From the craftsmanship of a canoe or a paddle to paintings of the rugged Canadian landscape to the stories told about travels on the water, there is always art to be found in adventure.
Art in adventure is a common thread among the many items that have been donated by local makers, artisans, builders, and businesses in support of The Canadian Canoe Museum’s flagship fundraising event, the Lakeside Gala.
With the tagline “Celebrating Excellence in the Making,” the Gala takes place on Saturday, October 3 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. From performances by acclaimed musicians to food stations from local culinary creators, the event promises to be an unforgettable evening that celebrates creating with care.
Beyond the celebrations, the Lakeside Gala also features both a live and silent auction. Guests can browse the items up for bidding in the Collection Hall, alongside some of the Museum’s nationally significant collection of more than 650 watercraft. They can then place their bids online through the MobilBID bidding platform, using their smartphones to register and bid or re-bid throughout the evening.
“These live and silent auction items are all handmade items by makers that we respect and value and want to showcase,” says Carolyn Hyslop, Executive Director of The Canadian Canoe Museum.
“We have beautiful, artistic, and handmade items that are one-of-a-kind creations, all in one place, along with exceptional experiences. It’s a great opportunity to find something really unique while supporting the Museum’s core programming.”
Become the proud owner of a red Swift Canoe branded with The Canadian Canoe Museum logo
The Gala presents an opportunity to get your hands on the canoe that is the figurehead of Ontario paddling. The Swift family has been equipping Ontario and international paddlers for more than 50 years, while renting and selling equipment through the affiliated business Algonquin Outfitters.
During the Lakeside Gala, The Canadian Canoe Museum will be auctioning a red Prospector 16-foot canoe, one of the most popular and well-loved watercraft from Swift. The Kevlar fusion watercraft, made with carbon Kevlar trim, is lightweight yet durable, making it ideal for recreational paddling as well as multi-day canoe tripping with smooth portaging capability.
Making the canoe truly one of a kind is the iconic pictograph logo embedded right into the finish on the side and bottom of the hull.
Swift Canoe & Kayak owner and manager Bill Swift will be at the Gala himself to present the canoe. He says supporting the Museum is particularly meaningful as Bill Swift Sr., his father, who founded the company, was good friends with Professor Kirk Wipper, whose collection of watercraft was the basis for what would become The Canadian Canoe Museum.
VIDEO: Bill Swift of Swift Canoe & Kayak
“As someone who’s so invested in the canoe industry myself, I’m so proud to see what the Museum has done in the way they represent the canoe,” says Swift. “The Museum is extraordinary. It’s an absolutely wonderful place and we’re very proud to be involved with them.”
He explains that his company has sent clients from around the world to the Museum, and they have all been “absolutely blown away” by the experience.
“We’re so happy to contribute in our way to making that happen, and I strongly encourage others to follow suit,” Swift says.
“Come to the Gala, find a way to donate to the Museum, and let your friends know about it. The Gala is fabulous with delicious food and the auction items are amazing. It’s a great experience.”
See the craftsmanship of Nuu-chah-nulth traditional carving with a paddle made by Joe Martin
Joe Martin is a Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation canoe carver recognized for his long-standing commitment to traditional Nuu-chah-nulth carving, mentorship and forest protection. He has crafted more than 70 traditional dugout canoes throughout his career.
During the Gala, attendees can meet Martin, alongside his daughter Gisele, as the pair will be Builders in Residence at the Museum from October 3 to 8 and 15 to 20. The residency offers visitors an opportunity to watch their techniques and listen to their stories as they continue the art and tradition of canoe making.
Hyslop says the evening’s proceeds will support the Builders in Residence program alongside other educational programming.
“To be surrounded by a number of exceptional makers is really important to us,” Hyslop says. “The idea of creating and making the canoe and kayak and celebrating the makers who have carried on these traditions is in our DNA.”
Bid on a five-day canoeing adventure from Black Feather
The Lakeside Gala also offers guests the chance to bid on an experience that will get you out on the water in a big way.
One of the silent auction items is a five-day guided getaway from Black Feather, a premier wilderness adventure company offering sustainable trips by foot, canoe, sea kayak, ski, and raft since 1972. You can bid on this guided trip exploring The Noire, a Quebec whitewater river flowing from below La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, south to the Ottawa River near Pembroke.
The river is the longest distance of runnable whitewater, with the shortest distance that requires portaging. You will experience Class I, Class II, and optional Class III rapids, presenting opportunities to learn new skills with the help of knowledgeable guides.
Given this route is not as well-known as other local rivers, it gives you the best chance of seeing wildlife and it’s unlikely you will encounter other paddlers during your adventure.
The trip is ideal for people with intermediate whitewater paddling skills and will include the cost of ABS canoes, all camping and safety equipment, local transportation, and meals throughout the trip.
