by Barb Young
I first met Aleks on a WCA spring outing on the Queensborough Black River. He was paddling solo and at the canyon rapid there was a lot of scouting and discussion. I can’t remember if Aleks ran the rapid or not but my husband Dave and I did successfully (much to our surprise). However, the thing that sticks in my memory was how charismatic Aleks was. He had a bottle of a red pickle that he was sharing with everyone as we scouted the rapid. Now we all know that WCA members are friendly and outgoing for the most part but this new member Aleks with the pickle jar stood out. Dave and I had the good fortune of paddling with Aleks several times over the next few years. We noticed how quickly he became an expert paddler. Our daughter Carolyn was with us on some of these occasions and Aleks was very good about encouraging her solo paddling. We never failed to enjoy the time we spent together. I attended my first WCA Annual General Meeting at Mountsberg Conservation Area in 2007. Aleks, who was the new WCA chairperson, organized the meeting. Was that why I attended or was it that the meeting sounded like it would be lots of fun? There was a guest speaker (Robert Perkins) and cross-country skiing to follow. I couldn’t resist. During the business portion of the meeting there was lots of heated discussion about whether the Canadian Canoe Routes website should be purchased. This was eventually approved. A new treasurer was needed. I volunteered. I don’t normally volunteer so easily but I knew Aleks would be fun to work with and he certainly has been.
According to Aleks (Nastawgan, Winter 2011 – go back and read this very well written piece) he arrived in Canada in 1989 from Yugoslavia (Serbia). Fifteen years later in 2004 he discovered paddling and went from a novice paddler (on the White River with Scott Card in 2005) to an ORCA & PC whitewater instructor in 2009. His involvement with the Wilderness Canoe Association and other paddling communities was exponential as well. He became the illustrations editor for the Nastawgan in 2005, a WCA board director in 2006, Chair of the WCA in 2007 and after a year of apprenticing with Toni Harting he became editor of the Nastawgan in 2012. Under his leadership the WCA entered the 21st century with a website, Nastawgan in colour and much much more. Even with all that he had already accomplished he then took on the Wilderness Canoe Symposium when George Luste became ill. Well done Aleks. I believe the paddling community owes you a huge debt of gratitude. It has been a pleasure to have worked with you and I hope we continue to do so.
