It's perfect weather for a day on the river. We're meeting at Kingsmill Park North under Old Mill Station where we'll get fitted for lifejackets and grab our canoes. Ryan will give those who need it a quick lesson then we'll lazily explore the Humber River. Keep your eyes open for kingfishers, cormorants, beavers and even deer.

After a couple of hours on the river, we'll set up in the park for a picnic. Bring food, drinks, games and picnic blankets to hang out for as much of the afternoon as you feel like.

There's a total of about 6km of paddling available to you. My favourite route is to go south, exploring the marshes as you go. We'll stick together as a group the whole time.

N.B. You should not go beyond the Humber Bay Bridge at the mouth of the Humber - conditions get considerably more choppy beyond that.

10:15 - Meet at Humber River Adventures - it's easily accessible by public transport and bikeshare. Sign in, get equipment.

10:30-12:30 - Paddle

12:30 onwards - Picnic

• Wear closed-toe athletic footwear you don’t mind getting wet & muddy.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses & hats.
• A water bottle with at least 1.5l of water. It's going to be hot!
• Change of clothes (required for all paddlers in May - this is in the unlikely event you fall in)
• Government Issued Photo ID
• Picnic blanket if you have one
• Any games you want to play
• Dry bag - optional but helpful for phones etc.

You can leave additional stuff in an (unattended) trailer on site.

• Packed Lunch
• Drinks and plenty of water

You'll be getting a tandem canoe, paddle, PFD and safety kit. Feel free to bring your own PFD.

We will all wear lifejackets (PFDs) at all times.

Before we start, Ryan or on-site staff will check that it is fitted properly. When you pull on it, it should not be able to come above your head

Please notify Ryan if you can't swim.

This is helpful so we can keep an eye on you, be extra careful with your PFD and pair you with a strong paddler.

Heat exposure

It will be a hot day so ensure that you're wearing sunscreen, a sun hat and drink plenty of fluids.

N.B. You should not go beyond the Humber Bay Bridge at the mouth of the Humber - conditions get considerably more choppy beyond that.

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We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. You can use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas.

The Humber has a particularly long and varied indigenous history, groups who maintain connections to the land include:

1. The Anishinaabe: This includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Algonquin peoples. They have lived in the region for centuries and continue to have a presence in the area.
2. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy: This includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations. They have historical connections to the land around Toronto.
3. The Huron-Wendat: They were once the primary inhabitants of the Toronto area before being displaced by European colonization and other Indigenous groups. The Huron-Wendat nation now resides in Wendake, Quebec, but maintains a historical connection to Toronto.
4. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: This is a Mississauga Ojibwe First Nation located near Brantford, Ontario. They have treaty rights and historical connections to the land that is now the city of Toronto.
5. The Métis: The Métis people, who are of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, also have connections to the region.

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