With 20+ years experience customising beginner friendly ‘beyond just paddling’ team building, and/or large group social events, we look forward to welcoming your group on an escape to the Toronto Islands! (Even a ‘no paddling required’ scavenger hunt).
CONTACT richard@paddletoronto.com or 416 903 0707 cell
All events are customisable re content & duration and facilitated throughout with our marshals. We work closely with you to ensure that the activities, intensity level and objectives are in-line with your vision for the day. Programs have a variety of formats…even a ‘no paddling required’ scavenger hunt to be inclusive for colleagues who are not comfortable being in canoes or kayaks. From exciting head-to-head races to single team challenges, or create your own adventure day from a menu of activities. Leisurely paddle one of our (very big) 8-15 passenger Voyageur canoes, a 2 person/Tandem Kayak or Stand Up Paddle Boards through the bird sanctuaries & lagoons of the archipelago? Perhaps followed by a guided bike tour and/or a scavenger hunt? Arrange catering on the islands or perhaps city side Harbourfront area before, during or after your event? Or consider your own picnic?
We can help in choosing catering / meeting place / picnic location. How about transportation & logistics support chartering our pontoon motorboats?
*** click on program name to expand for more details & pricing! ***
Island Scavenger Hunt
- Our marshal(s) are with your team throughout.
- We assure you that this is not a typical ‘A to B and then to C ‘follow the leader’ linear format hunt’!
- No team will score 100% !!! Will your team score highest?
- NO CANOES OR K AYAKS USED IN THIS EVENT = inclusive for all participants.
Recommended Group Size: 15-500+ click on program name to expand for more details & pricing
Paddle Adventure Day
Choose how your group wishes to explore the Toronto Islands. Design an event using a mix of activities…8 – 15 passenger guided voyageur (big) canoes / stand up paddle boards / tandem kayaks / bike and or hike!
Recommended Group Size: 8-200+ click on program name to expand for more details & pricing
Voyageur Canoe Adventure Challenge
Paddling in our big 8-15 passenger canoes, the team that accomplishes the greatest number of challenges within the 2 hour (customisable) time limit is crowned the winner. Think of this as an on-water scavenger hunt, travelling in big canoe(s).
Recommended Group Size: 8-84 click on program name to expand for more details & pricing
By Water By Land Island Adventure
Travel to the Islands in our big 8-15 passenger guided voyageur canoe(s) to explore the bird sanctuaries & lagoons. Then enjoy a guided bike tour or self explore. Return by ferry or canoe. Optional catering before / during / after?
Recommended Group Size: 8-84 click on program name to expand for more details & pricing
The Incredible Island Race
Teams paddle our big 8-15 passenger Voyageur canoes to various locations across the Islands, completing tasks in order to gain the travel clue to their next challenge.
Recommended Group Size: 16-84 click on program name to expand for more details & pricing
GPS Adventure Challenge
Race against the clock to complete the GPS Challenge while accumulating as many points as possible!
This can be enjoyed by big 8-15 passenger voyageur canoe(s), tandem kayaks or stand up paddle board. click on program name to expand for more details & pricing
General Information
Our paddling centre is located on Harbourfront (south of CN Tower) thus many companies only need to allocate a 1/2 day to enjoy an escape from the city. Most of our on water programs begin city side but can be customised to be one way between city/islands (either direction) or a start/finish on the islands. Note that the Scavenger Hunt normally starts city side at Jack Layton ferry terminal but start & finish also can be customised.
Duration
As no two groups are the same we will work with you to design a program to meet your requirements. Most listed programs are 2 ½ – 3 hours but can be customised.
Intensity
As with duration, we are able to adapt our games to make sure everyone is included and that it properly reflects the dynamics of each group. Think of it as Amazing Race meets Survivor but for office dwelling beginners!
Safety
Our experienced staff are certified in First Aid/CPR (as a minimum). We can explain how we are ready to take care of your team both on & off the water. E.g. if not a time sensitive scenario we will send one of our motorboats to assist. If an urgent scenario the Marine Police EMS are our immediate neighbours and there is also EMS on islands.
Weather
Due to the “lake effect”, most rain forecasts get “pushed” onto the city. A rain forecast for the city does not always mean rain on the islands. We consult weather radars and have 30+ years of “knowing our weather”!
Rain Day Options
- Option A: It’s only a little drizzle, play on!
- Option B: We alter the event to adapt to the rain.
- Option C: Alternate rain date or full refund. (We understand the challenge of rescheduling.)
☀️☀️☀️ UNSOLICITED FEEDBACK ☀️☀️☀️
Event Mobi – Christine & Regine
Just chiming in to say thank you. This event was so well received by our team and Regine & I commented after that both you and Michael helped to take it up a notch by being so engaging with your deliveries of both the instructions and the results. You’ve managed to create a format that is accessible to all levels of participants and their desires for competition – that’s no easy feat! Thank you very much for yours and Michael’s help today! The team had a great time. Please let me know where we can write a review for you all. Will happily pass your name along as providers of fun, engaging and well-run team building activities and we hope paths cross in the future!
Bain (anually, 10 years!) – Carly, Sarah, Stephanie – kayak / canoe / Sup running in parallel
Richard, you’re a delight to work with! Thanks for all your help in putting our annual socials together. You’re one of the reasons I’m always recommending Harbourfront.
HAYS Recruitment – Gillian -180 participants.
Thank you so much Richard for all your help and your team. Everyone had a blast!
Prefera Finance – Melodie
Thanks for all your help; you’ve been fantastic! I wanted to send a BIG thank you to you and your amazing team. Our group had a fantastic time and everyone is still raving about the sights seen. It was even better than I could have imagined. We appreciated the knowledge of your guides but also the fun that they brought to the event also. What an experience all around including the catering! Michael was my guide and was superb 😊. I already have friends interested in similar programs and I will continue spreading the word! Hope to work together again soon.
