Board of Directors

We would like to introduce the current Board Members.  Our mandate is to promote and support recreational paddling by providing educational and social opportunities to all members. Our board would like to hear from you. Questions, concerns or comments…you can either email the club directly or get in touch personally with any of our board members.

Tina Barzo – President

Email:  tinabarzo@hotmail.com

Originally from Ontario, where she paddled the iconic lakes and rivers of the great Canadian shield, Tina moved west in 2001 and has been a club member for the past 16+ years.  She usually paddles one of her two Bell solo canoes, most of the time with her trusty sidekick Bosco, and she also owns and paddles a tandem Mad River Explorer with hubby or whoever will jump in with her.

In addition to paddling many of the canoe club trips multiple times, Tina ventured on a Nahanni River trip (2016), Wind River in the Yukon (2018), and Keele River (2022) and all three were challenges and highlights of her paddling life! Tina is recently embarking on a new chapter as the owner of “Women Who Paddle,” an online community of amazing and inspiring women paddlers around the world!

Her full-time job is Leader of Volunteer Engagement for Parks Canada in Banff National Park and she lives in Canmore. Tina looks forward to serving the club on the board, paddling with new and old friends in the Bow Valley and beyond, and honing her canoe tripping skills as well as sharing experiences with others.

Kris Major – Vice-President

I’ve always liked all kinds of outdoor activities, but when I first joined Bow Waters over 20 years ago, I fell in love with river canoeing. Later these paddling trips also included lakes and sea using both canoes and kayaks. Bow Waters is a really great club where people can meet, learn new skills and find great trips to go on. I hope I can help the club become even better and looking forward to getting out on the water lots in the coming year.

Evan Jones – Treasurer

I have been a club member since 2004. I am a tandem paddler, usually with my wife, Fiona. Our paddling skills and enjoyment of the sport have improved greatly through the mentoring, courses and boat rentals offered by the club. I really enjoy attending and coordinating the multi-day club trips. Together with the skills and friends that we have made on club trips we are able to do a number of classic northern Canadian canoe trips most years. I served on the board as Treasurer from 2014 to 2016, shortly after retiring from many years of running my own business. The BWCC treasurer position is a quite challenging, I will try and give it my best.

Jude Williams – Secretary

Jude Williams

Growing up in a military family, Jude has lived across Canada: from the Yukon to Newfoundland. The majority of her life has been spent in Calgary. She is ‘Mom’ to two young men. Her introduction to BWCC was through her kids’ summer paddling camps.

A member of BWCC since 2019, she admits to being more comfortable on land than water.
While cycling is a mainstay in her life (her beloved ‘wheels’ are 40 years young), she is a regular AQ Outdoors customer continually benefitting from their graduated approach to kayak instruction and emphasis on safety.  Looking ahead to retirement (2025?), she has a 12′ Oldtown Sorrento whose crossover capabilities align with her paddling goals of finishing each excursion safely.

Simon Kerkhof – Member Representative

Simon started paddling with bow waters when he was 3 years old with his parents, doing overnight lakes and rivers trips. In the past years he has been getting into white water Paddling. With weekly meetings at Harvey passage and the great support and knowledge of the members he has gotten into Solo canoeing. Simon enjoys the outdoors not just through paddling trips with the club but through mountain biking, backcountry skiing, cross country skiing and climbing as well. As a member representative on the board Simon hopes to help the club reach out to new and current members and share the experience of canoeing to all.


Marie Weingartshofer – Member Representative

I grew up in Nova Scotia and had very little experience on moving water. My first river canoe trip was in Northern Ontario during university. I swam twice on that trip. When I moved to Calgary, I joined the Calgary Ski Club and through some of their members, was introduced to Bow Waters. I took my first lesson before a trip on the Milk and was glad as it helped me when I got hung up on a rock and I knew what to do! I’ve been a member since 2006 and have enjoyed the many BWCC benefits including solo lessons, instruction at Harvie Passage, wilderness first aid and white-water safety courses. The club discounts are fun too. I also love to hike, x-country ski and practice yoga. I’m looking forward to contributing to the club as a member of the board.

Tanya White – Member Representative

Tanya White

With my hubby Tom at my side or should I say behind me in the stern, I enjoy paddling our tandem canoes and kayaks in our beautiful province. Even though I consider myself still a Novice, I hope one day to graduate to Intermediate. I was previously on the BWCC board circa 2015 – 2017 helping with marketing functions and other duties. I must have done a pretty good job since I was invited back.

When I’m not enjoying the outdoors, I may be found playing with my grandchildren, dancing Zumba, and using a different kind of paddle to play pickleball. And, if after working my day job, I have spare time and energy – I love to travel, read and enjoy painting.

I look forward to serving as the newest Member Rep and helping the board and our members.

Jack Kerkhof – Member Representative

Jack Kerkhof

I have had the pleasure of being a member of Bow Waters for the past 18 years. Initially drawn by the promise of safety and camaraderie in paddling moving waters, I soon discovered a vibrant community of like-minded friends and passionate paddlers. Over the years, I’ve embarked on countless memorable trips, received invaluable mentoring, honed my skills through dedicated training – all while forging lasting connections with fellow adventurers.

I find joy in a diverse range of excursions, from gently guiding novices on tranquil ponds to embarking on scenic day trips, multi-day expeditions, and challenging whitewater runs.

As a member of the board my primary goal is to serve the club by contributing my experience as a retired IT professional to enhance our club’s online presence. I envision a new, dynamic website that engages and informs potential and existing members using modern, user-friendly design principles. I aim to ensure the club benefits from an attractive, informative, and easily maintained online platform.