A thousandth times thank-you for the Day Guide course you offered to our staff. They learned so much and had so much fun! You are a great instructor. ---M.T., Le Clan, Powell River, 2008

Thank you so much! We had a super time!! Every participant has told me it was the best course they've ever taken! I think we all have sore cheeks from laughing so hard! Piper was great! Can't wait to have him back and learn more! ---R.K., Halfmoon Bay, 2008

After taking the Day Guide course with SKILS I was so inspired I went on to take their Assistant Overnight Guide course the same season.  Not only was the instruction superb in all respects, but the instructors were delightful to learn from because of
their passion for sharing all that is so wonderful about kayaking, the outdoors, and guiding itself.  The courses were tremendously fun because the instructors had a wonderful sense of humour, and the other participants were very like-minded individuals.  On the guide courses with SKILS you learn an incredible amount in a short period of time, that leaves you feeling confident that you have all the critical knowledge and skills a guide needs, and in the process you get to have a wonderful adventure on the west coast.

---J.L., Courtenay, 2007

Thank you again for your outstanding work over the past two trips. It truly is a pleasure to work with you.

---P. M., St Michael’s University School, Victoria, 2009

Hello from Toronto JF, We have had amazing response from your trips the past two years and we would like to continue for a third!  Best,

---S.M., York School, Toronto, 2009

JF: I just wanted to drop you a note thanking both you and Michael for all the hard work you put into making the AOG course in May such a success. I have been wracking my brain to come up with ways to improve what you offer and I can't. The more I paddle the more I remember things you passed on.

---J. P., Fort St-John, 2009

Thanks JF.  Laura often recounts stories and games from your trip together - she had a really awesome experience, thanks again for doing this for these kids! The impact runs deep.

---B.S., Ucluelet, 2009

I feel much more confident now that I have some skills. :-) Thank-you very much for your instuctions, you are a great teacher. Cheers,

---M. S., Cowichan Bay, 2009

Just a quick note to say that was a trip of a lifetime with Jean-Francois.  A total class act - professional - safe - fascinating - fun - and a challenge!!! Thank-you so much,

---S. Q., Seattle, 2009

 Thanks again for the great organization JF; the course was very good as always.

---J.O., MEC Ottawa, 2009

The AGO course with JF and Beth-Ann was fabulous.  Intense, challenging, enjoyable, well organized, and wonderful people. Thanks to SKILS for a great course.

---G. S. Victoria, 2009

Thanks again for your hard work, patience and guidance during the AOG course - thanks to you I learned a lot and had a good time in the process. All the best,

---M. A. Kitchener, 2009

Hey JF, thanks for everything. I finished the course now and I had a blast! Loved my teachers, Chris and James! Learned a lot!

---S. I. G., Kelowna, 2009

JF and Michael, I wanted to send you both a note to say thanks for the incredible experience last week on the AOG PC Level 2 course.  The Assistant Overnight Guide course is a fantastic opportunity for any paddler to better prepare themselves as a trip participant and peer leader.   Your guidance, encouragement and support provided the best environment for growth, in leadership as well as technical skill.  This was the most challenging trip I have done and by far the most rewarding - I came away from this course with an increased awareness of inter-relations with peers and clients, an enhanced passion for paddling and the ability to explore remote regions with little impact. Thanks again and I look forward to the opportunity of working with you on additional courses in the future.

---G.C., Vancouver, 2009

 On another note, I just wanted to let you and everyone at SKILS know that I really enjoyed the Paddle Canada Flatwater Instructor course in Victoria. Erik did a fantastic job and is a great instructor. I will definitely be taking more training from SKILS. Cheers,

---S.F., Alpha Dive Services, Powell River, 2009

Michael, Thank you so much for the instructor course. I have never taken a kayaking course that has increased my self esteem and made me feel really great about the skills I do bring to the kayak industry. I am aware of the things I need to keep working on as well which is great. I have just about mastered my roll and plan to do so in the next few weeks!  The kind words you spoke to me about me being "in the right place" resound with me today and I remember them when things are tough and I am unsure of my abilities. I plan to take more courses with SKILS in the near future! Happy Paddling,

---S. P., Victoria, 2009

It's all good. The staff had a GREAT day today with Erik, who, as always, is being hailed as the best instructor out here! All the best,

---U. L., MEC Toronto, 2009

Meaghan, Thanks again for hosting a great class on the weekend, everyone was raving about your teaching ability, your humor and patience.  You truly are a great asset to SKILS & Paddle Canada….

---J.C., Rocky Point Kayak, Port Moody, 2009

Hi JF, thank you again for a tremendous learning experience and being such a great role model during our AOG course. It was a very eye-opening and growing experience for me.

S.B., New Westminster, 2009

 Hi JF, I just wanted to thank you again, I had such a great time and learned so much on the course.  As we discussed, there was so much that every kayaker should know.  Everything was better than I could have expected. Anyway, thank you very much for everything. Regards,

B.D., Port Coquitlam, 2009

Hi JF, Thanks for…an amazing week.  I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the trip, the guides, food...the whole experience.  Thanks so much for another great year.  As I get more formal feedback I'll pass it along for any adjustments.  One thing that was mentioned was the weather.  If there's any way to make it sunny and warm each year during our Challenge Week it would be greatly appreciated! One story I did hear was that toward the end of the week, one of the girls was wet, muddy and looking like she should be miserable.  She turned to Sarah and told her that she really didn't want the week to ever end. Thanks again to all at SKILS who made the week such a success. Merci Beaucoup!

