Canoeing

Canoe Intermediate Moving Water Tandem Instructor Course (Paddle Canada certification).

4-5 May 2024. For more information please contact, brian@johnstonpursuits.ca or 204-340-2962. 

For all your canoeing instruction needs seek out Paddle Canada Instructors.

In Manitoba, Paddle Manitoba and the Manitoba Whitewater Club are two valuable resources. 

Published Work, Presentations and Photographs

Publications

Johnston, B. (pending). Manitoba's Black River: revealing a treasure. Beaconia, MB: Johnston Pursuits.

Johnston, B. (Ed.). (2014). On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell's Cairn. Beaconia, MB: Johnston Pursuits.

Johnston, B. (Ed.). (2013). On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell's Cairn. (waterproof paper) Beaconia, MB: Johnston Pursuits.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Canoe Tripping Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Lake Program Manual (3nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Moving Water Program Manual (3nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Moving Water Safety and Rescue Clinic (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Canoeing Basic Tandem Skills Course (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Lake Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Moving Water Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Waterfront Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Articles

Johnston, B. B. (2021). River Rescue Essentials: Build Your Own Super Compact Rescue Kit. Rapid Media Paddling Magazine. https://paddlingmag.com/skills/safety-rescue-skills/river-rescue-kit/

Johnston, B. B. (2015). Shindig 2014 Proud Open Canoeists Take Their Traditional Bright Red and Green Canoes Into a Flurry of Decked Butt Boaters (i.e. Kayakers). The Ripple, (Winter 2015), p. 14.

Johnston, B. B. (2015). 2014 Manitoba Regional Report. The Ripple, (Winter 2015), pp. 34-35.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). The Essence of Paddle Canada. Kanawa in RapidMedia, Paddling Buyer's Guide, 2015 Annual, p. 255.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). Shindig 2014 Proud Open Canoeists Take Their Traditional Bright Red and Green Canoes Into a Flurry of Decked Butt Boaters (i.e. Kayakers). The Ripple, (Fall 2014), p. 5.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). Making Your Own Maps, Innovation and Traditional: Navigating, Mapping, and Online Route Planning Tools. https://www.canoeing.com/advanced/feature/makingyourownmaps.htm

Johnston, B. B. (2014). Respectfully Coasting Victoria. Che-Mun, The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 156, pp. 1 and 6-8.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). The Tundra Tumbler—A canoe tripper's guide to hand washing clothes. Che-Mun, The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 155, p. 2.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). iPad Journalizing: paradox, oxymoron. Che-Mun, The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 155, p. 9.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. (2014). Paddling Victoria Island: Seeking adventure in the far north. Above & Beyond, Canada's Arctic Journal, March/April 2014 Vol 26 No 2, pp. 33-38. https://issuu.com/arctic_journal/docs/abovebeyond_marchapril2014

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Paddle Review: Mitchell Premier Whitewater Canoe Paddle. https://www.canoeing.com/gear/feature/mitchellpremierpaddlereview.htm

Johnston, B. B. (2013). On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell's Cairn. Nastawgan Summer 2013 Vol 40 No 2, pp. 16-18.

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Pack a Canoe for a First Descent: Canoeing the Lorillard River. Pakboats, [Pak]Canoe Adventures. https://www.pakboats.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320:lorillard-river&catid=36:pakcanoeadventures&Itemid=168

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Tracking Mr. Tyrrell. Che-Mun The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 150, pp. 6-9.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Corn Bread and Sweet Potato Bannock, The Ripple (fall 2012), p. 10.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). The Ultimate Guide for Far North Clothing and Gear. https://www.canoeing.com/advanced/farnorth/index.htm

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Moving water intro tandem & solo course quick reference guide. https://www.paddlecanada.com/instructors/instructor-resources/instructor-resources.html

Johnston, B. B. (2012). The Lorillard: North of Baker, West of Hudson. Che-Mun The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 148, pp. 6-9.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). An Essential Companion for any Mackenzie River Tripper. A book review of Jamie Bastedo's Trans Canada Trail: Northwest Territories (published 2010 by Fitzhenry & Whiteside). RapidMedia early summer 2012 Kanawa section p 52 and Paddle Canada's Resources, Book Reviews. https://www.paddlingcanada.com/resources/book-reviews.html

Johnston, B. B. (2012). The East Pukaskwa River—the river right trip. Kanawa (Spring 2012), pp. 28-33.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Rallying Manitoba's Black River. The Ripple (late winter 2011), pp. cover and 7-10.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). The Scariest Day of My Life—When Current Met Wind. Kanawa (Early Fall 2011), pp. 18-22.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). The Nature and Philosophy of the New Paddle Canada Canoe Program. Kanawa (winter 2010/2011), pp. 42-43.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). What's in Your Backyard? Rediscovering Manitoba's Black River. Kanawa (fall), pp. 38-40.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). The Cascade River Adventure. Kanawa (spring), pp. 20-25.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). Instructor News: ask a pro response. Kanawa (spring), p. 43.