Omers – Mo
It was very memorable and I truly appreciate the humour and simple but engaging format of the activities. The whole team had a great time and I will be recommending you to my colleagues.
Canadian Wildlife – Nicole
We wanted to express our thanks for a fantastic event hosted this past Sunday. Lyndon & Noah were enthusiastic, knowledgeable guides that did everything possible to give our group a great experience through the day. We appreciated that they were flexible and accommodating to the needs/interests of our group. A perfect mix of time spent on the voyageur canoes, the bikes and on foot as we explored the islands. Of particular interest to our youth was the combination of fun & educational components. This is a very good program for groups/team building.
Canada Life – Brendan
Took a work group of 30+ this week on the voyageur canoe adventure challenge. Thoroughly enjoyed by all. Really helpful booking support in advance to identify the best option for our group and on the day to guide us through the adventure. Highly recommended!
Samsung – Barbara
Just wanted to share with you the feedback we had from our Scavenger Hunt Team yesterday. We all thought it was great fun and exercise! Many mentioned that this is something they’d like to do with families & friends. Best of all, my team won so I have bragging rights. Thanks again for all your assistance preparing for and during the event. Please thank Lisa for us too as she had to put up with us – priceless!
Google Business Review – Megan
I booked an early morning canoe tour as part of my organization’s team retreat. While planning, Richard was excellent helping us decide which activities fit best and answering all my questions. Day-of, Michael was extremely knowledgeable in addition to being kind and helpful. Our team thoroughly enjoyed themselves – would definitely recommend.
Google Business – Irving
My department of around 31 people did the scavenger hunt today. It was a lot of fun! Highly recommended as a team building activity!
Google Business – Daniela
I helped organize a team bonding event for my company and choosing Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Center made my job extremely easy! They were very courteous and helpful! Helped me on what challenge my team should participate in. Our two guides were great and made the experience memorable and enjoyable. Would highly recommend for your team outings!
ClearCo – Paige – 90+ participants
Thanks so much again for helping with such a memorable event and making it one of our team’s highlights from the week! We are certainly still recovering from last week now that we’re all back in our own corners of the world but we had a great time.
Canada Life – Brendan
A work group of 30+ out this week on the large voyageur canoe adventure challenge. Thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated. Really helpful booking support in advance to identify the best option for our group and, on the day, to guide us through the adventure. Highly recommended.
BMO – Roman
Did not cross paths yesterday but wanted to thank you for organizing the scavenger hunt for us. We had a great time and lots of good laughs. Michael was great at keeping us on track and helping to navigate across the island. Will gladly recommend your team to other friends and colleagues who are looking for team building activities.
Women Professionals & Entrepreneurs – Annie
On behalf of our members, a huge thank you for the amazing experience yesterday. We appreciate how well organized you were, the quality of your guides and the attention to our members safety and comfort.
Geotab – Baljeet & Amelia
Thank you for organising today’s event. It was an awesome day and everyone really enjoyed the scavenger hunt. Thank you for your diligence and I look forward to working together in the future.
MTE85 – Kyle & Tania
I just wanted to say a big thanks to you and Lisa for the event on Saturday! We all had a really great time and I’m hoping we can do another event with your organization next year. Agreed, thank you very much Richard and Lisa. That was a great trip!
CIBC – Santiago
Hi James, just wanted to thank you again. Richard and Lisa did a great job and the team really enjoyed it. Got many unsolicited positive comments about the great time people had!
RBC – Sharon
Hey Richard. Thanks a lot for organizing the event. Everyone in the team enjoyed it and it was very active! Heard universal positive comments from the team.
Sunlife – Kristen
Just wanted to thank you and your team again for the great experience. We had such a great time and Michael was the perfect guide. We will definitely be recommending this to our friends and colleagues.
Haworth Group – Marlam
I’d like to thank you and your team yesterday! Attendees loved the canoe experiences and we will be for sure booking this in the next season.
National Homes – Jennie
National Homes had such a great team build last year and is interested in doing something similar again this year!
Amdocs – Irina
We really had a lot of fun and we will certainly come back for other activities. Thank you and Lisa for everything!
BDO – Melissa
Thank you for coordinating a great event. Everyone had fun and really enjoyed the experience.
Tour Radar – Aaron
The event went well and was a huge success.
Allstate – Brycin
Thanks, Richard for everything today. Tons of people told me they had a great time and enjoyed being on the islands.
Amazon
It was a great time for me and my team and the guide did a fantastic job. Thanks to your team.
Avanada – Hala
Hi Richard and Dave. Thank you both for all your help setting up our Kayaking trip. We couldn’t have wished for a smoother experience! The group had so much fun, they are now interested in going again soon!
Anon – Karolina
I just wanted to thank you and your team for a well organized excursion! Our members loved it and had lots of fun! Hope to be back next season!
Ontario Hospital Association – Catherine
A HUGE THANKS to both of you for the amazing Scavenger Hunt yesterday. Our team had such an amazing time both during exploring the Toronto Island.
Watermark Environmental – Rasheeda
Thanks again for everything! We’ll definitely recommend you to industry colleagues who are looking for a fun and challenging team outing.
Cresta A.I. – Sylvia
Thanks again for organizing such a fantastic team-building event! We had an amazing time and will definitely reach out again for future events. 😊
Family Picnic – Betelhem
My family of 10 had a truly wonderful experience. It was such a pleasure to be able to step into the world of canoeing together as a family and bond in that way. Emily did a fantastic job directing us through the lagoons Richard was truly generous in making sure we were taken care of. Couldn’t have asked for a better first time experience. Wonderful Centre – our family has already made plans for future ventures.
