Hannah WildYour clients can view an unrivalled collection of 600 canoes and kayaks in the new Canadian Canoe Museum before setting out on their own paddling adventures
The canoe remains an important part of Canadian culture today
This month, the Canadian Canoe Museum is re-opening its doors to the public with a brand-new, two-storey waterfront museum in Ontario. Located on the site of the Williams Treaties First Nations in Peterborough, the museum has housed the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled water crafts for more than 25 years.
Invented by The First Nations, the canoe has long been credited with having aided the development and evolution of Canada. As a tool for cross-cultural connection, canoeing became a way of life for Indigenous Peoples, and is representative of both their community and spirit. With the canoe remaining an important part of Canadian culture today, what better way to explore Canada’s majestic waters than from the seat of this small, narrow boat.
With more than 250,000 freshwater lakes, Canada’s second largest province, Ontario, is most suited to this. Just 30 minutes’ drive from the nation’s capital, Ottawa, lies Ontario’s Highlands; a remarkable region renowned for its small-town charm, snow trails, shorelines, lakes and waterfalls. Here, travellers can embark upon the region’s intrepid waterways to experience the untapped natural landscape of Ontario’s Highlands by canoe, kayak or even whitewater raft.
Situated on the waterfront of the Otonabee River, the Canadian Canoe Museum offer a series of immersive, padding experiences for visitors to enjoy. From watercraft rentals to voyageur canoe tours, the museum aims to teach visitors about the legacy of the Canadian canoe through the means of taking a hold of the paddle themselves. There’s also the opportunity for travellers to book an exhibition tour to gain a deeper understanding of the museum’s preserved water crafts, guided by trained docents.
The Canadian Canoe Museum officially opens on 13 May
One of the programmes on offer to tourists is a curated seven-day itinerary along the Canadian Canoe Route, starting at the Canadian Canoe Museum. Upon picking up a Canadian Canoe Route passport and detailed map from the museum, the itinerary takes travellers north to Madawaska Kanu Centre on the eastern side of Algonquin Park before ending the trip upon the Ottawa River, with visits to the Golden Lake and Madawaska River.
Taking to the wheel of a car or RV to follow the route, travellers can enjoy the scenery of Ontario as they please, before throwing themselves into the canoeing experiences at each of the suggested stops.
For example, your clients can enjoy a freshly cooked meal cruise aboard the OWL Pontoon boat; overnight stays by the beach, and in a secluded forest cabana; a whitewater adventure in a modern canoe on the Ottawa River, followed up with a waterfront breakfast in the bustling city of Ottawa. If they want to extend their canoeing adventure further, clients can continue along the Rideau Canal with the option to stop for either a half-day paddle, or book a Le Boat rental to explore the entirety of this Unesco World Heritage Site.
Nestled among public parks with west-facing views of Little Lake, the new five-acre waterfront location of the Canadian Canoe Museum makes for the perfect location for clients to embark upon an exploration of both Ontario’s waters, and the wonders of the Canadian canoe.
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