, 2012: Smith River, Montana
Superb fishing, gorgeous scenery, and a remote setting combine to make a trip on the Smith River an unforgettable experience. With one put-in point and one take-out point between Camp Baker and Eden Bridge, this 100 km stretch of river is accessible only by canoe, raft, or other appropriate watercraft. Typically the paddling season is from mid-April through mid-July and because of its popularity, a permit is required. This small-volume river is suitable for novices and families; all this less than a six-hour drive from Calgary.
Presented by: Tom Jacklin
Wed. Feb. 1, 2012
Wapiscau - Reindeer River Canoe Trip
This slide show is about a canoe trip last summer on the Wapiscau and Reindeer Rivers: a scenic, interesting, and little-travelled route in the shield rock area of northern Saskatchewan. The first half of the 7-day trip was down the Wapiskau River, which has several lakes to explore and about 14 pretty rapids, and the second half was upstream along the Reindeer River, which had no noticeable current. It was an easy trip because most of the rapids are small waterfalls which cannot be run and are by-passed by short portages.
Presented by: Pat Mahaffey
Wed. January 4, 2012
Journey on Sacred Waters: Upper Stikine River
The Stikine River in northwest B.C. has two canoeing routes separated by the Grand Canyon of the Stikine. The nearly three hundred kilometer route of the upper portion lies entirely within the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness and Stikine River Provincial Parks. From sub-alpine lakes and a small stream, the waterway quickly develops into a major river. The region is of current interest with mining and shale gas developments underway on what is often called the Sacred Waters. This is a journey by two tandem canoes in August of 2011.
Presented by: Bruce Adair
Past Shows 2011
Wed. December 7, 2011
Action and Adventure from Mount Royal University
This is a four-part show that brings you; canoeing the Nahanni in the NWT, mountain biking in Moab UT, trekking the mountains and jungles of Peru, and a brilliant view into the unpredictability of serious ski touring in BC's Premier Range. Each of the shows is a 15 minute (film and/or slides) put together by the students in the Bachelors of Applied Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership program at MRU. The Nahanni River film has wonderful close-up white water footage while the Moab mountain bike film has as many spills and landed stunts. The Peru show brings you into the Andes and over the 4,800m Salacantay Pass and then down to 300m into the Amazon jungle. The Premier Range ski tour film shows what it is like to have to make serious decisions in the backcountry.
Presented by: Joe Pavelka and some of his gang from MRU
Wed. October 5, 2011
Mexico
If you ever had an interest in going to paddle in Mexico in the Sea of Cortez area, then this slide show is for you! Join Bruce as he shares his trip. It was 38C every day and the scenery was amazing.
Presented by: Bruce Adair
Wed. September 7, 2011
Photo Potpourri
For the first meeting of the year, everyone is invited for bring a few slides – say 10 to 20. They could be a preview of a full presentation you might do later in the year. Or a short story about this summer's paddling. Or anything…. Just bring your pics on a disc or other media and we’ll take it from there.
Wed. January 5, 2011
Canoe Photography
Peter Errmann is one of BWCC’s top photographers. Last year he offered an excellent presentation on outdoor photography. Now - here is the next installment: subtitled; “how to have an edge over the other photographers”. He said it will be a reflection on the opportunities and pleasures of canoe photography through easy access, silent stalking, effortless motion, safe positioning and easy transportation of heavy photo gear when combining the art of canoeing with the art of photography.
Presented by: Peter Errmann
February 2, 2011
Paddling with Herb Pohl
Howard asked me to do a presentation after he saw my name in a chapter of a new book edited by James Raffin about Herb Pohl; The Lure of Faraway Places. Herb (1930 – 2006) was one of Canada’s most remarkable modern-day canoe explorers. He did numerous extended solo trips to remote, little-known areas. I accompanied him on his first trip into Labrador from Schefferville, Que to Nain, Labrador in the summer of 1982.
Presented by: Ken Ellison
March 2, 2011 
San Juan and Middle Fork of the Salmon
Come see the pictures (2 pics are attached to tease you) and hear the tall tales from two "Must Do" float trips on rivers in the U.S. The San Juan is a significant tributary of the Colorado River in the south eastern Utah. It features dramatic dessert canyon scenery and ancient Anasazi native history. The Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho has amazing scenery, hot springs and white water. Two amazing adventures in one night.
Presented by: Mark Perrin
Past Show 2010
Wed. December 1, 2010
Harvie Passage Project
In March 2000, I got the idea to have the weir re-constructed to make it safe for paddling. And now, ten years later it is almost complete. I will tell the whole story from start to finish, with the primary focus on the last year of construction and pictures of what it will look like when complete.
