International Whitewater Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The International Whitewater Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on May 2, 2026, at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario—an architecturally striking, immersive cultural destination named one of National Geographic’s “Best of the World 2024” and featured in The New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2025.”

Your ticket offers a curated afternoon and evening experience. Guests are invited to explore the Museum’s Exhibition Hall at their own pace from 2:00–5:00 pm, followed by an exclusive, behind-the-scenes visit to the Collection Hall with Curator Jeremy Ward and the CCM’s Executive Director, Carolyn Hyslop. The evening continues with an Atrium Social featuring video tributes from past Hall of Fame inductees, a silent auction showcasing paddling gear, boats, and artwork, and the official International Whitewater Hall of Fame induction ceremony, honoring five remarkable inductees.

Proceeds from the event support the World River Centre and the whitewater programs of Canoe Kayak Canada—helping to celebrate the past while investing in the future of whitewater paddling.

Donate at our GoFundMe page

The World River Centre is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to encourage community among whitewater paddler around the world, by honoring accomplished paddlers and beyond that, exploring new ways to connect such as through podcasts during which we tour various museum collections.The Centre's Board of Directors invites you to join us as we induct the newest members of the International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF), hosted by our partnes and friends at the Canadian Canoe Museum. Since 2005, the IWHoF has celebrated nearly seventy individuals who have made lasting contributions to the whitewater community as Explorers, Pioneers, Competitors and Advocates. This year's inductees continue this tradition of excellence. We are so excited to see you in Peterborough! If you are not able to be there with us in person, we would so appreciate a gift to support our awards, the ceremony and video that have been prepared and which will be on public display for years to come.

Welcome to The Canadian Canoe Museum, located on the Traditional Territory of the Williams Treaties First Nations in Peterborough, Ontario!

For more than 25 years, The Canadian Canoe Museum has been home to the world’s largest and most significant collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft.

More than 600 in number, the watercraft and their stories have a pivotal role to play in understanding our past and collective future. As part of the Museum’s responsibility for this one-of-a-kind collection, we have built a new home along the water’s edge of Little Lake, a widening in the Otonabee River.

The Canadian Canoe Museum’s location allows it to offer an incredibly special visitor experience for all ages. The 20,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall hosts a unique suite of exhibits that explore different themes surrounding the canoe and kayak and dive into the fascinating stories carried by the 100+ watercraft in this space. The Collection Hall allows for the display of 100% of the Museum’s watercraft in a Class “A” controlled museum environment.

Explore this world-class facility and uncover the stories behind the collection, from honouring Indigenous traditions to embracing diverse perspectives, the Museum’s commitment to stewardship extends far beyond artifact preservation—it’s a pledge to foster meaningful connections and inspire new generations of stewards of our lands and water.

The museum is an hour's drive east of Toronto. There is free parking across the road.

The hotel room block for the upcoming IWHOF event is now live for May 1-3. Book by April 1st to secure your discounted room rate.

Hilton Hampton Peterborough Reservations

To book by phone: 705-270-6280 Group name “Whitewater”

Special Rate: $180 CAD per night

Book your campsite

Info: Guests can self-explore the museum and campus, and order from the café.

Info: Hosted by Carolyn Hyslop, Executive Director, and Jeremy Ward, Curator of the Canadian Canoe Museum. Please meet in the museum atrium at the bottom of the stairs.

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