UNPLUGGED Plug: MEC Paddlefest @ Jericho Sailing Centre

LOCATION: Vancouver, B.C.

Flash back to the summer of 1997. A 28 year old me, living in Atlanta, Georgia, was just hired to work in the States for an up and coming start-up out of Burnaby named Creo Products, Inc. Until this time I had never traveled farther West than Salt Lake City, Utah but now I was being asked to fly out to YVR and spend three weeks in training. While the work days were long the weekends were my own and along with a rental car and a few other bright eyes newbies I set out to explore the lower-mainland.

When I asked some of my local co-workers where I could pick up some hiking gear what do you think was the first place everyone said? If you guessed MEC you would be correct. I purchased my five dollar share with a crisp U.S. five spot, worth something like $7.50 at time (those were the days) and geared up for what was one of the best times of my young adult life.

Now flash forward 11 years. Creo is purchased by Kodak and one of the guys who was responsible for hiring me in 1997 (thanks Karim) decides to offer me a role here in what was the original Creo building on Gilmore in Burnaby. Thoughts of my lower mainland adventures spin in my head and the decision is a quick one. I drag my wife, daughter and two dogs across the continent and resettle in beautiful British Columbia. Once again, exploring is the primary directive only this time with my family, we need tents, hiking and camping gear and wouldn't you know it I had saved that little paper card with my MEC membership which was still good. I yanked that sucker out of a file and have not looked back since.

		PLACE: Jericho Sailing Centre (Click for Map)

With MEC such and integral part of my Vancouver experience, when I heard I had the opportunity to do a piece on the 2011 MEC Vancouver Paddlefest I was ecstatic.

The General Manager of Jericho Sailing Centre, Mike Cotter, was kind enough to arrange for a special Zodiac ride offshore to allow for photographing the event.

A Family Paddling

The Jericho Outrigger Canoe Club

A group getting sea-kayak lessons

And the coordinator of the Paddlefest, Aurore Thiercelin, booked a special paddle board lesson for my daughter Gabby and I with the owner of Stand Up Paddle Vancouver Coreena Fletcher.

Enjoying the Stand Up Paddle boards.

Who has the right of way in this situation?

The thing that is most worth noting is that this event happens every year and it is free. Where else can you get free lessons on a kayak or paddle board from some of the best outdoors folks in Vancouver? It was a great experience and I recommend that you pay MEC, Jericho Sailing Centre and Stand Up Paddle Vancouver a visit when you are ready to get out on the water. There is nothing like it.

Remember, if you have any suggestions for an upcoming UNPLUGGED please drop me a comment below, via email at michael@vancouverisawesome.com or on Twitter at VIAUnplugged. Also, feel free to share your thoughts on this feature or anything else (within reason and sticking to the VIA commenting policy of course).

Until next time…Happy Trails!

-mt

All images copyright Michael Tedesco.

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