Take home original artwork by Artist in Residence Holly Ann Friesen
In May, the Museum welcomed its first-ever Artist in Residence, Holly Ann Friesen, a visual artist based in Kenora and Merrickville whose work involves capturing the essence of the Canadian landscape. She says the residency was a “wonderful experience” and one of the highlights of her year.
“I worked on a lot of landscapes and I talked to a lot of students and other community members, and that was just as fulfilling as actually working on the landscapes,” she explains.
“The residency allowed me to have dedicated time to work on my craft and practice. When students and community members visited, it gave me time to reflect on what my practice means and how it evolves. It allowed me that time to break down my process and communicate that to other people.”
Friesen has donated “Silent Reflection” — the very first piece she finished during her residency — to The Canadian Canoe Museum for the Lakeside Gala.
“The light resonated with me in the space and it translated onto the canvas, so that was a highlight for me. I’m glad to have given it to such a worthy audience,” she says.
“It was a huge honour to be chosen for the residency, and the least I could do is support the Museum’s ongoing work by donating a piece.”
Bid on inspired works depicting Canadian landscapes by Nick Leniuk, Arnold Zageris, Christopher Griffin, and many other artists
Friesen is only one of several artists across Ontario who have donated original work to the Museum’s Lakeside Gala this year.
Peterborough artist Nick Leniuk has donated a sculpture titled “Sunday Morning” that offers an interpretation of a windswept evergreen, crafted from black Wonderstone and mounted on a natural rose quartz base.
As an avid paddler, hiker, and traveller, he draws inspiration from Canada’s lakes and forests.
Fellow Peterborough artist Arnold Zageris also made a generous donation of work that celebrates the Canadian landscape. Specializing in large-format photography, his work captures remote lands like Labrador, Iceland, and the Antarctic.
Christopher Griffin’s oil painting “Early Start on the Spanish” will also be up for bid during the Gala. The piece was inspired by the rock cliffs rising and disappearing into the Spanish River during a canoe trip he took in 2019.
Other Canadian artists who have donated work for the Gala include Kristyn Watterworth, Denise Bustraen, Andrew Milne, Garrett Gilbart, Nan Sidler, Heather Bunting, Susan Oomen, and more.
Read about a 3,400-kilometre journey to the Arctic with signed bestselling books by Adam Shoalts
Get inspired for your next adventure by bidding on a package of three bestselling books by Adam Shoalts, a Canadian explorer, geographer, historian, and public speaker.
Named one of the “greatest living explorers” by CBC and “Canada’s Indiana Jones” by the Toronto Star, Shoalts is an adventurer and Westaway Explorer-in-Residence at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is also a champion of the Trans-Canada Trail, and an award winner for his work preserving local watersheds in the Niagara Region.
Shoalts’ three books — The Whisper on the Night Wind: The True History of a Wilderness Legend, Where the Falcon Flies: A 3,400km Odyssey from My Doorstep to the Arctic, and Vanished Beyond the Map: The Mystery of Lost Explorer Hubert — take you on some of his most thrilling adventures.
You can read about his 3,400-kilometre solo canoe journey from Lake Erie to the Arctic, follow along on his trip to the Labrador mountains to investigate an old legend dating back to the early 1900s, and read about his aim to solve one of history’s enduring cold cases of a vanished explorer.
Funds raised directly support the Museum’s exhibitions, programs, and signature initiatives
That’s only the beginning of the impressive list of items that will be offered during the live and silent auctions at the Lakeside Gala.
Other items available for bidding include signed books by actor and author Nick Offerman (known for the popular television comedy series Parks and Recreation), who has contributed an audio clip for an exhibit at the Museum. He made headlines earlier this year when he spoke of his connection to Peterborough and the Museum, having learned to build wooden canoes from the team at Bear Mountain Boats.
Other adventures up for grabs include MKC Whitewater rafting trips, an excursion for four from Deep Roots Adventure, a whitewater paddle certificate from Echo Paddles founder Andy Convery, a 10-day guided canoe trip in the Northwest Territories with Jackpine Paddle, a gift card for dinner for two at Bartlett Lodge in Algonquin Provincial Park, and many more.
“Funds raised through the Gala and auctions are put towards our programming that allows people to connect directly with the Museum’s collection, including our school programming and our summer camp programming for kids,” Hyslop says.
“The funds will also support care of the collection, including all the work that goes into sharing the stories about the collection to local and international audiences so that more people can engage with the Museum.”
Tickets for the Lakeside Gala are $250 per person and include a charitable tax receipt. To purchase tickets, visit canoemuseum.ca/lakeside-gala.
Those who are unable to attend this year’s Gala and would like to support the Museum can donate anytime at canoemuseum.ca/support.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with The Canadian Canoe Museum. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
