2021 Canoeing Photo Contest
What a fantastic way to celebrate our 10th Anniversary! A heartfelt ‘thank you’ goes out to each of our entrants for their amazing photos and stories to go along with them. We truly had a hard time narrowing down the top four. We also want to send another HUGE ‘thank you’ to Recreational Barrel Works Inc., Kevin Callan, Camper Christina and Therm-a-Rest for providing us with some epic prizes. Without them we wouldn’t even have a contest, so thanks again and please support them this holiday by purchasing one of their fantastic items.
First Place - Shane Brett
Congrats Shane for not only being in the right place at the right time… but for sending in an image that stunningly captures a picture perfect moment that we all want to be a part of.
Second Place - Michael Grieve
Great composition that draws us in to a quiet moment on what looks to be a great trip.
Third Place - Charlie Silbernage
Stunning photo, great reflection on the canoe itself… and we love the mountain in the background. Quite the scenic place to paddle.
Fourth Place - Laurel Finney
If you can get your entire family to smile during a rainstorm while out in a canoe, you’re truly enjoying nature… and the trip that you’re on.
It’s our 10th anniversary and as the 2021 Canoeing season starts to wind down it is time to dig through this year’s tripping photos... and celebrate, by choosing your favourite photo to enter into our yearly photo contest!
The rules are simple...
The contest is open to Canadian residents only
The photo must have been taken in 2021
There are no specifics as to what you have to submit. Send us your best photo of you or your family in a canoe, what you spotted while in your canoe, or even a snapshot of you portaging. What ever you like! Be sure to include where you were too.
It’s always hard to choose, but send us only one photo.
Contest ends November 30th. We will pick three lucky winners as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The 1st place winner will get to choose a single item from the prizes below, followed by 2nd place and 3rd place winners.
You’ll have to the end of the year to claim your prize (we’ll contact you). In the rare chance prizes go unclaimed, they will be entered back into our prize pool.
How do you enter?
Easy! E-mail us a photo, or send it to us on Facebook or Twitter or tag us on Instagram (and give us a like or follow while you're there!)
The Prizes to choose from…
Recreational Barrel Works Inc. Tripper Pack
Recreational Barrel Works Inc. was extremely generous in donating a Tripper Canoe Pack as a prize this year! This rugged 70L portage pack offers a lot of options for safely packing your gear for your next trip.
An Autographed copy of Kevin Callan’s Latest book
The Second edition of Kevin Callan’s “Complete Guide to Winter Camping” has just come out and not only can you choose this as a prize, but it is autographed by Kevin himself!
Camper Christina’s Backcountry Camping For Beginners online course
Camper Christina has a five-hour online course on Udemy to teach you how to go backcountry camping and she's donated one as a prize!
Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Pillow
Looking to reduce the bulk in your pack when out camping? You could win a Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Pillow!
The entries so far…
Joan Syroteuk: Here we are along the beautiful South Saskatchewan River, a trip from Diefenbaker Lake to Saskatoon. We didn't go north because of the horrid fire season. A beautiful trip to experience.
Nathan Pray: Algonquin on the Crow River, after the forks.
Josh Speena: Saying goodbye. Last look at North Tea Lake, Algonquin PP after beautiful 6 day loop.
@mbirksphotos: Tom Thompson in July
@olivemyjourneys: She was sooooooo amazing!!!
First time ever in a canoe. She loved it. Popped her head up to pose any time we passed by people on a dock. Lol. She camped amazing also. We were on the tiniest of islands for two days. She just trotted about and surveyed her kingdom … lol.
Laurel FInney: Massassauga Day 2 of 5 ❤️
@lerichebliss: One of my favourite canoe pics of 2021
@jim_canoe: Indian Arm Vancouver
@takayatours:Whey ah Whichen , North Vancouver. Coming home.
@manitobanoutdoors: As I reflect on the past 🛶 season, this is my favourite photo of the year. Not because it’s a good photo 📷 - because it conjures up memories and the feeling of accomplishment 🏆. This was after completing the last portage (1.5km) of the trip.
