Do you live in Chilliwack? Join us between May 15 and June 20 for the 2021 Paddle the Slough Challenge for a fun day (or days) of adventuring along some of the Fraser Valley’s magnificent paddling watercourses.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s annual canoe tour is socially-distanced and self-guided to ensure participant safety and compliance with health authority guidelines.

Grab a canoe, kayak or paddleboard and begin the Paddle the Slough Challenge at one of Chilliwack’s four “blueways” locations: Nelson Slough, Camp Slough, Hope Slough or the Bear Slough/ West Camp Slough. Blueways are waterways that meet specific accessibility requirements (launching capability, stopover sites, little or no current etc) and are suitable for recreational use by non-motorized watercraft.

We provide you with maps, detailing the route. (Links to download maps below.) As you paddle, snap photos of yourself for chances to win some awesome prizes.

• One $200 gift certificate for Western Canoe & Kayak.
• One gift certificate for Purple Hayes School of Kayaking’s Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking course ($250 value). 
• Two $50 gift certificates for PickEco.
• One $250, one $75 and one $25 gift card for Mt Waddington Outdoors.
• Two Mt. Waddington Outdoors Cheam Range t-shirts.
• Six hats, two t-shirts and one Kokatat Day pack from Nikki Rekman Sales – Kokatat – Werner. 
• Ten coffee packs from Spirit Bear Coffee.

The Paddle the Slough Challenge is hosted by Watershed Watch Salmon Society and Friends of the Camp/Hope Slough.  Aside from some good paddling fun, this event raises awareness about the potential for revitalization and restoration of Chilliwack’s sloughs.

How to participate in the event:

• Register for the event on EventBrite. Register your email and download the route maps.
  • Camp Slough (S’alxwitsel) and Bear Slough paddle routes
  • Nelson Slough Kitchen to Jesperson paddle route
  • Hope Slough Qwómqwemows Paddle Route
  • Nelson Slough Ballam to Kitchen paddle route
  • Paddle the Slough Challenge overview map
• Next, click the link provided in your confirmation email and send the city of Chilliwack a note, thanking them for their efforts in establishing the city’s blueways program. 
• Each time you complete a leg of the challenge, snap a photo of yourself out on the water and send it to engagement@watershedwatch.ca. (For a bonus entry, post the pics you snap to our Facebook event page.)
• You have six weeks to complete the challenge, so take your time and have fun with it!

Please be advised:

• This event is limited to people residing within the local community. Due to travel restrictions, we cannot invite those outside the local health area to participate. 
• The paddling route borders many private properties. Please be respectful, clean up after yourself and stick to the routes outlined on the maps provided. 
• We require all participants wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid physical contact while participating in the event. 
• Individuals who have travelled outside of Canada in the past two weeks, received instructions to isolate or quarantine, or are experiencing symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue etc) associated with COVID-19 are disallowed from participating in this event.