About Us

Getting WetSKILS was founded in 2003 by Piper Harris, Michael Pardy, and Andrew Woodford. JF Marleau joins the team in 2004.  Our goals were simple; we wanted to teach more challenging paddling courses and work with the best paddlers across the country to foster a strong Canadian paddlesports community.  To achieve these goals we realized we needed to do a few things differently.
  • We don’t compete with other canoeing and kayaking businesses.  Instead, we work with your organizations to train your staff, develop local talent, and make sure our skills and knowledge are shared with others.  
  • We travel to work.  This way, we are exposed to a wide range of paddling environments and the best Canadian paddlers.  This fosters an exchange of ideas and serves to strengthen the paddling community.  It also means we are constantly asked to justify our ideas, develop new ones, and keep an open mind.  
  • We don't pre-schedule a lot of courses.  Instead, we work with groups and individuals to design custom programs to meet their schedule and needs
Over the years, SKILS has worked across Canada and in the US for a wide variety of organizations.  Some of our partners include:

Comox Valley Kayaks Logo Deep Cove Kayak Logo Ecomarine Kayak Logo
Ocean River Sports Logo Tofino Sea Kayaking Company Pria Outback Logo
Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre Logo Horozons Adventures Logo Naturally Superior Adventures Logo
Trailhead Logo White Squall Paddling Centre Logo Newfoundland Kayak Company Logo
 Power to Be Adventure Therapy Society Logo Adventure Kayak Logo Wavelength Magazine Logo
Delta Kayaks Logo North Water Logo Mountain Equipment Co-op Logo
Greenwood College School Logo Collingwood School Logo St. Michaels University School Logo
York House School Logo Victoria Cane and Kayak Club Vancouver Dragon Boat Conference Logo

Our Adventures

Photo Credit: Mark Hall
Photo Credit: Ralph Keller
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Customer Comments

"The instructor course was a really great course and I thought (Meaghan) you were amazing! And I'm not saying that to suck up - remember you already passed me...lol... ;o. Seriously, your skills and knowledge are incredible but above all of that was your genuine caring personality - you never came across as harsh or judgemental and you always kept us engaged while showing that you genuinely care about helping us grow and develop - not only as paddlers and leaders but also as people. Not to sound sappy but it was inspirational.That is really the main draw for me for doing this kind of stuff - I'm an outdoor junkie through and through but I could go and do backcountry stuff on my own or with buddies...what really keeps me motivated to take courses and lead trips is having the opportunity to meet such wonderful people like you and (the other participants) ...certification expires but those memories last forever...when I get old and I'm sitting around in the old age home wearing my Depends playing my zither I will look back on days like these :o)"

R.D. Whiterock, BC, 2011

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