In early May 2026, the World River Centre inducted the newest class of International Whitewater Hall of Fame inductees at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, in partnership with Canoe Kayak Canada and Whitewater Ontario.
Since 2005, the International Whitewater Hall of Fame has celebrated accomplished individuals as Whitewater Pioneers, Explorers, Competitors, or Advocates through a nomination process and a vote by an international panel of electors. This year’s inductees included those from the US, New Zealand, and Australia, with two awardees traveling halfway around the world.
After a warm welcome by the Canadian Canoe Museum staff and special tour by the Curator, Jeremy Ward, Peterborough’s Mayor Jeff Leal welcomed the attendees to the induction ceremony. The program included comments by past inductees or their representatives: Graham Mackareth (UK), founder of Pyrahna Kayaks; Paul Mason on behalf of his father Bill Mason; and Claudia Van Wijk on behalf of her parents, Hermann and Krista Kerckhoff. The program was emceed by former Canadian Canoe Museum Executive Director James Raffan, and the induction began with thoughtful remarks from Christine Lukasavetch on behalf of our rivers’ ties to Indigenous peoples in the region. Attendees included the first International Whitewater Hall of Fame executive and author of River Chasers, Sue Taft.
