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ontario parks association

Protecting Tomorrow Today®

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  • Water Trail and Paddling Recreation Risk Management (NEW!)

Water Trail and Paddling Recreation Risk Management (NEW!)


Instructed By:


Dr. Jeff Jackson, Ph.D.

Presented in Partnership with:


Water Trail and Paddling Recreation Risk Management (NEW!)

Paddling is a staple in Ontario’s parks and recreation offerings. With the emergence of water trail tourism and the wide range of paddle craft now on the water, risk management principles from land- based trail management are instructive in building user safety and minimizing risk exposure to the organization.

This live webinar lays the foundation for water trail tourism and paddling recreation programs to plan and organize their risk management practices.

The theory session covers:

  • Mandatory baseline risk management practices for water-based offerings
  • The legal environment, legislative requirements, and defenses against negligence
  • Water trail risk management systems, user safety, and trail management objectives
  • Access, information and signage principles
  • Paddling recreation user safety systems

This live webinar is taught by Jeff Jackson, Ph.D., a recognized expert in risk management and long-time facilitator of the OTC’s risk management training. His experience ranges from provincial level recreation and tourism policy development, expert opinion in trail and paddling-based legal proceedings, and work as a risk consultant. For over 25 years Jeff taught in Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure diploma program and has been a paddling guide for over 35 years.

NOTE: this 3 hour training course is delivered via one 3 hour online session.


Upcoming events

  • Trails Risk Management - Level 1 (Daytime Sessions) - Presented in Partnership with Ontario Trails Council

    • 27 Jan 2026
    • 12:00 PM
    • 29 Jan 2026
    • 3:00 PM
    • Online - Zoom (Link will be provided via email to registrants)
    • 7
    Register

    Managing trails is about managing risk. Offering trail opportunities creates a significant community asset with immense tangible and intangible benefits. Balanced against these positive effects comes an obligation and responsibility to do it right. There is an inherent tension between providing recreation opportunities and at the same time protecting against their possible negative side effects. This is the mediating role risk management plays.

    This live webinar lays the foundation for trail managers, builders and volunteers to plan and organize their risk management practices. This introductory theory course is part 1 of a three-part risk management progression, and is the prerequisite to the level 2 and 3.

    The theory session covers:

    • Mandatory baseline trail risk management practices
    • The legal environment, legislative requirements, and defenses against negligence
    • Trail risk management systems, user safety, and trail management objectives
    • Access, information and signage principles

    This live webinar is taught by Jeff Jackson, Ph.D., a recognized expert in trail risk management and long-time facilitator of the OTC’s risk management training. His experience ranges from provincial level trail policy development, expert opinion in trail-based legal proceedings, publishing a number of risk management chapters in trail related publications, and work as a risk consultant, trail builder and manager in both winter and summer.

    NOTE: This 6 hour training program will be delivered via two - three hour online sessions 

    Session One: Tuesday January 27, 2026 from 12pm to 3pm

    Session Two: Thursday January 29, 2026 from 12pm to 3pm

    This course is being delivered in partnership with Ontario Trails Council and counts as 1 credit towards your Parks Practitioner Designation.

    Please register online, an invoice will be sent to you within 24hrs of registering. Payment can then be made online through the invoice you will receive or via cheque (made payable to Ontario Parks Association).



    Show details

  • Trails Risk Management - Level 2(Daytime Sessions) - Presented in Partnership with Ontario Trails Council

    • 03 Mar 2026
    • 12:00 PM
    • 05 Mar 2026
    • 3:00 PM
    • Online - Zoom (Link will be provided via email to registrants)
    • 24
    Register

    This live webinar builds upon the basic legal requirements and user safety concepts from Level 1 to examine the key roles of signage, trail inspection and documentation. This starts with an accurate risk assessment for multi use or activity optimized trail networks. A process is introduced to inventory and assess trail hazards and build a customized signage and inspection system that addresses key management and user safety concerns.

    The theory session covers:

    • Risk assessment theory and process
    • Identifying signage needs; signage system and placement best practice
    • Customized inspection procedures and documentation
    • The trail management plan contents and uses in meeting trail management objectives

    This live webinar is taught by Jeff Jackson, Ph.D., a recognized expert in trail risk management and long-time facilitator of the OTC’s risk management training. His experience ranges from provincial level trail policy development, expert opinion in trail-based legal proceedings, publishing a number of risk management chapters in trail related publications, and work as a risk consultant, trail builder and manager in both winter and summer.

    Pre-requisite: OPA’s Trail Risk Management – level 1 online webinar

    NOTE: This 6 hour training program will be delivered via two - three hour online sessions 

    Session One: Tuesday March 3, 2026 from 12pm to 3pm

    Session Two: Thursday March 5, 2026 from 12pm to 3pm

    This course is being delivered in partnership with Ontario Trails Council and counts as 1 credit towards your Parks Practitioner Designation.

    Please register online, an invoice will be sent to you within 24hrs of registering. Payment can then be made online through the invoice you will receive or via cheque (made payable to Ontario Parks Association).



    Show details

For more information on hosting or attending, please send an email referencing the course title to training@ontarioparksassociation.ca

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