T.W., York School, Toronto, 2009

Thanks JF, you guys at SKILS are the Best!      

R.G., Kelowna, 2009

I thoroughly enjoyed the Day Guide course. The instruction from JF and Chris was top notch. I would definitely recommend your training programs to anyone.

---S.F., Alpha Dive Services, Powell River, 2008

Skils instructors (JF and Beth-Anne) are able to teach the skills necessary in a manner that was easier to understand and made more sense and the info stuck.  I have learned about weather and sea conditions many times but their examples, homework, practice and teaching was so helpful. The 9 days was so much fun - it was challenging and hard but we played games to learn and to break up the studying.  We ate so much good food.  i think i may have laughed the hardest on this course as well! With the Skils course, I feel more comfortable with my skills and when I was with them I always felt safe. The location and activities were always very suitable to the group and the conditions and the learning environment. What can I say but JF and Beth-Anne are all-stars.  When I am ready to upgrade and give myself another challenge I will definitely call on Skils.

---L.K., Victoria, 2007

I wanted to thank you again for the kayaking course.  Succeeding at this mental and physical challenge has given me more confidence and exhilaration than I ever would have thought possible in 4 days!

---A.G., Vancouver, 2008

Thank you again for one of my most

amazing experiences!  Such fun and so much learned.

You guys are awesome and I really appreciate the work

you each invested in my skills development.  Thank you so very much.

The direction and instruction I have received from your company has been outstanding and very valuable.

---T.B., Saskatoon, 2008

Hello, We just wanted to say thank-you for a great kayak session last Wednesday. It

was really fun and we learned so much! (We were all walking a bit funny the

next day though!!) Now we can go out in our kayaks and not worry so much

about falling out! The ninja wetsuits were a bonus! You were a great teacher

and your kayaking enthusiasm was obvious. Thanks JF.

---K.B., Ucluelet, 2008

Hi JF and Meaghan,

I just wanted to thank you both for your roles in planning and running last

week's course (not to mention the Level 2 in late March). I found the

experience extremely rewarding (as did the other participants) and am sure it

will pay dividends in the level of service our staff are able to provide. I'm

sending out an e-mail to store managers and learning coordinators at other

locations to let them know how well it went.

Meaghan, everybody on the course found you a wonderful instructor. You did a

phenomenal job communicating both hard skills and teaching techniques to our

unruly crew. I also appreciated your insight into incorporating retail-specific

components into staff training (an easy thing to overlook). Finally, you were

fun to be with on the water and in the classroom!

JF, thanks for guiding me through the set-up and myriad registration procedures

for these two courses. Your clear communication and patience is much

appreciated!

Thanks again to both of you. I hope to see you out on the water (rather than on

a computer screen, from behind a desk)!

Sincerely,

---S.M. Learning Coordinator, Mountain Equipment Co-op, 2008

Once again me and Bernard would like to thank you for the wonderful weekend
and the course which is a great start to our education and career in
guiding. Already we're looking to the next courses and some wilderness first
aid.

---K.K., North Vancouver, 2007

Thank-you JF for the great training, your leadership and your knowledge.

---J-F.L., MEC Montréal, 2007

What a great experience that week was for me, you guys are incredible teachers!

---V.G., Lund, 2007

Hi, I was at the MEC paddlefest at Ambleside on July 15th, Sun.
I was in the advanced strokes, the intro to rolling and the rescues clinics.
Alex was one of the 2 main instructors for these clinics.
Both of them were really great. Alex, thank you so much for not only teaching us so much great info. In such a easy to learn way but for also making the day such a great one.
I will be watching for you in future classes.

---J.B., MEC PaddleFest Ambleside Beach, 2007

First off I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to Michael and Eric for a great
course. I was quite impressed how quickly you guys could change gears and offer up a
canoe version of the course. I found the course to be very informative, practical
and adaptive to what they would be experiencing on the floor. As facilitators
the two of you were professional and extremely knowledgeable as well as being
one of the group. There is something to be said for having "outside course
instructors" teaching classes.

---N.C., Product Team Leader, MEC Ottawa, 2007

I just want to tell you how fantastic Ben was for our SKILS water sports training this year. He was VERY knowledgeable

---S.C., MEC Halifax Product Team Leader, 2007

JF, A special thanks for the energy and effort you put into our Level 1 guide course over
the past few days.  You put on an excellent course and managed to teach an old
mariner a few useful new tricks and helped to instill a further level of confidence to
enable dealing with potential emergencies whilst Kayaking.     It was fun to be able to
share a few gems of knowledge with you fellows as you are obviously very keen about your chosen work in the sport of Kayaking and I certainly hope that your season goes well and your clients listen closely to your good advice and at the same time enjoy your sharp sense of Humour.

---P.V., Victoria, 2007

The Level 2 Instructor course was excellent. I learned alot about teaching
paddling skills and theory. Michael shone as usual. It was very professional. I am so
pleased.

---C.G., Courtenay, 2007