ABOUT PROAOA
The Professional River Outfitters Association of Alberta (PROAOA) is a non-profit Government Organization established in 1980 for the following reasons:

1. To be a common voice on behalf of commercial river outfitters in discussions with government and other agencies; and
2. To promote a high standard of safety and operations in the river outfitter industry; and
3. To provide safety and regulation guidelines for commercial river operators.

Membership by commercial operators in PROAOA is voluntary. All members participate out of recognition of the need to be committed to safety and providing responsible and professional services. PROAOA regulations ensure that member companies, in adhering to the regulations, are providing river tours meeting the following criteria:

- Tours are conducted by responsible and qualified guides.
- Industry standard safety equipment and information is provided to all participants.
- Operating practices of the company meet or exceed industry standards.

PROAOA Safety and Regulation Standards

Becoming a Member:
To apply for membership you must be an incorporated company that is delivering tour experiences on rivers for commercial remuneration. You will be asked to prov ide a Certificate of Insurance to the Association upon acceptance.

Membership Criteria:
To be accepted as a member, you will require a recommendation from at least one other PROAOA member company. Your company will have to meet or exceed the PROAOA Safety Standards and will have to have been in operation for at least one year. In you are in a start-up phase, you are welcome to contact the association for whatever guidance we can provide.

At the time of your acceptance of membership, more information on the PROAOA system for geographic river descriptions, equipment standards, guide registrations, log books, certification will be provided.

Membership Benefits:
In the absence of legislated regulations, provincial associations, such as PROAOA, play a vital role in maintaining industry standards. PROAOA is formally recognized by Transport Canada as an institution.

PROAOA guide registration and certification system provides member companies a way of licensing guides that follows the recommended guidelines established by Transport Canada. Additionally, the PROAOA Safety and Regulation Standards provide a model of industry standards that any commercial operator would be expected to follow. In cases of litigation, it is such models that an operator will be compared against.

Members of PROAOA are generous with their expertise in striving to establish consistent industry standards. The semi-annual meetings by PROAO companies are casual information sharing sessions. They provide an excellent stream of information as it can be difficult to find details about the industry for new or established companies.

For membership information, please contact the current president or vice-president.

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