Terms and Conditions
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Group Philosophy:
We, at Canoe North Adventures, want to share our sense of adventure and our love of the wilderness with those who travel with us. On our trips, we strive to teach outdoor skills and a genuine respect for the remote regions we travel. Each person shares a responsibility to the overall group on the trip, but as well, we build in opportunities for individual goals or interests, such as canoeing, fishing, hiking or photography. We encourage those travelling with us to have a true love for an experience filled with natural beauty and frontier adventure. Travellers should be in a good state of health.

Skill Level:
An important part of Canoe North Adventures trip planning is matching an appropriate route to the skill level of our participants. The pace of each trip is determined by the group and its least experienced member. For our canoe expeditions, you should be comfortable in and around water, and have a least some flat water paddling experience. For more advanced trips, you should have whitewater experience or be a strong flat water paddler. If you feel your experience is lacking, or that you need a refresher course, we will be running training sessions in the spring on the Grand River and you should attend.

Food and Accommodation:
Canoe North Adventures guarantees that all food and accommodation will satisfy even the most discriminating taste although the Yukon, NWT and Nunavut certainly do not have the luxury that you would find in other parts of the world. The people who supply us with food, accommodation and activities are always interesting and seem to always have a fresh approach to life that we enjoy. Of course, we will cater to special needs or food allergies at your request.

Commercial Air Travel:
Air Canada services Whitehorse, Yukon with regular, daily flights from Vancouver and Yellowknife, NWT with regular, daily flights from Edmonton and is therefore our airline of choice. Air Canada services Yellowknife, NWT with scheduled flights. All Canoe North Adventures travel arrangements are made by Orangeville Travel. We have been working with this company since 1987 and have always been provided with excellent service and advice. If you have any concerns or questions about the air travel arrangements, please feel free to contact Bev Kearns at Orangeville Travel, 519-941-1561. Canoe North Adventures strongly urges you to purchase extended travel insurance as recommended by Orangeville Travel. This coverage includes flight and trip cancellation, including the Canoe North Adventures fee and extended health care. You should also check your out-of-country health care if we travel in the United States (Alaska) for part of the trip.

Payment:
We incur approximately 90% of the costs of a trip six to eight weeks before departure. This reality dictates our strict payment and cancellation policies. Our prices are quoted in Canadian Funds and are subject to the 7% Goods & Services Tax. We accept cheque or cash. A non-refundable $500.00 deposit per person is due upon booking the trip. The balance of the trip fee is due April 1st. If you need more flexibility here, please enquire. Our prices are based on the current cost at the time of planning. We reserve the right to alter our prices to account for any increase by our suppliers. All fares, schedules, itineraries, hours of arrival and departures are subject to change without notice.

Cancellation Policy:
Any cancellation notice before 120 days receives a complete refund less a $500.00 administration charge. For any cancellation notice given between 119 and 90 days, 75% of trip fees will be retained. For any cancellation notice given 89 days or less, 100% of trip fees will be retained. We strongly recommend cancellation insurance. This travel insurance can be purchased from Orangeville Travel when buying your air ticket. The insurance covers your airline ticket and Canoe North Adventures trip fees in the event of an accident or illness on your own part or that of immediate family members that causes you to cancel your Canoe North Adventures trip. Note: If you or we can find a suitable replacement paying full price, your full fee (less $500.00) will be refunded promptly. You can expect that if there is short notice of less than 30 days, we will offer last minute incentives to the new traveller. The incentives will be taken from the fee refund. All cancellations must be received in writing. If guides, Lin Ward and Al Pace are unable to lead the trip because of accident or illness on their part or their immediate family members, Canoe North Adventures will ensure that a capable guide(s) will replace them.

Evacuation and Itinerary Changes:
If events cause us to miss our commercial flights, the participant will be responsible for any costs incurred in the rescheduling process. If a participant requires evacuation for any reason, the expenses incurred through the evacuation will be born by the participant evacuated. When travelling in the wilderness, conditions can change unexpectedly. Should we be forced to alter trip plans due to circumstances beyond our control, Canoe North Adventures reserves the right to change to an alternate route (e.g. forest fires or river levels). Any expenses due to unforeseen changes in trip plans (bridge or road closure or missing of charter flights), will be equally divided among participants.

Drinking Water:
Yukon and NWT rivers, like many wilderness rivers in North America, carry the intestinal parasite, giardia. We make a point of getting our drinking water from feeder creeks when possible but as an extra precaution, we now use a proven water purification device.

Safety Measures:
If water levels are dangerously high in our judgement, Canoe North Adventures will not take unnecessary risks. In such a situation, we sit tight until the water volume drops or we can arrange a charter flight. The cost would be shared evenly with trippers. We carry an SBX-11 sideband radio or satellite phone for medical emergencies. Canoe North Adventures guides all have current safety certificates equivalent to St John's Ambulance. We also carry a comprehensive medical kit. We should be notified of any medical conditions or allergies to antibiotic drugs, etc.

Liability of Suppliers
Canoe North Adventures makes arrangements with suppliers who provide services such as van and equipment rentals, and travel services. We also make similar arrangements regarding hotel accommodations. Although we try our best to choose the most reputable suppliers, we cannot be responsible for their acts or omissions. These services are subject to the conditions imposed by these suppliers, and Canoe North Adventures maintains no control over the personnel, equipment, operations or goods of the said supplier.

Risks and Liability:
In all adventure activities it must be understood that there is an element of risk involved. In twenty years of wilderness travel, we have never experienced any type of medical emergency. We insist that Personal Floatation Devices be worn at all times while paddling canoes. Open flame is a serious hazard around tents, sleeping bags and other nylon clothing products. Open flame is not allowed in the tents. We insist that seat belts be worn at all times while the shuttle is moving. Canoe North Adventures will not permit smoking of any kind on trips. Despite all of our extensive precautions, freak accidents can and do happen. We do not assume liability or any loss or damage to person or property in travelling before, during or after the trip, including negligence on the part of Al Pace or Lin Ward. You will be asked to sign a standard liability release form before the trip starts.
Canoe North Adventures will not assume responsibility for any claims, losses, damages, cost or expense arising out of personal injury, accidents or death, loss, damage of baggage or other property, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental arising from any of the following: sickness, theft, labour disputes, mechanical breakdown, quarantine, government actions, weather, or any other cause beyond our control; your failure to obtain documentation required for your trip such as passports, visas, and certificates; your failure to follow instructions including but not limited to airport departure times and check out and check in times.
Written notice of any claim against Canoe North Adventures must be received no later than fourteen days after your return from your trip.

Effective Dates December 2002 to December 2005
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