Johnston, B. B. (2009). Big canoe. The Ripple (summer), pp. 20-21.

Johnston, B. B. (2008). How wilderness canoeing has changed over the past 25 years. Kanawa (winter/spring), pp. 38-39.

Johnston, B. B. (2007-8). The pressure to go light, Reflections on a subarctic summer storm. Nastawgan Vol 35 No 1, pp. 19-20.

Johnston, B. B. (2008). Prince of the Barrenland. The Ripple (winter), pp. 14-15.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Prince of the Barrenland. Che-num The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 129, pp. 6-7.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Why do Canoeists Go Canoeing? The Ripple (spring), p.13.

Johnston, B. B. (2006-7). The ins and outs of folding canoes. Kanawa (winter), pp. 42-44.

Johnston, B. B. (2005). On food barrels. The Ripple (fall), p. 5.

Johnston, B. B. (2005). Moving Water, What is it all about. The Ripple (winter), p. 12.

Johnston, B. B. (2004). How to fit a long stick in a short boat. Kanawa (fall), p. 23.

Johnston, B. B. (2004). Canoeist Trips with Kayakers! What does he discover? The Ripple (fall), pp. 10-11.

Johnston, B. B. (2004). Prairie Paddler Travels to Big City in Search of Canoeing. The Ripple Vol 17 No. 1 (spring), pp. 16-17.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). A whitewater paddling brain. The Ripple Vol 16 No. 4 (winter), p. 11.

Johnston, B. B. (2002). Course Report 2001 Spring White Water Weekend The Ripple, MRCA Newsletter Vol. 15 No. 1 (spring), pp. 8-9.

Johnston, B. B. (2000). Barking Dog. MRCA Newsletter Vol 13 No. 3, pp. 6-7.

Johnston, B. B. (2000). A 'Make You Feel Good' Story. MRCA Newsletter Vol 13 No. 1, p. 5.

Johnston, B. B. (1999). Surfing for Safety. MRCA Newsletter Vol 12 No. 4, pp. 11-13.

Johnston, B. B. (1997-8). The Dog (University) River Has a Big Second Bite! MRCA Newsletter Vol 11 No 1, p. 16-17.

Johnston, B. B. (1996). Big Eddy Rapids. MRCA Newsletter Vol 9 No. 3 (summer), p. 16.

Presentations

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2024). Thomsen River, NWT. The 2024 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota. 

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2023). Coppermine River, NWT/Nunavut. The 2023 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Johnston B.B. (2023) Stony Rapids – To and From the End of the Road, Paddle Manitoba.

Johnston B. B. (2022). Black Lake, Chipman Portages, Chipman River, Selwyn Lake, Porcupine River, Fond du Lac River, Stony Rapids. The 2022 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2022). West Branch Quoich River, Snow Bunting to Baker Lake via the Keytek River. The 2022 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2019). Parker Lake to Ranklin Inlet. The 2019 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Johnston B. et al (2018). Trip Leader Clinic, Paddle Manitoba

Dent A. and Johnston B. (2018) Grand Canyon, Paddle Manitoba

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2017). Utukok, Alaska. The 2018 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Charles Burchill, Brian Johnston, and Sharon Touchette (2016). Trip Leader Clinic, hosted by Paddle Manitoba, Pembina Trail Library, Winnipeg.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2016). Circling the Center of Canada by Canoe, Nunavut. The 2016 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2015). Paddling Unnamed Rivers, Victoria Island, Nunavut. The 2015 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston B. B. (2015). Messages from the Subarctic: publishing notes from Tyrrell's Cairn. Canoecopia. Madison, WI.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. (2015). Paddling routes on Victoria Island, Nunavut: connecting named and unnamed waterways. Canoecopia. Madison, WI.

