Belleville’s Pop-Ups on the Bay is the chosen location for the launch of a new Canadian canoe designed and manufactured in Ontario.
On Friday, September 4th, the first two canoes will be unveiled in West Zwick’s Park. One will be paddled by City of Belleville Councillor Sean Kelly.“This is a great way to end an exciting and successful summer for the Pop-Ups on the Bay,” says Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk. “Belleville is a great place for paddling, and we are happy to have Venture Outfitters choose our city to launch their new canoe.” “Belleville’s location on the Bay of Quinte makes it the perfect place to launch the canoe and celebrate Canadian paddling,” says Mark Schwartz, owner of Venture Outfitters and Expedition Toys. “We’ve had a great summer here at Pop-Ups on the Bay and we love Belleville’s abundance of public waterfront and easy water access.”
The canoe was designed and produced by Ottawa-based Venture Outfitters in partnership with Ontario designer Andy Phillips. It combines traditional canoe design with state-of-the-art composite material and a special coating developed for use in the aviation industry. The design is based on traditional Indigenous canoes – the type used by many of the first settlers. It’s tall and narrow on the front and back to cut through the water, and low and wide in the middle to carry a load and give it stability.
“What makes this canoe so special is that we have taken a design developed on Canadian waters and for traveling with a family and gear, and we have recreated it using these fantastic new materials and the very best quality composites, resins and paints,” explains Schwartz. “These canoes are super efficient, they sit and move in the water beautifully and they are virtually indestructible.”
Venture Outfitters is collaborating with Andy Phillips to design and manufacture the canoes. Phillips is an expert in composites who has worked in the aeronautical and automotive industries. Based in Vanastra, Ontario, he is also an avid outdoor enthusiast and canoeist who has previous experience designing canoes. Schwartz and Phillips are launching two versions of the canoe, one made of a Kevlar composite which is light and very durable, and the second in a carbon composite which is slightly heavier but even more durable. Both versions are coated with a material that was developed for use in the aeronautical industry. “It’s recently been used for cruise ships but this is the first time it’s been used on canoes,” says Schwartz. The coating reduces drag, making the vessel more efficient.Schwartz says he has already received inquiries about the new canoes from Europe. “They are very excited. They know Canadians know how to build canoes.”
