With the Bancroft screening of the International Paddling Film Festival quickly approaching, Hastings Trails wants to take the time to thank the local sponsors who are helping to make this event a reality. Over the coming weeks, we will highlight several local businesses that are making a meaningful difference in our community through their ongoing support, programs, and commitment to outdoor recreation.

For more than 50 years, Madawaska Kanu Centre (MKC) has been welcoming people to the Madawaska River to learn, explore, challenge themselves, and connect with nature. At the heart of MKC is a simple mission: to provide meaningful outdoor experiences and education for everyone while building a more inclusive, supportive, and connected paddling community.

From first-time paddlers and families to experienced athletes and outdoor professionals, MKC creates opportunities to build confidence, develop skills, discover new possibilities, and form lifelong connections. But the community goes beyond the river. MKC is committed to environmental stewardship, local partnerships, youth development, mentorship, and creating a welcoming space where people can feel at home in the outdoors.

The team at MKC believe rivers have a way of bringing people together—and that learning to move with the river can teach us a lot about ourselves, each other, and the world around us. To learn more about the opportunities for paddling education and fun at MKC, visit their website. And don’t forget to book your tickets for the Bancroft screening of the International Paddling Film Festival on Sunday, October 25th, 2026 where you will automatically be entered to win 2 complimentary passes for their signature whitewater rafting experience that they have so generously donated to the raffle.