Great Canadian
Great Canadian was started in the early 1980’s as a custom manufacturer and repair facility of recreational and racing crafts. The original company reflected the sphere of interest of the formal national team oarsman, Graham Wilkins, who worked to create a larger interest in recreational rowing in Canada. Pat Smith joined the company and in 1987 they moved to larger facilities in Lakefield, Ontario.
In Lakefield they broadened their products, and started to include canoes and kayaks.
The company bought its first moldingmachine in 1989 and started building a new style of a more permanent and less expensive recreational kayak. The new machine gave advantages in building canoes as well. The Spirit was the original kayak manufactured using this new technology!
In 2002 the company acquired the equipment and technical knowledge to use laminated polyethylene. This resulted in boats that are more light weighted and have a better shape. In 2003 the new molds were used for new models of touring kayaks. These new models are being combined with the polythene laminating process to build 3 different models of canoes and eight different kayaks.
In 2004 the company also started to sell the equipment and molds of Valley Paddles from Newmarket, Ontario. Great Canadian sells a full line of average, recreational and professional canoe- and kayak paddles under the name Valley Paddles.
If you want to know more about all our exclusive kayaks and paddles, go to www.greatcanadian.com