Currently working with no grant funding, the Weyburn Canoe and Kayak Club has taken to hosting events to help pay their summer staff.
Board Member Courtney Doud said they began with a Paddle Paint Night fundraiser at Nickle Lake.
"We thought it was a really good opportunity to help us clean out the shack. We had several wooden canoe and kayak paddles that just don't simply don't get used anymore because a lot has been moved to plastic. It's just more user-friendly and lighter to go out on a paddle, it's just a little bit easier," she shared. "So we thought, 'well, what can we do with these things that can maybe help us fundraise? because we're low on funding this year, and bring people out to Nickle Lake and enjoy an event?'"
Even though most of the registration came in just days or hours before the event, they ended up having 13 participants and raising over $600.
Krystal Glowatski from CollabArtive Studios facilitated the painting, with the paddles prepped by their staff members.
"She could have done the prep work for us, but we have these awesome kids that are employed with us this summer, so just part of the shift the day before was sanding down the paddles and getting them ready for the event. So the kids actually did it for us. It was really awesome. They had a lot of fun," she shared.
Doud said the event was not just a first for the club, but it was a first paint night for her as well. However, the wind was blowing when they started painting, which dried the paints very quickly.
"But by the time we were done painting, the wind had died right down. The water was like glass. The sun was setting. It was actually a very tranquil evening out on the water. Everybody enjoyed it."
Some of the participants were using the kayaks for the first time, but according to Doud, anyone can do it.
"It's challenging to try something new sometimes and some people just are leery on the water, but we have like tremendous staff like they're really good to get everybody in, and give you a push out onto the water. That's what they're there for. That's what their job is. And once you get in it, it's not scary."
She said they have a wide variety of patronage renting their canoes, kayaks, fishing kayaks, and paddle boards in their clubhouse at Nickle Lake, from little ones to seniors.
"Straight from little ones to people that live a more active lifestyle to the ones that just want to go out and relax, and straight to seniors. We have a lot of seniors that are out on the water almost every day because it's something they can do. It's not hard. You go at your own pace. It's just a great form of exercise and a way to connect with nature."
"It's like an unwind at the end of the day. You get these moments of clarity, watching the sun go down on the water. It's just breathtaking, and we have that ability to do that every day."
"We're just trying to get people out on the water, and a paddle board does look intimidating, and you see all these people with all this core strength, but realistically when you need a break, you sit down and you use it just like you would a kayak, right? Everybody should try it. It's neat. It's nice that we have different things to offer."
She said she and another board member waited for others to choose their kayaks, and wound up getting to try something new themselves - the double kayak.
"So we jumped in together, and it was something just entirely different. It's the same process and you're doing the same things, but you have somebody to visit with constantly. We loved it. It's good for us to try different things."
Doud said they're planning another Paddle Paint Night fundraiser for August, as they do have enough wooden paddles to host a follow-up event. She noted that people can stay tuned to their social media pages for an announcement on the date. They are also planning another Glow and Row, with glow-in-the-dark paddles bringing about 50 participants to last year's event.
As for taking advantage of what the club has to offer at Nickle Lake, one can reserve and pay for equipment rental online in advance or can show up and do it all in person same day. If done in advance, the staff will have it ready to use, but if it's on impulse, the only limitation would be choosing from what has not already been booked out for that time period. Doud said they even have a square chip reader for easy payment.
Groups can book equipment altogether to enjoy an afternoon or a night out on the water, such as the Weyburn Oilwomen.
Membership is $40, and members can take advantage of perks like $2 Tuesdays, Family Fun Days, and price breaks on events like the Paddle Paint Night.
Find a full list of rates HERE.