Presented by: Howard Heffler
Wed. November 3, 2010
Vancouver Islands Paradise – The Nutchatlitz
This summer 4 adults and 2 children ventured into a remote part of West Vancouver Island to view the sea otters and other wild things and places. Come and see just how amazing the wild west coast is. A sea kayak family adventure.
Presented by: Bruce Hardardt
Wed. October 6, 2010
The Milk River – A Favorite Place for BWCC
The talk will cover paddling scenes and will focus on the history of the river basin and the immediate area where BWCC members paddle. Included will be natural history and environment, such as plants and animals, plus settlement, and future land use.
Presented by: Bill Skinner
Wed. June 2, 2010
Kyuquot Sea Kayak Trip
A presentation about the Kyuquot Sea Kayak trip Keith, Mary, Val, and Mark took Sept 2009. Details to come.
Presented by: Mary Enright and Val Perrin
Wed. May 5, 2010
Finding Farley - The Movie
The BWCC has permission to show the 62 minute DVD, Finding Farley by Director Leanne Allison and Producer Tracey Friesen
Synopsis: When Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison (Being Caribou), along with their two-year old son Zev and indomitable dog Willow, set out to retrace the literary footsteps of Farley Mowat they meant it literally. Their 5000KM trip –trekking, sailing, portaging and paddling from the Prairies to the Maritimes – is captured in the documentary Finding Farley. They paddle east from Calgary, towards the prairies (the geography of Born Naked and Owls in the Family) and then traverse the same paths that Farley took more than 60 years earlier, which became the foundation for Never Cry Wolf, and People of the Deer. The travelers also get an earful about the long-standing controversy that attends Farley’s work. When the family reaches their final destination, Mowat's Nova Scotian summer home, it is, as Karsten says, “An affirmation of what the land and animals had already told us…Stories aren’t so much written or created as they are released, expressing what’s been there all along.”
See the trailer at http://www.nfb.ca/film/finding_farley_trailer/
Wed. April 7, 2010
Paddling the Red Deer and Kootenay Rivers
Paddling through the badlands on the Red Deer River, and paddling in the Rocky Mountains on the Kootenay River are two trips that have been on the BWCC schedule for over 30 years. Tonight we show a 35 minute movie of each trip, and you will have a chance to see why these canoe camping weekends have become a tradition. The stars of the show are the club members in the canoes, and we expect that some will be at the meeting to mingle and talk paddling.
Presented by: Rolf Stengl
You can check out a trailer for each film on YouTube by using these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwFngKs7aqs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJdBLckmGFg
Wed. March 3, 2010
Three trips on the Green and Yampa Rivers
Join us for a trip down the Flaming Gorge, the Lodore Canyon on the Green River and the Yampa River in Colorado and Utah. We will hear about the explorations of John Wesley Powell in 1869. The rafting season runs from mid-May to mid-September and the canoeing season several months longer. There's plenty of excitement too! Lodore Canyon has rapids with names like Disaster Falls, Hell's Half Mile and Triplet Falls. We will also visit the Yampa River, a wild, undammed and free flowing tributary of the Green River.
Presented by: Tom Jacklin
Wed. February 3, 2010
The Mountain and MacKenzie Rivers
A team of 5 Bow Waters members paddled down the Mountain River in the NWT last summer: Peter Errmann, Werner Groeschel, Monique Wilkinson, Scott Wilkinson, and Pat Mahaffey. The Mountain is considered one of the best canoeing trips in Canada, and you may agree when you see our photos: exciting rapids, dramatic canyons, continuous mountain scenery, wonderful hikes, fine campsites, good wildlife viewing, peace & quiet, and a remote wilderness setting. The Mackenzie is seldom travelled by canoeists, but that didn’t stop Peter & Pat, who used a different approach in dealing with the complicated logistics of transporting group gear up north – come and see how they did it!
Presented by: Pat Mahaffey
Wed. January 6, 2010
Outdoor Photography
This presentation will focus on what equipment (camera, optics, etc) to use, outdoor lighting, perils and challenges, areas to go to, etc. All information presented will be supported by good and bad images to demonstrate this topic's wide range of situations one can run into.
Presented by: Peter Errmann
Past Shows 2009
Wed. December 2, 2009
Travels Through Indo China
This presentation will describe a four-month trip through Loas, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and parts of Borneo. The show features mostly rural settings as well as some of the busier life in the cities as well as some undersea adventures.
