The Significance of Ontario's Canoe Building History

At the turn of the century, the Trent Valley was the centre of all-wood manufacture. Peterborough, Lakefield and Rice Lake were home to many important builders who invented ways of making canoes out of wood boards, never seen before. Unlike the later canoes that relied on a canvas covering, the all-wood canoes had strips of wood fitted together and this along with a few coats was needed to keep them watertight.

Click on a canoe tag on the left to learn more about each builder