Cheema Aquatic Club

Cheema is a globally recognized canoe and kayak club providing opportunities to achieve success at every level as athletes and in life. We offer active afterschool, summer, year-round, masters, PaddleAll (for individuals with autism and intellectual challenges), para paddling as well as March Break and Professional Development Day Camps.

The name Cheema originates from the Mi’kmaq language and translates as “to paddle”. Programs provide confidence in setting and achieving goals, teach youth how to win and lose and navigate being part of a team. 

Cheema is home to nine Olympians and countless medals on the national and international stage. Sloan MacKenzie won our first Olympic medal  - a bronze - at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.  The organization currently has two paddlers on the National Canoe and Kayak team who proudly represent Nova Scotia and their country at international sprint racing competitions. The club has won seven national titles and two PaddleAll national championship burgees.

We are located on Lake Thomas in Waverley, Nova Scotia.