Masters Of The Waves
Michael is 38 and for his first time kayaking he made it look easy. He simply said it was “great” and that it wasn’t hard to master at all.
“I‘m a smart cookie,” - he said.
Michael, and six other developmentally challenged residents, were learning the sport with Cheryl Gorrie of Community Living Thunder Bay.
Some participants, like Michael, were really excited about this first kayaking experience, whereas the others were “just beaming.”
They received one-on-one instruction, and had a paddling buddy beside them all the time.
“We walked beside him on the shore and showed him the strokes, hand over hand. Before you know it, this guy‘s out paddling on his own, and he just went halfway across the lake. The progress is just incredible.” Gorrie said.
Cheryl thinks kayaking is a perfect summer activity for Community Living clients. It’s almost impossible for the kayaks to tip over and even those in wheelchairs are able to participate.
“There‘s no reason to believe that you wouldn‘t be able to do something like this just because you have a disability,” - Gorrie said.
Bryan Gendron form a local firm provided kayak equipment and lessons are carried out every Wednesday in summer.
“I can‘t believe the progress level that they achieve in such a short period of time.” - said Bryan.
Jim Wedow, a Community Living client, was another quick learning master of the waves.
“I did the stroke and stroke and stroke. It‘s not too hard.” - he said.
Kayaking brings a great feeling of independence. “These guys really take this sport and feel independent, they have no worries about anything else but just paddling and enjoying life. It‘s so good, it‘s so much fun” - said Gendron. “If they come in having a bad day, as soon as they get on the water, it‘s clearly not an issue anymore.”
Gorrie hopes to get more clients and she’s planning to try some tipping and practice rescues to add a little excitement.
Brian plans to make a donation to Community Living Thunder Bay to continue the program also next summers.
“It‘s something that we‘ll do forever, as long as we can.”