Johnston, B. B. (2015). PaddleSmart. Paddle Manitoba's Annual General Meeting. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston B. B. (2015). Messages from the Subarctic: publishing notes from Tyrrell's Cairn. 30th Annual Wilderness & Canoeing Symposium. Toronto.

Dosch D. and Johnston B. (2014). Wilderness and Whitewater: planning a canoe trip. Paddle Manitoba.

Johnston B. B. (2014). PaddleSmart. Lockport School Canoe Club.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. (2014). Nanook and Kuujjua Rivers. The 2014 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston B. B. (2014). PaddleSmart. Recreation Connections Manitoba (RCM) Annual Provincial Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Manitoba's Black River: revealing a treasure. Mountain Equipment Coop Club Night. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. and Sessions L. M. (2012). Lorillard River, Nunavut--a first descent. The 2012 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). The far north, why we go. The lesser path to the Prince of the barrenlands. The 2010 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston, B. B. (2010) Pioneer Camp & Paddle Manitoba Canoe School

Johnston, B. B. (2008). Arctic Adventures. Manitoba Conservation Eastern Region Conference. Pinawa, Manitoba.

Faust, A., Johnston, B. B., Reinke, D. (2006). Dog River. Minnesota Canoe Assication's Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Meadowbank, Back, and Prince Rivers. 21st Annual Wilderness & Canoeing Symposium. Toronto.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Safety and Risk Management, in support of the art of backcountry paddling. Paddle Manitoba Canoe and Kayak Camping Clinic. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Dog River Memories. Paddle Manitoba's Annual General Meeting. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Surfing. Paddle Manitoba Indoor Program Manitoba Whitewater Club. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). And the Quoich River is where? Paddle Manitoba Indoor. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Photographs

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Kinship in an Unbounded Land. Lost messages in a bottle. Canoeroots Vol 12 Issue 2, (early summer 2013), p. 20 Tumpline, Tumblehome section.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Majestic Flatwater on the Wild and Free Dog River. Winner: Overall Favourite Photo of All Categories. Paddle Manitoba 7th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Majestic Flatwater on the Wild and Free Dog River. Winner: Flatwater. Paddle Manitoba 7th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Dropping between Pukaskwa River Rocks. Winner: Whitewater. Paddle Manitoba 7th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Crashing through whitewater. Winner: Whitewater. Paddle Manitoba 6th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2000). Barking Dog. Cover Photo. MRCA Newsletter Vol 13 No. 3, p. cover.

Johnston, B. B. (1997-8). Dog River. Cover Photo. MRCA Newsletter Vol 11 No 1, p. cover.

Johnston, B. B. (1996). Manigotagan River. Cover Photo. MRCA Newsletter Vol 9 No. 3, p. cover.

Editorials

Johnston, B (2022). Hut-to-Hut, Explore Magazine Winter 2022, p. 7.

Johnston, B (2015). Why do we return to wilderness? Thoughts from Our Readers. Wilderness News Fall-Winter 2015, p. 10

Johnston, B (2015). Run or Hike? Explore Magazine No 187 Fall 2015, p. 10.

Johnston, B (2013). Comment in Paddle Police. Canoeroots Vol 12 Issue 3 Summer/Fall, p. 5 Community section.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Northern Tripping Skills comment. Canoeroots Vol 11 No. 3 Summer/Fall 2012, p. 4 Campfire section.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Cover photo comment. Rapid Magazine Vol 14 No. 3 Summer/Fall 2012, p. 6 River Signals section.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). When current met wind. Kanawa (Spring 2012), p. 4.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Finding Nastawgan. Kanawa (summer 2011), p. 4.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Awesome comment. Rapid Magazine Vol 13 No. 2 Early Summer, p. 9 River Signals section.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Makeover Madness. Rapid Magazine Vol 13 No. 1 Spring, p. 8 River Signals section.

Johnston, B. B. (2009). Legislate or educate. Kanawa (winter), p. 4.

Johnston, B. B. (2006?). boots, Kanawa (winter), p. ?.

Johnston, B. B. (2005). When you gotta go, go on the road. Rapid Magazine Vol 7 Issue 3, p. 7.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). C1 outfitting Tip. Rapid Magazine Vol 5 Issue 1, p. 6.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). Letter to the editor. The Ripple Vol 16 No. 1 spring p. 22.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). The wisdom of the box. Kanawa (spring), p. 7.