2005 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Alan Wilson

• Co-founded WaveLength Magazine
• Organized Annual WaveLength Ocean Kayak Festival from 1993 through 1997
• Recognized and Promoted Mothership Kayaking
• Promotion of Aboriginal Eco-Tourism
• Development of industry standards in guiding and codes of on-water conduct
• Exposed the negative impact the expansion of fish farming would have on recreation and tourism on our coast and in BC
• Contributor and supporter of the Georgia Strait Alliance

Alan was introduced to paddling around 1990 by friends Howard Stiff and Peter Marcus. He loved it from the start and continues to be passionate about it, only wishing he could figure out how to fit more paddling into his busy life.

In 1991, Peter approached Howie and Alan and talked them into undertaking a new project, to publish a kayaking magazine. Alan had been working on desktop publishing for several years by then, and loved writing, so he was a natural for the challenge. Thus WaveLength Paddling Magazine was born. To start it was a tabloid newsprint production. In those days the paste-up was done with actual paper and glue. It was a real labour of love, because it certainly wasn't a money-making venture.

With a small budget, Wavelength quickly developed into one of the most interesting and useful kayaking publications around. It was different from the other sports magazines as it had a strong environmental focus and introduced people around North America to the beauty and allure of paddling in BC. In the mid-90's Alan & Howie pioneered new waters by putting WaveLength fully online. Today it is dowloaded all over the world.

Alan organized the annual WaveLength Ocean Kayak Festival from 1993 through 1997, which was a pioneering effort in terms of paddle festivals ( you can see its influence in the Vancouver Island Paddlefest today, and for a number of years in the Okanagan Paddle Festival). The Okanagan Festival introduced hundreds of people to kayaking, promoted an ethic of environmental protection, and helped connect the paddling industry with envrionmenttal protection efforts.

Another pioneering move by Alan was his recognition of the potential for, and promotion of, mothership kayaking. Alan promoted the concept of using a sail or power boat to carry kayaks. HIs promotion has played a role in the large increase in the number of power and sailboats that carry kayaks when they cruise.

Alan has also been very involved in promoting aboriginal eco-tourism. He's worked with First Nations to produce several issues of WaveLength focused on First Nations tourism on our coast. These magazines have been very well received and have helped promote aboriginal tourism enterprises in BC.

As the Volunteer Recreational and Tourism Sector Representative on the Salmon Aquaculture Review (SAR), Alan conducted a survey of the paddling industry to gather concerns about fish farming's impact on recreaton and tourism. Alan's survey results which strongly showed that the expansion of the fish farm industry would very negatively impact reacreation on our coast and tourism industry in BC caught the attention of the Tourism Ministry and prompted them to conduct their own survey.

Alan was key in the development of Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA)'s Report Card on the province's handling of the fish farm industry that was released last year, which has been used since in meetings with Cabinet Ministers and ogvernment officials and in a court case by the Homalco First Nation band who are working to prevent the spread of fish farms in their region.

Alan has always and continues to volunteer to help shape the GSA's strategies and policies; doing educational outreach at events; writing and editing educational material ; and much more. Furthermore, Alan has been responsible for most of the design/graphic work for the GSA since its inception and WaveLength has contributed a huge amount of free advertising and editorial space to the GSA.

Importantly, Alan has been a strong supporter of the development of industry standards of excellence in guiding; helped connect paddlers of all skill levels with information and organizations; and promoted codes of conduct on the water (eg. marine mammal viewing, leave no trace camping). He has been a strong consensus builder and peacemaker, bridging gaps among people in the industry and the recreational side of paddling.

"Alan has been tremendous for the sport and has always been there to support the important things our sport is all about like the environment, the individual freedom and the nature of the sport. I have a great deal of respect for Alan and hope this award goes through as he is very deserving."

Brian Henry, Ocean River Sports

"In the few times I had the opportunity to meet Alan (before the days of WaveLength) he was always a calm and gentle presence. While most of us (operators) were finding our places dreaming up expeditions or what tidbits to add to our intertidal walks, Alan wanted something more holistic. Everyone could see it in his eyes. We weren't exactly sure what he was searching for. I like to think it was the missing local voice in a fledgling paddling industry, that he foudn trhgouh WaveLength."

Rupert Wong, West Coast Expeditions