How building a wood-and-canvas canoe reconnected this New Brunswick angler to her roots

As I paddled, I thought of my mom singing on the lake, reminding me that being on the water is as much about presence as it is about movement. Each stroke of the paddle, like each cast, connects you to something beyond yourself, something older, quieter, enduring. In that moment, I could feel the weight of tradition—not heavy, but grounding—rooted in who I am and where I’m from, tied together through song, memory and the gentle pull of a paddle across Canadian waters.

My canoe holds meaning far beyond its cedar ribs and canvas skin. It represents the meeting place between tradition and curiosity, between following a blueprint and daring to add your own line to it.

I built it from a design shaped by generations before me, yet every decision and every curve carries a trace of my own story. In many ways, it’s a bridge between past and present, honouring the wisdom that came before while allowing room for new discoveries.

Now when I look at the canoe, I think of that little girl sitting on the porch, watching her mother paddle across the lake—wide-eyed, curious and ready to explore the world beyond the shoreline. That same spirit still guides me now: the pull to learn, to feel, to listen and to keep moving forward, both on the water and in life. The canoe is a reflection of that journey—steady, strong and shaped by both wonder and tradition.

My hope is that it will continue to carry that same spirit forward, passed on to those who, in their own time, feel called to build, to paddle and to see where the water might lead them. After all, some stories aren’t meant to be finished—only passed along.

Visit www.miramichicanoes.ca for more info about Miramichi Canoes.