Space-Age Canoes glide in 26th Annual Canoe Race

Air Ronge's Martin Bernardin is bringing new tech to one of the world's oldest forms of transport. 

'We make some of the best canoes in the world' says Bernardin, standing next to a canoe mold with heat-tracing all along its perimeter 'and that's no exaggeration'.

Paddling on a lake is probably one of the best isolation activities one can do in a pandemic, still, Bernardin expressed his past concern about if he (and the business) would have a season at all.

'We had a road block to get up here and we weren't allowed to open up' said Bernardin ' by the beginning of July we stated seeing a lot of new people coming up here, those that wouldn't normally be choosing to vacation in Saskatchewan -- local people that may go to BC or Alberta or oversees that are choosing to see what's up in Northern Saskatchewan.'

He says he hopes he will break about even given the late start to the season and recent better-than-expected business.

Bernardin has been making voyager-style canoes since 2005, when he and his partner were based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and while he was working as an Engineer for Orano (formerly Areva: a french uranium giant in the province). After painfully building his first canoe with a friend by hand, and using it to successfully complete in races, he says he decided to get serious about building.

'Aluminum you're looking at 65-70+ pounds, with these (Kisseunew's Canoes) you're looking at about half of that, around 40 pounds...' and if you're portaging several kilometers...20 pounds makes a huge difference to an enthusiast, racer, or hunter.

At one point, Bernardin and friends took 10 hours off the voyager canoe record in the 715-kilometer Yukon River Quest using his design process--one that takes advantage of aerospace materials.  Kevlar and carbon fibre weaves have replaced wood; seats, foot-braces, and other materials are laid in and arranged dry -- no more race against glues drying!

Not only are his watercraft fast, but they are also environmentally sound, something northerners are particularly sensitive to; his work-shop doesn't smell of lacquer--only faintly of oranges--as the epoxy Montreal Lake Outfitters uses is nearly free of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and settles under vacuum pressure in a process known as 'Infusion'.

Bernardin says he has shipped to both sides of Canada, into the far north, across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom, and as far south as Texas; his builds typically range from $4,000 CAD to $12,000 (a one of a kind custom order). For all their success, the Bernardin's pay it forward in the Tri-Communities: Martin was on the Safety-boat for the 26th Annual Canoe Races in La Ronge, and Montreal River Outpost was a Major Sponsor for the event.

The canoe races, which took place the next day, had 8 canoes registered across two races: a 7km 'short' leg and a ~18km 'long' leg. This is about a 50% reduction in turnout, said race organizer Sid Robinson.

'We usually have about 15 boats, or 30 people... I have seen as many as 50 people partake'. Robinson says he thinks the Coronavirus C-19 pandemic no doubt has played a role as those from nearby northern communities (South End, Stanley Mission) were noticeably absent.