Kayakers perform a paddle 'salute' to mark the granting of permission to land by Stz'uminus First Nation Chief John Elliot.

About 100 kayakers converged en masse in an even't dubbed 'floatzilla' to mark the official opening of the BC Marine Trail on Saturday, May 14.

The kayakers paddled across Ladysmith Harbour to the marine trail grand opening timed to take place during the 2011 Vancouver Island Paddlefest. The paddlers were met at Transfer Beach by Stz'uminus First Nation Chief John Elliot, who as part of the ceremony was asked by kayakers for permission to land on Stz'uminus traditional land. Once granted, kayakers performed a paddle 'salute' followed by a synchronized Greenland roll.

Michael Pardy, representing the BC Marine Trails Network Association, presented a planket to Chief Elliot as he landed his kayak. The other paddlers then joined the landing at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith to watch the opening ceremonies that included a ribbon cutting conducted from a traditional First Nations war canoe.

It was a chance for kayakers and the Stz'uminus Chief to share a common outlook on protecting land and water for the future.

"My family, my ancestors have traveled these waters for many generations," John Elliot said. "The reason why Stz'uminus people fight so hard to protect the lands and waters in this area is because of the value we see in it and how we want to keep it for future generations. That's why it is easy for me to come to an event like this because I know how much the respect kayakers have of the lands and waters and the people within my traditional territory."

Elliot credited the BC Marine Trails Network Association in its efforts, as well as kayakers in general.

"I am a person of the waters I travel the waters as much as I can when I get time but when I do many times I stop and visit kayakers on the shore. They are very respectful of me, and the respect they give of me I give it back, and I want to say for this event I think it is something that will be a partnership and a relationship not only with my community as we have a great partnership with the town of Ladysmith and we will continue to build those partnerships within Stz'uminus traditional territory," Elliot said.

"I hope we have many more events like this where we come together and have opportunities to take care of the resources and the lands in our traditional territory so we have the opportunity our children, our great-grandchildren have the same opportunities that we do."

The ceremony marked the opening of the official opening of the trail that gives official status to campsites, launch sites and safe havens for paddlers along the British Columbia coast. It will eventually link all coastal waters between Alaska and Washington State, making it the world's largest marine trail. Two portions of the overall routes were opened at the Vancouver Island Paddlefest: The West Coast Vancouver Island North route from Port Hardy to Tofino and the Gulf Islands Marine Trails Network between Sidney and Nanaimo.

Other routes in the late stages of development include Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands, and the West Coast Vancouver Island South portion between Tofino and Sideny. Together the four trail portions will create an official route to circumnavigate Vancouver Island.

You can read details of each of the first two routes in the Spring and Summer 2011 issues of Coast&Kayak Magazine. The Spring

2011 features details on the West Coast Vancouver Island North portion, and the Summer 2011 issue on the Gulf Islands Marine Trails Network. Coast&Kayak Magazine is available free at over 500 distribution locations between Alaska and Florida, and can be read free online.

Paul Tataryn, the Regional Manager of Sites and Trails BC cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of the BC Marine Trail.