10 Years of Kayak Ontario: A Decade on the Water

Kayak Ontario began in the simplest way imaginable: a recreational kayak, a camera, and a desire to feel something again. What started as a blog and an Instagram account has grown into one of the most trusted sea kayaking schools and guiding companies in Canada. This is the story of how we got here and where we’re going next.

Before It All Began: A Capsize That Changed Everything

I started in a big-box recreational kayak. No bulkheads, no real plan, and no sense of how quickly things can change on the water. A wake, a capsize, and a moment that shook me was all it took. I realized how little I knew and how much I wanted to learn. I signed up for my first course the next morning. That decision set everything in motion.

From quiet creeks to Georgian Bay, from Level 1 courses to surf zones, the path unfolded one skill, one paddle stroke, and one friendship at a time. Kayak Ontario was never built from a business plan. It was built from curiosity, community, and discovering what was possible — often the hard way.

2016–2018: The Beginning of Kayak Ontario

Kayak Ontario began as a blog, then an Instagram account, then a place where we documented our trips in words and pictures. With some luck and a lot of passion, it grew into something more: the very place we wished we had when we were starting out.

What started as weekend adventures slowly became a community. People showed up, paddled together, shared skills, and built something real. It was never modeled on someone else’s idea. It was our own: that sea kayaking could be enjoyable, educational, and transformative, all at once.

2019–2021: Becoming a School, Becoming a Community

During these years, Kayak Ontario shifted from informal trip planning to formal instruction. We began teaching Paddle Canada courses, developing best-in-class training days, and focusing on what mattered most: paddler development. Many instructors and guides got their start with us during this time. Some stayed. Others moved on. That was the point. These doors were meant to open, whether people stayed or not.

2022–2024: Growth Across Ontario

Over these years, Kayak Ontario expanded across the province: Georgian Bay, Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence, the Niagara River. We designed new courses, opened new pathways, and built partnerships with some of the most respected names in the outdoor world. Each year, outfitters across the globe reach out, excited to work with us again — the kind of trust that can only be earned on the water.

This was also the era where we carved our identity. Small groups, direct coaching, relational leadership, and a commitment to paddler growth. Our events never centered coaches on a stage; they centered paddlers as learners. That is why the community around us continues to thrive.

What the Water — and This Community — Taught Us

Our community taught us that sea kayaking thrives when people feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger. Leadership in this sport isn’t about showcasing strength; it’s about creating space for others to learn, try, fail, and grow without fear. That philosophy became the foundation of Kayak Ontario — a place where paddlers at every level can develop their skills in a culture built on respect, mentorship, and shared progression.

2025: Kayak Ontario Today

Today, Kayak Ontario is one of Canada’s most established sea kayaking schools and guiding companies. We run programs from Level 1 to multi-day expeditions, lead trips from Georgian Bay to Brazil, and support paddlers through a full progression — from first strokes to surf, currents, leadership, and beyond.

• Flagship courses on Georgian Bay and Lake Superior
• Instructional expeditions across Ontario and abroad
• A fully redesigned Level 3 leadership model
• A growing team of coaches and guides
• Partnerships with global outfitters and manufacturers
• Upcoming learning management system for advanced training
• Fully trained to offer Paddle Canada and ORCKA complete pathways

Looking Ahead: The Next 10 Years

The next decade of Kayak Ontario will be shaped by the same values that brought us here: curiosity, community, and a commitment to making sea kayaking welcoming and accessible. We are expanding our international expeditions, building a full LMS for coastal training, and developing a progression that carries paddlers from their first day on the water to the front of the group as leaders and guides.

Thank you to everyone who paddled with us, learned with us, taught with us, or trusted us with their journey. Kayak Ontario has always been about the people who show up — and the waterways that bring us together. Here’s to the next ten years.

Looking for sea kayak courses, expeditions, or coastal training in Ontario? Explore our full progression of Level 1 programs, Level 2 courses, and instructional tours across Georgian Bay, Lake Superior, and beyond.