The Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre began in the early 1980’s by Steve & Diane Magee, primarily as a canoe club offering lessons and day camps for kids with a boat fleet consisting of 10 canoes, 6 kayaks and 2 big voyageur canoes.
In January of 1995, Dave Corrigan was hired by Steve Magee to manage the club to teach and lead trips. Dave earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science at Waterloo University. His wife, Clare, who was working in administration at a food manufacturing company, offered to do the bookkeeping for the company.
Over the next 10 years, Dave and Clare worked hard to build the business. On-site operations included kayak/canoe/paddleboard courses and lessons, weekly kayak social paddles, corporate team-building programs, voyageur canoe excursions, tandem kayak tours, boat rentals, personal boat storage as well as kids camps which are run through Harbourfront Centre; hosting over 1,000 campers each summer. Off-site, they offered in-pool kayak rescue and rolling classes in local community pools. They also ran many hiking and paddling excursions throughout Canada and the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia.
In November 2005, Dave and Clare felt it was time to purchase the company from Steve Magee who was ready to retire from his position as a High School Principal. Dave became responsible for on-site operations, managing staff, guests and equipment; while Clare worked behind the scenes from home taking care of the finances, managing systems and most importantly raising 3 great kids, who you might see working the docks or driving the pontoon boats.
Their boat fleet has grown to several solo kayaks, tandem kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, big voyageur canoes, and pontoon boats. They can also accommodate boat storage for up to 250 personal boats on the mainland and up to 60 on the island.
Open from June to September each year, the company’s goal is to create a welcoming, friendly atmosphere to anyone who comes their way. They are committed to providing safe, fun, creative and educational activities in canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards. They strive to provide exceptional customer service and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all. Their paddling courses feature instruction from some of the most friendly, experienced, certified instructors that love what they do, to offer guests an opportunity to develop safe, fun skills that will last a lifetime.
Dave & Clare Corrigan are so happy to see the Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre further develop each year with new equipment, more staff, and most importantly more guests joining the paddling community. They are also so thankful for the wonderful welcoming staff that are here now, and for all those who came before who have helped build this community over the years. They especially thank Steve & Diane Magee who started the Centre over 40 years ago, had the dream and mentored us all.
We offer:
Early and late season intermediate kayak weekend paddling
Kayak, canoe & paddleboard instruction and rentals
Weekly kayak social paddles July-September
Tandem kayak tours
Private voyageur canoe excursions, paddling lessons and Team-building programs
Lakeside & Island personal kayak, canoe or paddleboard storage
