2008 Fall Exchange - Ucluelet, BC
The fall exchange will be held October 3-5th, 2008 in Ucluelet, BC. The exchange will be hosted by Majestic Ocean Kayaking and Rainforest Kayak Adventures. More info
Class 4 Waters Endorsement
The SKGABC has recently created a new endorsement that allows guides to work in class 4 waters. It has been endorsed by Parks Canada. No new exam is needed to get this level of certification. The skills required to guide in Class 4 waters is gained through experience, and therefore certification is based on:
1. Substantial guiding experience in Class 3 waters
2. Personal paddling experience in Class 4 waters
The Class 4 Waters Endorsement is available to Level 3 guides that can prove the following:
- 200 days of leading in Class 3 Waters as a Level 3 Guide
- Competent Class 4 waters paddling experience, indicated by at 25 days of personal paddling experience in waters rated as Class 4, covering at least 200 miles.
- Endorsement by two other SKGABC Level 3 Guides in the form of a hard and electronic copy letter addressed to the certification committee (Note: in future, this requirement will be changed to require an endorsement from two Level 3 Guides with a Class 4 Waters endorsement – this is not currently possible until a number of guides obtain this endorsement)
Interested guides can submit their file to the certification committee when ALL the requirements are fulfilled.
Sea Kayaking BC Study
The SKGABC and Tourism BC teamed up with Malaspina to create an extensive study on the sea kayaking sector in BC. Please log into the members section to access the full report.
2008 Exam Dates
Spring 2008 Level 2 and 3 exam dates are now posted. Please click here for dates and locations
Risk Management Session. At the Spring 2007
Egmont exchange, David Lecovin presented a session on current issues in Risk Management and legal liability. Click here to download the notes from David's session. At the Spring 2008 exchange in Victoria, David Lecovin will present a follow-up session on Legal Liability and Risk Management.
The Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC is now able to take credit card and debit payments for membership and exams through Paypal. Once you fill out the form here you will be directed to the secure Paypal website where you can make payments to SKGABC.
Uclulet - A Coombs based sea kayak operator has pled guilty to operating a business without a permit in the Pacific Rim National Park Preserve. Tom Marshall, of Sunstar Kayaking, was originally charged with two offenses - operating without a permit and obstructing a peace officer.
The charges stem from an incident on Aug 29th, 2006, when park wardens rescued a paddler off the rocks. The woman had capsized and was suffering from hypothermia and some mild abrasions. Upon investigation by the wardens, it was found that Marshall lacked the permits required to operate within the BGI.
Currently, to operate a commercial sea kayak company in the park, the business must have a park operating permit, and their guides must be certified. Tom Marshall is not certified with the SKGABC, nor is his company a member.
Marshall is now reportedly banned from Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and required to pay a fine of $1150.
For years, the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of British Columbia has been requesting enforcement of permits and business licenses in the Broken Group Islands. This ruling will potentially serve as a deterrent to other unlicensed kayaking companies trying to conduct commercial activities in Canada’s National Parks.
For the direct link to the news article click here:
Wildlife Guidelines for
Backcountry Tourism/Commercial
Recreation in British Columbia click here
Marine Mammal Guideline Changes
The Marine Mammal Guidelines have changed this year. Please review the guidelines listed on this page
SKGABC Certified Guides can now be listed on the SKGABC Website.
If you have been certified by the SKGABC you can now have your name, date of certification and certification level listed on the SKGABC website. To be listed you must be a member in good standing, your membership must be current and you must have completed all the requirements for certification at the level you wish to be listed at.
You can check out the listing pages here. If you wish to be listed on the website you must send a confirmation email to the SKGABC (click here ) or a letter to the SKGABC indicating your name and guide status.
Day Guides will be listed as Level One Guides.
Assistant Guides will be listed as Assistant Overnight Guides or Level Two Guides based on an evaluation of your experience.
Full Guides will be listed as Level Three Guides.
Guides' names will be removed if they are no longer members in good standing or their membership has lapsed.
New SKGABC Members Page
The SKGABC has a new members only section on our website. Access to this page is restricted to members of the SKGABC. All members in good standing of the SKGABC will receive login information via email March 3, 2006. If you have not received your login information it may be for one of the following reasons: - Your membership has expired.
- Your email address on file with the SKGABC is no longer valid.
- You do not have an email address on file with the SKGABC.
- You are not a member of the SKGABC.
If you have questions about accessing the SKGABC Members Page please contact us.
Changes to the SKGABC Guide Certification Levels
The SKGABC has made several changes to our certification levels. Level One Guide certification now replaces the former Day Guide certification. Assistant Overnight Guide certification now replaces the former Assistant Guide Certification. Level Two Guide certification is a new level. Guides who were formerly certified as Assistant Guides may meet the new Level Two certification. If you do you will be issued a Level Two Certificate on renewal. Level Three Guide certification replaces the former Full Guide certification. Guides will be issued the new certificates on renewal of your previous certification and on new applications for certification. The SKGABC has also formalized the requirements to become a Guide Trainer and an Examiner. Details of the new guide requirements and certification levels can be found on the Guide Requirements page.
Cetus Research & Conservation Society
Cetus Research & Conservation Society has new contact information for their marine education and monitoring programs - Straitwatch and the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program. Please update your address book with the following information:
Cetus Research & Conservation Society
PO Box 573
Alert Bay, BC V0N 1A0
(250) 974-7064
email: info@cetussociety.org
Straitwatch
(250) 974-7056 cell (active June-Sept only)
email: info@straitwatch.org
web: www.straitwatch.org (new web design, be sure to check out our new website!)
Robson Bight Warden Program
(250) 974-7134 cell (active June-Sept only)
email: robsonbight@cetussociety.org
web: www.members.shaw.ca/robsonbight
Nicola Brabyn - email: nbrabyn@cetussociety.org
Doug Sandilands - email: dsandilands@cetussociety.org
Nic Dedeluk - email: ndedeluk@cetussociety.org
Are you an Employee or Independent Contractor?
A recent presentation to the SKGABC by the Rulings Division of the Federal Government's Canada Revenue Agency indicated that in almost all circumstances, guides are employees. Get a ruling and get paid correctly - More information
WCB Information Update
- Registering with the WCB. Do I Have to Register?
If you hire people to work for your guiding company – whether they work full-time, part-time or on a casual or contract basis – you’re required by law to register with the Workers’ Compensation Board.
What Are The Benefits of Registering?
Registering with the WCB is more than just a legislated requirement. When you’re covered by the WCB, you’re protected against potentially crippling lawsuits arising from work-related injuries, disease, or death – lawsuits that, in other countries, have virtually bankrupted some employers.
Here in B.C, if a worker is injured or contracts an occupational disease while on the job, the employer is insured against liability and the worker receives wage loss and medical benefits, as well as the rehabilitative and vocational services needed to return to a healthy and productive life.
What Happens if I don’t Register?
If you don’t register when required, you put yourself at considerable financial risk. If a worker you’ve hired gets injured on the job and you’re not registered as required, you could be held liable for all compensation costs associated with the claim and for your unpaid premiums. It is against the law to avoid registering when it is required under the Workers Compensation Act.
When is Registration Optional?
If you don’t hire workers, you’re not required to register with the WCB. However, if you are self-employed or a partner or proprietor in a non-limited company, you may be eligible for Personal Optional Protection, an optional insurance plan that protects you against income loss and provides medical and rehabilitative services if you’re injured on the job.
How can I get more information?
Visit the WCB web site at www.worksafebc.com or contact their Employer Service Centre at
1 888 922-2768 or 604 244-6181.
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