Bernard Rechico

Bernard first joined Ocean River in 2022 as a kayak guide with 7 years of multi-day canoe expedition guiding experience in Ontario, Quebec, and Northern Canada. Although canoeing is his first love, he loves paddling of all kinds and is passionate about sharing his love for Victoria. You might hear him teasing groups with his favorite saying “Half the paddle, twice the paddler!”

Where’s your favourite place to paddle in Victoria?

The Oak Bay area is lovely. It is a great balance of feeling “out there” but being close to shore. The wildlife and sealife here stand out too. Sea Stars, Seals, Otters, and as an amateur birder, the shoreline is teeming with local and migratory species, I get excited when I see something new, which is pretty often! The mountain views in the Oak Bay area are not too bad either! 

What’s the most memorable wildlife encounter you’ve had on the water?

Last year, I was on the water with a big group of students from Calgary. It was many of their first time in a kayak, so we went up the Gorge Waterway which is a short paddle away from the Inner Harbour. Soon after we arrived, a young seal hopped onto one of the students’ tandem kayaks! It was a surprise to all of us, and the young seal spent about 20 minutes with us before continuing on its way. It was definitely the closest encounter I’ve had with a seal, and I’ll always remember the huge smiles all around for the remainder of the paddle. 

What’s your go-to beach in Greater Victoria? 

Willows Beach is awesome; it is a long and wide beach with plenty of room to lounge and has a big park and playground behind it. Many people use this as their preferred polar plunge spot because of the sandy bottom and minimal waves. It is a great spot to check a Pacific Ocean dip off your bucket list!

Where do you head to watch the best sunset around Victoria?

Right in the Inner Harbour! The sun sets on the west end of the Harbour, and the sunset pinks and oranges reflecting the buildings downtown are quite spectacular. My preferred viewpoint is on the water, of course, but the Songhees Walkway is a close second.

What Victoria neighbourhood do you most enjoy spending time in?

There are so many good spots to choose from, but a stroll around James Bay is hard to beat. The heritage architecture, narrow streets and occasional horse and carriage sighting really show off Victoria’s history. I suggest leaving the car at the hotel for this stroll and taking in the neighborhood on foot to not miss anything!

After a great afternoon on the water, where do you usually go next?

I don’t think you can beat a nice cold beer after paddling. I find paddling is as much about the people you are with as it is about the sights, so it feels only right to head to a local brewery to finish off the outing. Swift Brewing is just across the street from our downtown dock, and the relaxed atmosphere is great for your post-paddle pint. Just make sure to keep the alcohol for after your paddle!

What’s one simple way locals and visitors can help protect our oceans and waterways?

Plastic in our waterways can be easily avoided, and the seals, otters, birds and fish will all thank you for properly disposing of your bottles, wrappers, or any other garbage you might have. 

Please help us keep our waterways clean by throwing your garbage and recycling into city bins when you can, if you see an overflowing garbage bin, I suggest finding another bin to instead, so nothing blows away into the water. Bonus points for you if you collect anything near the water and get it into a disposal bin even if it is not your garbage! These are small acts, but they make a big difference. For those further afield, consider a pack-in, pack-out approach to maintain the health of wilderness ecosystems. 

What do you love most about living on the West Coast?

It might seem a bit simple, but for me it is the ocean air that really stands out. Whenever I’m away and come back to Victoria, that first step out of the airport and take in a deep breath of that fresh west coast air, it really gives me that sense of place and a reminder that I’m on the west coast.