I paddled a completely new area and a 6 day trip in a what (I know now) should have been at least 8 days. On top of an already compressed timeline, I encountered some gruelling portages and extremely low water 💦 that challenged me mentally and physically. I was able to persevere and complete some of my personal objectives along the way.
Kirsty Topps: paddling from Kingston to Ottawa earlier this year, I could hardly believe my luck (that I had my camera out). This was captured on the River Styx on our first day of paddling
Haley Kretzer: Photo was taken on the Upper section of the Clearwater River in Northern Saskatchewan.
Sandy Southichack: Here is my little dare devil Barker, he’s saying, Mom, can I jump out now??? Northern Saskatchewan, Otter Lake
Birte McArthur: This picture shows Shaughn McArthur from Wakefield paddles a small cliff at the Bonaventure River, Quebec.
Patrick Toews: Elton Lake (Seagrim Chain), MB. Enjoying the incredible view from our private island campsite at the end of a fun day canoeing
Nikki Toews: Our dog's first overnight canoe trip in Nopiming Provincial Park, MB. She found the perfect place to rest her head for a nap during our paddle!
Bryce Jenkins: Beginning of a cone trip in North East Ontario.
Charlie Silbernage: Summer on Buttle Lake on a multi day canoe and camp trip around the lake!
Dee Helseth: Kakagi Lake, NW Ontario
Sandra Gans: Little Doe Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park.
Steve Verrill: On the Bird River in Manitoba. This dragon fly wouldn’t leave me, it hung out with us for about a half hour.
Warren du Plooy: On a lake just west of Kenora, Ontario. My son and his friend who's never been backcountry camping.
Lisa Carriere: My son Liam catching a fish on the Rabbit River
Nathan Andrews: along the Upper Clearwater river route. A most beautiful trip.
Martin Trahan: Portaging
Jocelyn McLean: Scouting rapids on the Mukutawa River, MB.
After a wave train on the Athabasca River
Jim Durnford: Morning coffee at LM9 on Lake Minnewanka.
Barry Skillin: Our outdoor group of friends were to be paddling down the Harrison River to canoe among the spawning salmon but the severe winds made it too risky. Plan B was a day paddle on Hatzic Lake, east of Mission, British Columbia. The prominent mountain is that of Mount Judge Howay (2262m).
Marianne Reid: Manitou Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park
Michael Grieve: Enjoying a post-portage chat on our way through The Cascades during a recent Barron Canyon trip.
Carly Huitema: Obabika Lake in Temagami (before the winds picked up and we camped midway down the lake).
Danielle Chitty: Fishing at Sunrise in the Canoe, Molega Lake, Nova Scotia, September
Mike Murphy: Enjoying the fall colours while in Noganosh Provincial Park late Sept.
Mike Raftis: Caught this awesome sunset late September on a nice calm evening along the Haggart River in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. First time in the park, and paddled from Atikaki Provincial Park in Manitoba.
Sharon Jardine: Did someone say piranhas?! “Portaging” with the family on the Sayward Forest Canoe Route
Gary Jardine: When the wheels are useless you haul ass! Attempting to use canoe wheels that are 60 years old on the Sayward Canoe Route this past summer. Most of the time they were useless and we had to carry the canoe!
Brandon Monahan: Lanzei Lake
Jenna Monahan: On the mighty Sumas with my husband and littlest one.
Dea Ner: Bloodvein River, Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park, Manitoba.
Carol Fairhurst: Lining down some low water in a chute in Turtle River Prov. Park, ON. This trip was our consolation prize and a nice surprise, after driving from BC to paddle in Quetico and arriving on the day it was evacuated due to fire.
Larry Leitch: This was after dump in rapids and a throw bag rescue on the Athabasca River downstream of Hinton AB. Alls well that ends well.
