Company Overview

History of Nor-West Canoes Inc.

Mr. Augustin Garipy, founder of Nor-West canoes Inc., was born in Alberta, Canada in the area of Little Slave Lake (Alberta). His interest for canoes began at an early age, as he often helped his father, in making and repairing, canoes and barges, for the Hudson Bay Company.

Around 1938, Mr. Garipy worked for Arctic Boats and Canoes in Edmonton. There he learned how to make canoes for North West prospectors.

Mr. Garipy's, a few years later, come to settle in Quebec and during the Second World War, the Canadian government recruited him to work for the Canadian Power Boats Company in Lachine, Quebec.

Around 1945, he founded his own canoe manufacture. At the beginning, most of his customers were from the Abitibi region in Quebec, making the same type of canoes that he had learned in Alberta. At that time Mr. Garipy decided to name his company, Les Canots Nor-West Canoes Inc.

In 1960, after 10 years of production on its own account, he incorporated the company. Its line of products became very popular especially in the North West Territories, in the north of Ontario and of course in Quebec. Since then, the company has improved its line of wooden canoes, especially its freight canoes. Now, Les Canots Nor-West Canoes offers a wide range of canoes, going from 12 to 26 feet.

Mr. Garipy's main concern has always been to continuously improve the quality of its products to better satisfy the customers needs and his company now ensured by his four sons continue to grow with that spirit.

Company Information

Additional Details

Legal Name: Canots Nor-West Canoes Inc.

Number of Employees: 14

Contacts

Products

• Canoes, Pointed Models 12' 16'

  12' LAURENTIDE: An extra light canoe with a wide beam to meet the need for stability and lightness. This is an alert paddling canoe and is a joy to handle, it is suitable for one to two passengers.

  14' BEAVER: A flat wide canoe for commercial use such as trapping, fishing, hunting or just for extended trips. Its lightness, carrying and paddling ability are its main features, it should not be overlooked.

  16' MARQUETTE: A long established favourite of the experience canoeist, the 16 feet Marquette is an combination of speed, manoeuvrability and strength. Its easiness to paddle and quickness to react are features that racing enthusiast desire, making this design the number one choice for stock model canoe racing.

  16' CARIBOU: A pleasure canoe with extra width for greater than average carrying capacity, permitting outing of long durations. This model is the best all around canoe for variety travel where lightness, stability and greater than average carrying capacity is required.

  Made of clear cedar, the ribs are bent to shape the mould, then a thin cedar planking is laid lengthwise in strips. Both the strips and the ribs are fastened together by brass tacks. Over this rot resisting shell, we lay a tightly stretched seamless marine canvas which is then treated with a special NOR-WEST hardening preparation, this compound is then rubbed thoroughly into the canvas. It is with features like these and craftsmanship that NOR-WEST CANOE has made its reputation.

• Canoes, V-stern Models

  14' BEAVER AND THE 16' CARIBOU: The V-Stern models are used mostly in rivers and streams, the also permits travel up stream with the use of a motor. Paddling them is easy as the under water shape is the same as the pointed en canoe.

  Made of clear cedar, the ribs are bent to shape the mould, then a thin cedar planking is laid lengthwise in strips. Both the strips and the ribs are fastened together by brass tacks. Over this rot resisting shell, we lay a tightly stretched seamless marine canvas which is then treated with a special NOR-WEST hardening preparation, this compound is then rubbed thoroughly into the canvas. It is with features like these and craftsmanship that NOR-WEST CANOE has made its reputation.

• Freight Canoes 14' To 26'

  FREIGHT CANOES MODELS 18' TO 26'

  'Freighter canoes are built to be used with an outboard motor. Their robustness, their dimension and their reliability make them able to ensure transport of people and goods, and they proved reliable even in the Arctic areas. Tey are manufactured in order to allow an ease operation and a total control even on the water ways considered as difficult for navigation.

  The models from 20 to 26 feet manufactured to be propelled by an outboard motor with long foot.

  Silent and easy to operate, these canoes are very appreciate by hunters and fishermen. Quality and durability are their emblem. The boat par excellence of yesterday and tomorrow, yet not to be equalled.

  For more information see our web site at: www. nor-west. ca

• Wooden Canoes

NAICS Categories

• 336612 Boat Building

Additional Information