The Big Canoe Project.
Guided voyageur big-canoe paddling tours on Southern Georgian Bay from Collingwood, Meaford, Owen Sound and Lake Eugenia
The brief.
The Big Canoe Project is a non-profit social enterprise running guided 1.5 and 2.5 hour paddling tours from four Southern Georgian Bay put-ins — Collingwood, Meaford, Owen Sound and Lake Eugenia. Trips run in a 29-foot or 36-foot voyageur-style canoe carrying up to 17 paddlers including guides, with seating adapted for service animals and wheelchairs. Guides are certified by the Ontario Recreational Canoe and Kayak Association to operate large voyageur canoes and trained in First Aid, CPR and VHF radio. No paddling experience is required, and bookings are group-based with a minimum of 5 and maximum of 15 paddlers per tour. Programs also extend to field trips, corporate team-building, fundraising events and day-camps.
4. ways in.
- 01
Collingwood Tour
For: All ages and abilities; no experience required; 5–15 paddlers per bookingWhen: Contact for detailsRound-trip paddle from the boat launch at Harbourview Park (2 Birch Street) in Collingwood harbour. The 1.5 hour version circumnavigates the inner harbour and noses past the breakwall along the shoreline west of town. The 2.5 hour version heads out toward the Hens and Chickens and Nottawasaga Island — a nationally significant egret rookery — with interpretation of Collingwood's shipbuilding and maritime history.
$45 per paddler (1.5 hour) / $55 per paddler (2.5 hour)
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Meaford Tour
For: All ages and abilities; no experience required; 5–15 paddlers per bookingWhen: Contact for detailsDeparts Meaford Harbour (3 St. Vincent St.) for a paddle along the Bighead River watershed. The 1.5 hour tour stops at Memorial Park and meanders up the Bighead River; the 2.5 hour tour adds the Claybanks area. Interpretation covers John Muir's history in the area, with chances to spot a bald eagle and, in season, carp. Maximum 40 minutes in the boat at a time, with stops on foot.
$45 per paddler (1.5 hour) / $55 per paddler (2.5 hour)
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Owen Sound Tour
For: All ages and abilities; no experience required; 5–15 paddlers per bookingWhen: Contact for detailsDeparts the Owen Sound West Boat Launch (1455 1st Ave. W., south of Kelso Beach), navigating the Sydenham River through downtown before heading onto the bay and stopping at one of the city's beaches. Interpretation covers the Sydenham and Pottawatomi watersheds, Owen Sound's role in Underground Railroad history, and Tom Thomson's connection to nearby Leith. Available as a 1.5 or 2.5 hour experience.
$45 per paddler (1.5 hour) / $55 per paddler (2.5 hour)
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Lake Eugenia Tour
For: All ages and abilities; no experience required; 5–15 paddlers per bookingWhen: Contact for detailsRound-trip paddle from the boat launch at the south end of Lake Eugenia (251 Canrobert St.), circumnavigating the wilderness island at the lake's centre — an important stopover for migrating birds. The 2.5 hour version adds a leg under the causeway into the upper Beaver River. Interpretation covers the Beaver River watershed and the village of Eugenia, including the Eugenia gold rush and the history of Eugenia Falls.
$45 per paddler (1.5 hour) / $55 per paddler (2.5 hour)
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Worth knowing.
- 01Non-profit, social enterprise operating big-canoe paddling experiences on Southern Georgian BaySource ↗
- 02Tours run from 36-foot and 29-foot voyageur-style big canoes; the 36' canoe carries up to 17 people and the 29' canoe up to 10, both inclusive of guidesSource ↗
- 03The 29-foot canoe was built by Clipper Canoes of Abbotsford BC; the 36-foot canoe was built by Glen Fallis of Voyageur Canoe Company and previously hung at the Museum of History in GatineauSource ↗
- 04Guides are certified with the Ontario Recreational Canoe and Kayak Association (ORCKA) to operate large voyageur-style canoes and are trained in First Aid, CPR, and VHF marine radio operationSource ↗
- 05Founder Tom Thwaits holds voyageur canoe certification with ORCKA and is the local rep for ORCKA and for the Canadian Voyageur Brigade SocietySource ↗
- 06A seat has been removed from the 36' canoe to accommodate service animals and wheelchairsSource ↗
- 07Tours are run within sight of shore, rarely further than 100 m offshoreSource ↗
- 0848+ hours notice required for a refund or rescheduling; weather cancellations are rescheduled or refundedSource ↗
- 09Programs span tours, field trips, corporate team-building, fundraising events and day-campsSource ↗
- 10Partners include the Canadian Voyageur Brigade Society, Georgian Bay Biosphere, Water Rangers, Lake Huron Coastal Centre, and ORCKASource ↗