Garth Ramsay: Day 8 of a 12 Day trip on the Churchill River. This was taken on our way back… I think it’s just after Frog Narrows heading down into Drope Lake. The area was surrounded by forest fires but this was the worst day for smoke for us. At one point It was so bad we could hear Stanley Rapids but couldn’t see where they were… Thanks to my old Garmin GPSMap 76CSX we just followed the breadcrumb trail back.
Cathy R: Lift across Lake LaBarge to the Yukon River
Sean Harrison: Long Lake, Mt. Uniacke, NS
Bob Canning: Portaging to site 24 with my two daughters.
Adeline Hewey: Backcountry canoe trip in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. This is my daughter and her friend catching the sunset from their canoe on Keji Lake. I can still hear the loons calling.
Teanne Sommerfeld: My kids first time canoeing down Surf City at Barker Lake Saskatchewan! Our last day of a fabulous family vacation that started on Paul Lake and ended at Devils Lake!
Chad Schmidt: Lake of the Prairies
Brad McRobert: Kidprice Lake, Nanika Kidprice canoe route outside of Houston, BC. After three days of portaging, eating bugs and the occasional stretch of canoeing we were rewarded by glaciers and a pristine lake where you couldn’t tell where the water ended and the sky began!!
Bill & Cindy Reynolds: Beresford Lake, Nopiming Prov Park, Manitoba
Pat Moser: Jill Macknee enjoying a windless morning on Atlin Lake, BC.
Corey Giles: This was taken on Thanksgiving this year at the end of our three days camping out on Amor Lake, on Vancouver Island. It rained hard that weekend, the wind came up quickly one day sending us back to our little island and a warm fire. Sunday morning we were fortunate to wake up to crisp sun and a completely still lake. Coffees made, we paddled all morning exploring the clear waters of Amor lake. Later that afternoon, 6 pounds of chanterelles were gathered up and added to an incredible Thanksgiving dinner and a perfect campfire. Holiday Monday was beautiful, and as always we were sad to leave but glad to have enjoyed another spectacular lake trip. The lake gave us a beautiful fall sendoff at the put-in. I couldn't help but snap one more shot of my old yellow boat resting by the water, before loading up, and heading out.
Noel Linsey: Siderock Lake, Atikaki Provincial Park. September 2021… what a trip!
Julia Bendall: Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park
Barry Elford: Moon River looking to the Sunset in the West August 2021 between Hyway 400/69 and Bala . This was Ragged Rapids.
Michelle McShane: 10-day famjam canoe trip! Lake LaMuir.
Pete Parke: This photo is of David Lee (the Pursuit of Passion) admiring an autumn sunset on a lesser known route off of the Pickeral River. The stillness and magic of this evening will never be forgotten by either of us!
James V: Paddling down Diamond Lake in Temagami
Sundée Himburg: My first portage/camping trip ever!!! Halliburton highlands “I carried a canoe!”
Jessica Cyfko: We just started back country camping this year with our two dogs lugging our beast ‘Lenny’ (named after my fiancé’s grandfather) 16 foot Grumman canoe. 😂 Rock Lake
Jonas Osborne: Killarney Lake
Trevor Lee: Jacobs Lake, ON.
Kaela Smith: taken on the Athabasca river in Alberta on a 3 day canoe trip this summer
Sid Bredin: How steep was the portage? Steep enough for this! Canoeing and portaging in the rain forests of BC. Powell Forest Canoe Route, Powell River, BC.
Darren and Karyn: early October this year in Temagami on route to a portage. My wife and I were impressed with the rugged beauty and landscape that Temagami has on offer.
Asher Nadlersmith: taken on a canoe trip I did this year on the Turtle River in Ontario, and this waterfall is called Horse Falls
Stephen Perras: from our island campsite in Bubble Bay on Bark Lake in Algoma. My father (who is 70 years old!) and I did a week-long trip canoe trip down the Mississagi River in the second week of July 2021 and were blessed to have a great sunset on our 3rd night of the trip.
