[Updated June 2, 2021]

CORA clubs in British Columbia, take note. Effective May 25, 2021, by order of BC’s Provincial Health Officer, British Columbia has implemented Step 1 of its four-step Restart Plan. Step 1 of the Restart Plan allows for the resumption of outdoor group sports for adults and youth, including practices and competitions, but generally prohibits spectators at any sport activities and prohibits travel between the three provincially designated travel regions (Vancouver Island, Vancouver/Fraser, Northern/Interior) for athletic activities. Subsequent steps in the Restart Plan will further loosen COVID-19 restrictions. Information on BC’s Restart Plan is available HERE.

BC member clubs may resume OC6 and OC12 training in accordance with the Restart Plan. Practices and competitions are allowed for athletes only within their home clubs and no spectators are allowed.

For Step 1 of the Restart Plan, viaSportBC is not taking a prescriptive approach to guidance as it did in Fall 2020. The cohort model previously established by viaSportBC is no longer required, allowing greater flexibility in crew selection and program participation. Physical distancing is not required on the field of play (i.e. on the water), allowing paddlers to be ‘in contact’ with each other in the canoe, with groups of up to 50 persons allowed on the field/water. However, off the field of play (i.e. on the dock and on dry land), physical distancing of 2 metres is still required and group size is limited to 10 persons, so crews must remain separated when prepping, launching, hauling out, cleaning and storing canoes. Sanitizing boats and surfaces are no longer required, but the continuation of COVID protocols such as pre-practice screening and mask usage where physical distancing cannot be maintained are recommended. For those members clubs with indoor facilities, the restrictions in effect prior to May 25, 2021 still apply.

viaSport’s Return to Sport Restart 2.0 chart is available HERE.

CORA recommends that members clubs take a cautious approach and recognizes that some member clubs may wish to impose stricter requirements than the Restart Plan allows, which may include training in cohorts or limited size groups. BC member clubs may wish to amend their cohort crew boat training protocols developed pursuant to CORA’s Return to OC6 Guidance issued September 23, 2020, and available HERE, or resume their protocols without change.

CORA will provide additional updates as the Restart Plan progresses.

Following the 2020 Annual General Meeting, CORA announced the creation of a new award to acknowledge Athletes, Coaches-Builders, and Pioneers in the sport of outrigger canoeing in Canada. The Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame (HOF) Policy / Process has recently been approved by CORA after several months of discussion.

Nominations for selection may be made by any CORA member or club representative of any active CORA club in Canada through the CORA website. Individuals may be “Active” or “Retired” or “Posthumous” at the time of their nomination. CORA has already received over a dozen nominations and has compiled detailed biographical histories on these individuals. Nominations must be received by June 16 to be considered for the July ballot to be voted on by the CORA Awards Committee.

Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame

Although the Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame has no inductees at this time, there is a CORA website perpetual page that contains a Mission Statement, a link to a HOF Policy / Process document, a link to a Nomination Form, a table of Inductees / Years, and a grid of Photos. Note that by clicking on the Inductee Name in the table or the Inductee Photo / Name in the grid, the user may view the “inductee” sample bio.

The Nomination Form has been streamlined to encourage CORA members to acknowledge one another. Please provide contact information, a few details on why you believe the nominee should be considered for the Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame, and we will follow-up with you to fill in the nominee bio.