Dear Friends,

October-November 2006

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alan Wilson

This issue of WaveLength is the last for me as Editor/Publisher. After 93 issues spanning fifteen and a half years, I’m passing over the helm to my Assistant Editor Diana Mumford and her husband Ron, longtime friends and colleagues. To fit in with their busy publishing schedule at Pacific Edge Publishing, the usual December issue is being postponed till January when the new four-season quarterly schedule begins. So let’s raise a glass to the new owners and to a great future for the magazine. I’m looking forward to their first issue.

As for me, I’ll still be paddling, collecting photos and stories, working on marine conservation issues and writing a column for the magazine. But it’s time for a change in leadership. I’m going to miss serving in this role and talking to all of you, but I know you’ll enjoy Diana and Ron’s work as they continue to spread the word about paddling.

I want to thank all of you who have worked on the WaveLength project. I can’t list everyone, but first and foremost are Peter and Howie for their creative energies; Brenda, Cheryl, Ana for all their help in the early days; my daughter Marika and father Ted for on-going assistance; Mercia, Sheila, Jennifer, Barb who helped with memorable Ocean Kayak Festivals; invaluable Assistant Editors, first Sue, then Diane, then Diana; a great team of writers including wonderful regular columnists Alexandra, Bryan, Dan, Alex, Adam, Debbie; brilliant regular contributors such as Neil; generous photographers like Al and Wendell; creative cartoonists Berry, now Paul; our team of hardworking distributors: Marty, Herb, Rajé, Diane, Adam; our patient webmaster Ted; Frank who runs our mailing house; Cheryl and Margaret who used to handle our numbers, then Julie, now Chris (who does so much more); the great folks at Mitchell Press (especially Gale and Debi); and an ENORMOUS thanks to my wife Laurie who has proofed every issue as a volunteer for over a decade, and been a constant advisor, supporter and reality checker.

Very special thanks are also due to the companies who joined us in our first year—Ecomarine, Western Canoeing & Kayaking, Seaward Kayaks, Nimbus Kayaks, Coast Mountain Expeditions, Tofino Sea Kayaking, Gulf Island Kayaking, Paddling South, Comox Valley Kayaks, Sea Kayak Association of BC, West Coast Expeditions and Current Designs—most of which have been with us annually or seasonally ever since! It’s been a great pleasure working with you and all the other companies which appear so reliably in our pages.

Lastly, I’d like to applaud everyone who chooses to share in the age-old, worldwide culture of paddling, to go back to the brine from whence we came, to float free in the people’s boat on the people’s sea.

Paddling helps us come to our senses and understand our impact on the world. There is no doubt our species is doing violence to wilderness and wildlife, to other people, ourselves and future generations. Those of us who have another vision must assert it. My greatest wish is for peace, justice and sustainability of life. The world is a wondrous place and our short stay on it is an experience to be treasured and shared.

I wish all of you the best. Alan Wilson