I moved here after the Big Dig, I don’t even wanna know what it was like before!
I was spoiled though, lived near Spadina in Saskatoon.
Cool thing about canoes and kayaks is that, especially when purchased used, you can paddle it a few years and then sell it for what you paid.
My son is going for a week of canoeing and kayaking day camp on False Creek starting Monday. If he really likes it it might become a family thing.
(You know, now that I live on the other side of the country and getting involved in paddling won’t involve me you know. actually meeting Muffin, or any of at least a dozen people that we know in common. I kid, I kid, but the irony did strike me. Also the fact that I used to practically be able to see Boulevard Lake from my house, but now I have to travel further…)
My son spent 2 hours in a kayak on Canada day (it was supposed to be a 20 minute demo ride?) and loved it, so he is getting a week of daycamp. Watching the Olympics didn’t hurt his enthusiasm either.
Just back from a week in the bush north of North Bay, where I was doing some canoeing. The weather was not always ideal, and the water was cold, but it was still awesomely spectacular.
Congrats to your whole family on a excellent purchase that will bring you years of fun and memories.
When you’re deep in the bush, traveling by canoe, and there isn’t another soul, for miles and miles, you do feel especially Canadian, or I do anyway. Moreso when the weathers less than ideal, I think. It always makes me think of the Voyageurs.
I haven’t been canoeing since I was in college (like Baker on the Red Cedar in East Lansing, in a canoe from the old livery that RalfCoder mentioned above). Don’t know why we didn’t go more often. I noticed the other day that they have a livery at one of the parks downtown; guess I need to investigate and get some friends together.
Hope the Pipers have fun for a long time in the new canoe.
My wife and dog and I have been canoeing quite a bit these last few years. You’ve just bought it, so you won’t want to buy any accessories for a while, but, when you do, may I recommend a bent paddle? You’d be amazed how much of a difference it makes.
You’ve probably heard me or put in a noise complaint about me – for the first decade of dragon boat racing in TBay, I was the asshole in a power boat on Boulevard spending the day shouting out over the water through a megaphone.
Which lakes?
The asshole? Out of many,… you call yourself ***The ***Asshole? Think mighty highly of yourself, don’t you? 
Actually they never bothered me from home. I noticed the dragon boat races more when I worked at the LPH. When I worked nights on that weekend I would usually go sleep at my parents. (Air conditioning and significantly up the hill)
Lake Temagami, it’s a big lake.
I go every year. I am overwhelmed by the beauty, each and every time. Sometimes we go out for a midnight canoe if the moon is bright and the lake is calm. Spectacular.
A truely lovely lake.
One of my favourite August rivers is the Temagami Riverdownstream of the lake. Gorgeous country.
Next stop? Grey Owl’s cabin!
Well, the paddles were made by the Grey Owl paddle company, so that’s a start.
A vid of a couple of paddles being made at Grey Owl in Cambridge: How It's Made: Canoe Paddles (S09E01.3) - YouTube
We took the kids canoeing this summer for the first time, including a drop down a dam chute that swamped the canoe. Despite being Canadian, and living near a big river, this cultural event took place in Aubeterre sur Dronne in France. Made me feel like a voyageur.
My son loved kayak day camp. I was reading fun facts on the http://fcrcc.com website. The area he was learning to kayak was basically the birth of Canadian dragon boating. He wants to try that next.
The high SPF sun screen worked well for him, except he generally had sunburned knees. (And butt rash, from sitting in wet bathing suits all day, except I am not supposed to talk about it. Fortunately I know from diaper rash, having seen more cases than the old lady who lived in a shoe. Or Mrs Duggar. Just usually on adult butts.)