Ottawa Fish School is run through the Dovercourt Recreation Centre Summer Camps Program by Ottawa River Musky Factory staff and pro staff. In 2022 there will be six one-week sessions beginning on July 4th and running through to late August. Camp hours are daily from 9 am to 1 pm and school locations vary from Dows Lake, Patterson Creek, Brewer Park, to Petrie Island on Fridays where students are taken out in boats by professional guides.
The program is called Ottawa Fish School for a reason; Although we teach students from 7 to 14 how to fish and how to be self proficient at fishing, we also have a strong emphasis on teaching them about how to take care of fish, about sustainable fishing practices, and about the waters that our fish live in. Hopefully we are planting a lifelong seed to nurture not only a caring angler population for the future but creating future stewards of the environment and fostering an attitude of personal responsibility towards our waters. We work in conjunction with local charity Blue Fish Canada who are dedicated to the future of fish and fishing. Lawrence Gunther from Blue Fish provides sustainable fishing materials, pamphlets, and gives lessons to our students each week as well.
Shimano has generously donated good quality rods and reels for every student and Sail supplies us with quality tackle so every student has good equipment to get them started on their journey. Oziles Marina at Petrie Island provides us with beautiful boat launch facilities and parking at the site of one of the Ottawa River’s best nature parks. We are greatly appreciative of our sponsors who make all the difference in our abilities to provide this unique learning opportunity for young students to build a solid foundation and connection with our waters for the future.
In only our second season we will host 120 students in groups of 20 students over six weeks. There are two full-time instructors, three to four camp councillors, and a lifeguard on duty every day to ensure safety and maximize educational opportunities. On Fridays three additional pro guides join us with their boats to take the students out on the mighty Ottawa River.
Dovercourt Recreation Centre has been a mainstay in our community for decades and a provider of incredible and diverse summer camp opportunities for kids from every background in Ottawa. Special needs students are welcome at our camps as well and often have one on one councillor support. You can learn more and sign up for camps here:
You can follow along through our season on our website, or see daily updates on our Facebook and Instagram pages at
https://www.facebook.com/ottawafishschool
Instagram.com/ottawafishschool/
Ottawa Fish School is Cool! Be there in 2022.
John Anderson – Founder
Jamie Pistilli – Principal & Guide
Spencer Landsman – Instructor
Lawrence Gunther – Instructor & Sponsor
Lisa Goodier – Guide
Ottawa Fish School 