Coyote Cruises to reopen with safety changes in place

Photo: Contributed

Coyote Cruises is reopening with new safety measures.

Coyote Cruises will begin operating again on the Penticton Channel Saturday after a week away to deal with safety concerns in the unusually fast-flowing river. 

"We closed to consult with everyone that has experience with safety on the channel, the City of Penticton, fire department and Penticton Indian Band," explained Mike Campol, director of projects and partnerships with the Penticton Indian Band’s K’uL Group which runs Coyote Cruises.

The major concern is that fast flows are pushing floaters into bridge abutments or past the Skaha Lake end bridge and out into open water, where currents can be deceptive and potentially fatal. 

"Coyote Cruises engaged with a Risk & Safety Management company who built a revised safety plan for us built around the knowledge that the channel is safe to float down when it’s fast, you just need to know how to exit," Campol explained. "All of our work in the past eight days has focused on safely exiting and backstopping any that might slip past."

They have implemented: 

• An education program for floaters 
• Enhanced signage to safely exit 
• A dedicated fully trained rescue team onsite during business hours as a final fail-safe

In addition, Coyote Cruises will not be offering mid point exit while the channel speed remains fast, as it is only 20 minutes to that point at this time. Buses will run from end to top and Coyote staff will be at the end exit point only. 

They open this Saturday at 11 a.m.