About Kayak Ontario

A Hamilton-based sea kayaking school offering Paddle Canada and ORCKA certified courses, guided expeditions, and retail across Ontario and the Maritimes.

Who We Are

Kayak Ontario is a sea kayaking school and outfitter built around access, mentorship, and rigorous instruction. We run Paddle Canada and ORCKA certified courses from beginner to instructor-trainer level, lead multi-day expeditions on Georgian Bay, Lake Superior, and the Atlantic coast, and operate a Canadian retail dealership for Valley Sea Kayaks, Rockpool, and other specialist brands.

Our approach is built on three principles: evidence-based coaching, transparent assessment, and student-centred progression. We don't gatekeep, we don't perform, and we don't run courses to fail students. We run them to teach.

Our Team

Kayak Ontario's full-time staff are the people who design our curriculum, lead our expeditions, and teach the majority of our courses. Each holds active Paddle Canada and/or ORCKA certifications and is committed to ongoing professional development.

Iza Paixão

Head Coach and Program Manager

ORCKA Instructor Trainer (Sea Kayaking, Kayak Tripping) · Paddle Canada Level 3 Skills · Level 2 Instructor · Level 1 Instructor Trainer

Iza is Kayak Ontario's Head Coach and one of the key architects of our modern curriculum. She holds Instructor Trainer credentials with both ORCKA and Paddle Canada and brings a relational, trauma-aware coaching style to every course. As Program Manager she oversees course scheduling, instructor development, and quality assurance across our programs. Iza is bilingual (English and Portuguese) and leads expeditions on the Great Lakes and along the Atlantic coast.

Jill Graham

Instructor and Guide

Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills · Level 1 Instructor · Basic Instructor Trainer candidate

Jill is a full-time instructor and trained classroom teacher whose pedagogical background informs every clinic she leads. Her instruction is clear, sequenced, and accessible, particularly for first-time paddlers and those returning to the sport after time away. Jill is currently progressing through her Basic Instructor Trainer pathway, which positions her to take on instructor development as she advances. She blends technical precision with the patient, student-centred approach that defines Kayak Ontario's coaching culture.

Kathleen Stevack

Instructor and Guide

Paddle Canada Level 3 Skills · Level 2 Instructor

Kathleen is a full-time expedition guide and Great Lakes scientist specializing in freshwater ecosystems, marine habitats, and water quality. Her coaching combines strong rescue and rough-water skills with a calm, welcoming approach that suits paddlers new to multi-day travel. Kathleen brings field science directly into her instruction, helping students read coastal environments with depth most schools can't offer. She also knows more about mayflies than anyone should reasonably be expected to.

Evie Stokvis

Instructor and Guide

Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills · Level 1 Instructor

Evie is a junior coach and guide on Kayak Ontario's developing instructor pathway, teaching across our introductory and intermediate programs with a focus on Level 1 and Level 2 skills clinics. She brings a steady, approachable presence to entry-level instruction and is bilingual in English and French, making her a natural fit for paddlers who prefer to learn in either language. Evie is part of the next generation of coaches Kayak Ontario is actively developing through our internal mentorship program, working alongside our senior instructors on courses and expeditions while she progresses through her own certifications.

Aaron Gascoyne

Founder and Director

ORCKA Instructor Trainer (Sea Kayaking, Kayak Tripping) · Paddle Canada Level 4 Skills · Level 3 Instructor · Level 2 Instructor Trainer

Aaron founded Kayak Ontario after a career in industrial automation and renewable energy systems, bringing a systems-engineering perspective to instructional design. He holds active instructor-trainer credentials with both major Canadian certification bodies and is the primary author of Kayak Ontario's Level 1 through Level 3 skills manuals and online courses. His written work focuses on clarity, accessibility, and removing the performance culture that has historically gatekept the sport. Aaron leads expeditions across the Great Lakes and the Maritimes, and is one of Canada's most active sea kayaking educators.

Our contract network. Kayak Ontario prioritizes full-time employment over contract work. Our staff are paid a living wage, receive paid training and professional development, and don't pay for their own gear. We believe a sustainable coaching workforce produces better instruction, and we structure our business to reflect that. Alongside our staff team, we work with a vetted network of contract coaches and expedition guides during peak season. Each contractor is independently certified, holds current Safe Sport training, and is selected for alignment with our coaching standards. We do not publish contractor rosters publicly because the network shifts seasonally, but every coach you will meet on a Kayak Ontario course has been screened against the same criteria as our staff.

Community Partners

Kayak Ontario invests in organizations whose work makes the outdoors more inclusive and accessible. We support these partners through funding, gear, instruction, and program collaboration.

Who We Are

About Kayak Ontario

Who We Are