Jim Ballos: taken in November at Bottle Lake, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (me, Jim Ballos, solo paddle)
Kirsten Graham: one of my favourite photos from my 9-day solo trip in the north end of Killarney. Campsite on Gail Lake, Killarney PP
Jean Lefebvre: Taken in the Elora Gorge in October 2021. "Friends about to take the plunge"
Zamy Bayer: last week of October on a canoe trip to Pickerel River. Parked the canoes and climbed up the cliffs to visit the shrine.
Tara Ouchterlony: Algonquin Park, Barron Canyon area (Achray)
Jim Hendry: Day two of a three day trip on Big Salmon Lake, Frontenac Provincial Park. Beautiful day at +6. Nights at -1
Sarah Bakker: This picture of my daughter captures our ideal of backcountry living - reading a book in a hammock after a beautiful paddle. Rock Lake, Algonquin
Connor Furneaux: Day 10 of an 11 day trip at Gahnįhthah Mįe (Rabbitkettle Lake) in Nahanni National Park Reserve
Ted Heagle: At sunrise in Ferguson Bay in Temagami. This is from my 11th annual August trip to Temagami with my two buddies.
Erin Hope: Passing the Torch, Moment of reflection on Nanuk's first trip and Cinder's last after a lifetime of many. North Bay, ON
Shane Brett: 5 mile rapids section of the French River in September
Carol and Ken Lunney: Early morning on Long Lake, Kawartha Highlands PP.
Cassie Pellerin: Captured this summer during a trip to Barron Canyon, Algonquin Provincial Park. The glass-like water created an abstract and unusual mirrored effect along the shoreline.
Brad Van Reenen: My friend Won dragging a heavy load up River Aux Sables. It was his first trip, it was mid June, and he seemed to hate it. Then he saw his first moose and tasted his first fresh backcountry trout. Now he loves it and wants to go again.
Duane: This was taken on my 6 year old daughter's 2nd backcountry canoe trip - on Canisbay Lake, in Algonquin Park. We were out for a beautiful evening paddle (and you can see the full moon in the background)!
Viktor Nagy: Greetings from Hungary . There are times when you need to lift the canoe.
Mike Michel Turgeon: Groundhog River Uppers Falls Timmins, Ontario
David Bain: Killarney Lake
Clayton Peters: a Canoe headstand, taken July on Lake Huron near Goderich, Ontario
Jessie Fitch: QEII
Josie Dinsmore: Paddling a canoe in front of Paresseux Falls along the Mattawa River, in Northern Ontario. Although I live in Mattawa, at the end of the river, I had never paddled this section of the Mattawa River before and was very excited to do so during a daytrip this past summer! We paddled from Pimisi Bay down river to Campion Rapids in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. It was amazing!
Nancy Maddock: Late September, KHPP
Mae: Power nap time! Big Chute Marine Railway Trent- Severn
Justin Whalen: Head River in QE2W May long weekend
David MacDonnell: July 2021, late Evening on the Paull River Sask
Gerry Carr: Sec Lake, Algonquin Park
Mark Killam: Crotch Lake. Algonquin Park. Access 17. Thanksgiving weekend
Brad Nickoshie: Experimental Lakes, Ont
Jim Holmes: Noganash PP in mid-Oct at camp.
Jason McClennan: Belwood Lake. Just rebuilt, first run on the lake
Cheyenne Manitowaba: In the back 40 on Egans Lake, great times with family.
Naomi Matsui: Clear Lake, Massasauga Provincial Park. I love the way the water took on this metallic sheen!
Evan Swance-Smith: Farm Lake, Algonquin Park. I am severely disabled with osteoarthritis yet managed a 6 day cane trip even portaging my 100lb fibreglass Cowan canoe by myself with one of my crutches. 3 weeks later I got one of my hips replaced and am getting the second done soon. I'm looking forward to pain-free trips in the future!
Colette Descent:Philip Edward Island (Georgian Bay). I had stopped for a shore lunch whilst exploring the magnificent coves and bays of the island, paddling on the crystal clear blue waters of the Bay.
