Canadian Canoe Museum begins to take shape

PETERBOROUGH, ONT. — Construction at the Canadian Canoe Museum is well underway, moving swiftly with the current.

The museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft, temporarily closed its doors to the public at its current location in Peterborough, Ont. as it prepares to move to its new waterfront museum at 2077 Ashburnham Drive. The museum is expected to reopen at the new location in the summer of 2023.

In October 2021 the museum signed an integrated project delivery contract with Chandos Construction and Lett Architects valued at $27.4 million.

In a newsletter, Carolyn Hyslop, executive director of the Canadian Canoe Museum, said she expects 2023 to be even more eventful and said by this time next year, the dream of a new museum will become a reality. The museum team recently took a tour of the new building and campus.

“Moving to our new location will begin a new chapter in our history and allow us to offer our community so much more than we can currently,” said Hyslop in her letter. “New programs will allow everyone to partake in hands-on experiences and workshops, whether on the water, around the property, or inside our beautiful new building. Our Collection Centre provides a space to safely store, preserve, and maintain hundreds of canoes, kayaks, and paddled watercraft while allowing enhanced public access to the entire collection.”