The tenth annual La Vase Portages Canoe Day produced smiles on the faces of young and old, saw one paddler take an unexpected dip, and put one incredible birchbark canoe on display.
Twenty canoeing enthusiasts traversed the 14 km section of the historic Voyageur canoe route which connects Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing. Europeans, including Étienne Brûlé and Samuel de Champlain learned of the route from First Nations guides, and it became a major arterial route into the interior of North America.
"The section from Brandy Lake to Birch's Road, that's the area of the trail that I would describe as being in pristine condition. It's the only area that development has so far stayed out of. When you paddle through that area, it actually looks like two tire tracks in the woods, but if you put five guys on either side of a canoe, and walk down this trail for two hundred years, that's the trail" that exists there today, said North Bay City Councillor Chris Mayne.
When asked what the draw is to make the trek, Mayne replied, "For people who enjoy canoeing in the area, the La Vase Portages is the old historical Voyageur canoe route. It started out a number of years ago as a conservation issue, trying to remind everybody of the history of it, the heritage, and how important it is to the city."
Mayne is often seen as a friend to the environment on council, and it's a role he embraces. Prior to his political career, besides his long association with the Friends of La Vase Portages, Mayne was active in the Laurier Woods land purchase. He and his wife are avid hikers on the escarpment trails. These pursuits have culminated naturally in his current position on the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority board.
Angus Simpson, a Scottish national now living in Powassan, proudly displayed his authentic birchbark canoe. "It is a traditional birchbark canoe, made entirely from materials gathered from the forest. It's the skin of birchbark, stitched together with roots, and sealed with pine resin."
The twenty-five-year-old Simpson grew up exploring the Scottish Highlands. An avid outdoorsman, his love for the wilderness combined with a masters degree in engineering has led him to Northern Ontario to pursue his vocation.
The birchbark canoe, a joint project between Simpson and expert canoe builder Tom Byers, has led to a second project, and has allowed Simpson and his Wildwood Birchbark Canoes business to take off.
Asked if he was worried about the sometimes precarious and rocky La Vase Portages, Simpson replied confidently "Nope. This exact type of canoe was paddled for thousands of miles carrying tonnes of trade goods and furs across the country, so they're designed for it."