Presented by: Grant Christensen
Wed. November 4, 2009
Baja Sea Kayaking Escapes and Annual AGM
Winter got you down? Wanting to paddle in warm water? The Sea of Cortez in Baja California offers a chance to extend your paddling season without the dry suit, or frost on the boat in the morning. David Finch and his family have paddled in the Baja several times. Camping on the beach, great hiking, stars so bright you need to wear shades at night - come see it all.
Presented by: David Finch
Wed. October 7, 2009
Canadian Voyageurs
Norm Crerar is the author of Journals of the New Voyageurs. His book chronicles his and paddling partner Gib McEachern's outstanding canoeing adventures over the past 50 plus years. They enjoyed a 14 year career as professional canoe racers and became the dominant tandem team in North America in the 1960s. In 1967 they were members of the Manitoba team in the Cross-Canada 6000 km Centennial Canoe Pageant. They have paddled in excess of 55,000 miles (90,000 km) and continue to keep their passion alive with yearly Voyageur Canoe adventures.
Presented by: Norm Crerar
Wed. January 7, 2009
2008 David Thompson Brigade
Between May and July 2008, a bicentennial commemoration trip was undertaken to remember Canada's greatest explorer, David Thompson. Several teams of paddlers retraced the historic route from Rocky Mountain House to Thunder Bay. Bow Waters is proud that several of our members participated in the first section which was 10 days long. They will tell us their story during the January meeting.
Presented by: Pat Mahaffey and friends
Wed. February 4, 2009
Double Bill: "Y2Y and Lower Colorado"
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (1/2 hour): Wendy Francis has been leading conservation campaigns in Alberta for over 20 years. She is currently the Conservation Director for Y2Y, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. Y2Y is an ambitious effort to implement wildlife corridors connecting protected areas that stretch from Yellowstone National Park to the northern Yukon. Wendy will bring us up to date on Y2Y's latest efforts and successes.
Presented by: Wendy Francis
Lower Colorado Paddling plus Traveling on the Southern California Coast (1 hour): The Black Canyon on the Lower Colorado River is deep, beautiful, volcanic canyon with narrow tributaries, hiking and hot springs. Rudy and Dietlind spent several days paddling this reach before moving on the paddle the marshes of the Colorado at Picacho State Recreation Area, near the Mexican boarder. Then they headed for the West Coast for some spectacular hiking trails.
Presented by: Rudy and Dietlind Pekau
Wed. March 4, 2009 
Safe Enjoyment of Bears
Of all the animals in North America's wilderness, none commands such fear, awe and interest as the bear. Creatures that fear little, bears now compete for survival with the only other animal that can threaten their existence - man. Stephen Herrero is a professor at the University of Calgary. He is recognized throughout the world as a leading authority on bear ecology, behaviour and attacks.
Presented by: Steven Herrero
Wed. April 1, 2009
Headless Valley
Historian David Finch writes: In the 1950s a Calgary couple went to the Nahanni and made a very fine family film about their adventures. It came out in 1957. This is an informative movie, funny, entertaining and for all who have been on the river, a great "prequel" showing what the river was like many years ago.
Archives of Alberta writes: Be sure to see the film Headless Valley, documenting the 1957 adventure of Calgarians Melvin and Ethel Ross, who traveled alone by canoe through one of the roughest and most remote areas of the world to reach the Headless Valley in the Northwest Territories.
Association of Canadian Archivists writes: Headless Valley is an adventure film with aspects of comedy and also a love story and just an amazing, charming film! In the time before satellite phones and helicopter rescues, Calgarians Mel and Ethel Ross
fought severe isolation, insect swarms and terrifying rapids during a two month canoe
expedition up the South Nahanni River into the Canadian North. Come and experience
their journey through Headless Valley, the 1957 independent film they filmed, produced,
acted and edited which now resides in the Provincial Archives of Alberta. Presented by: BWCC
Wed. May 6, 2009
Bloodvien River
Join Oscar and Michael as they share photos and stories of their 10 day trip down one of Canada's Heritage Rivers with 4 adults, 5 kids and a dog. Named bor the red granite running through the bedrock, the Bloodvein slashes through the Canadian Shield, tumbling over boulder-strewn rapids and surging through narrow gorges on its journey to Lake Winnipeg.
Presented by: Oscar and Michael Smoole
Wed. June 3, 2009
Three Rivers in Oregon:
Mark Perrin and Howard have paddled three rivers in Oregon, by themselves or with Stan Zimantas, Lyn Heffler, Peter Errmann,and John Gapp. Join us for a description of trips on the Lower Salmon,the John Day and the Grande Ronde Rivers.
Presented by: Mark Perrin
