OUR 2022 SEASON GOES FROM JUNE 1-SEPT 30. ONLINE BOOKING IS NOW AVAILABLE.
Come Kayaking or Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) on the Toronto Islands just minutes from the Toronto downtown core. We are an outdoor experience company dedicated to connecting people with the natural world and the water by offering unique stand up paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking and land based team building programs on Toronto Island. We strive to build community, respect our natural environment and place importance on "the experience" over material posessions. Choose from 8 different types of watercraft and a huge variety of guided experiences.
Launch from Wards Island and maximize your time in the safe, calm waters of the lagoons: Toronto's prime paddling location.
It's best to book online to get weather based updates & cancellations, to ensure equipment is available and that we are on site. We do accept walk-ins when space is available but during the COVID-19 pandemic, we highly encourage you to book online and sign the e-waiver prior to arrival. We accept all forms of payment. Please note that the ability to tread water and swim short distances is a prerequisite for our water based experiences.
Buying an experience for someone else? Click either of the buttons below to choose a gift option for either a specific experience or if you're not sure which to choose, a dollar amount. Gifts expire 2 years after purchase.
We've reorganized the website
We've broadened our offerings and have reorganized the information so it's easy to find what you're looking for and book online. See below for a synopsis.
Guided Programs: This heading contains programs that generally contain a guide, not including the regular lessons. Some of these programs are for SUP only, while some you can choose either or at checkout such as Sunset Safari and Eco Tour. We've added Accredited Courses from Paddle Canada if you'd like to enter the skills and instructor streams. See below for a full schedule of events coming up this summer. Look under Workshops to find some unique courses led by local industry icons.
SUP: You'll find info here on rentals and regular lessons. You can now choose the type of equipment at checkout.
Kayak: You'll find info here on rentals and regular lessons. You can now choose the type of equipment at checkout.
Storage: We've got plenty of space for our storage program. Bring your own kayak or board and store it on the water's edge.
Team Building: Get your team out of office either on the water or for the popular Beach Olympics.
Guided Programs: This heading contains programs that generally contain a guide, not including the regular lessons. Some of these programs are for SUP only, while some you can choose either or at checkout such as Sunset Safari and Eco Tour. We've added Accredited Courses from Paddle Canada if you'd like to enter the skills and instructor streams. See below for a full schedule of events coming up this summer. Look under Workshops to find some unique courses led by local industry icons.
SUP: You'll find info here on rentals and regular lessons. You can now choose the type of equipment at checkout.
Kayak: You'll find info here on rentals and regular lessons. You can now choose the type of equipment at checkout.
Storage: We've got plenty of space for our storage program. Bring your own kayak or board and store it on the water's edge.
Team Building: Get your team out of office either on the water or for the popular Beach Olympics.
Popular Recurring Events
Popular recurring events such as rentals and lessons are not in the calendar below because they ocurr so frequently. SUP and Kayak rentals are open every weekday from 10 am to about 1 hour before sunset and weekends from 9:30 am to 7 pm. Choose an option the the menu above and choose from 8 different types of boats and boards.
Group Intro to SUP Lesson
June and September (shoulder season): Thu-Fri at 6 pm and Sat-Sun at 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm.
July and August (mid-season): Tues-Fri at 1:15 pm, 6 pm and Sat-Sun at 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm.
Private Intro to SUP Lesson (extra lessons available upon request)
Tues-Fri 10:45 am, 1 pm, 6 pm
June and September (shoulder season): Thu-Fri at 6 pm and Sat-Sun at 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm.
July and August (mid-season): Tues-Fri at 1:15 pm, 6 pm and Sat-Sun at 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm.
Private Intro to SUP Lesson (extra lessons available upon request)
Tues-Fri 10:45 am, 1 pm, 6 pm
Group Intro to Kayak Lesson
June (shoulder season): Tues-Wed at 6 pm and Sat-Sun at 2:30 pm.
September (shoulder season): Tues-Wed at 2 pm and Sat-Sun at 2:30 pm.
July and August (mid-season): Tues-Fri at 12 pm and Sat-Sun at 12 pm, 2:30 pm.
Private Intro to Kayak Lesson (extra lessons available upon request)
Tues-Fri 10:45 am, 1 pm, 6 pm
June (shoulder season): Tues-Wed at 6 pm and Sat-Sun at 2:30 pm.
September (shoulder season): Tues-Wed at 2 pm and Sat-Sun at 2:30 pm.
July and August (mid-season): Tues-Fri at 12 pm and Sat-Sun at 12 pm, 2:30 pm.
Private Intro to Kayak Lesson (extra lessons available upon request)
Tues-Fri 10:45 am, 1 pm, 6 pm
View some upcoming events below but to book, you must go to the appropriate page and click the BOOK NOW button to join.
SUNSET SAFARI: We've teamed up with SUBMRG to bring you a brand new and improved night paddling experience. Choose from kayak or SUP and control your own lighting system. Choose your lighting intensity, colour or choose from the 120 preset patterns to fill the night with colour!
SUP IN THE 6IX - BGOW INTRO TO SUP: A dedicated Intro to SUP session to support more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) into the world of stand up paddleboarding in collaboration with Demiesha Dennis (@browngirl_outdoorworld) and the #BrownGirlOutdoorWorld / #BGOWcommunity with instructors from the Lake Surfistas. A portion of the funds go to BGOW hosting fees.
MEMBERSHIP & STORAGE: Have you ever thought of owning a kayak or SUP but had nowhere to put it? Well now you've got a spot! We are opening up a membership and storage option for those who have their own boards or kayaks. Our racks are currently being built and will be available for late June. Learn more and apply today!
WE'VE GOT KAYAKS: Check out the kayak rental page to get your spot on the water. New this year, we are adding these super fun water vessels to the fleet. Currently we've got Nunu kayaks from Clearwater Design, a longstanding Canadian company with equipment made right here in Ontario. These boats are 9'6" long and have a 250 lb weight capacity. We've also got sit-on-tops from Swift Canoe and Kayak as well as Tandems. Book one today for a lesson or rental!
The Toronto Islands actually consist of 14 islands and is the only archipelago in Western Lake Ontario. The Toronto Region Conservation Authority has denoted 6 zones here as Environmentally Significant Areas which means there is plenty of nature to explore and get lost in. All of the beaches on the South shore are Blue Flag certified which means they pass tests for water quality and maintenance. In fact, they consistently come up as Toronto's cleanest.
We're lucky that our primary launch area at Algonquin Bridge has access to calm water in the inner lagoons with great views of the city. Lake Ontario is a huge and majestic wilderness and as a system, the Great Lakes are the largest reservoir of fresh water in the world. The island acts much the same as a reef would by attracting many important species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects and of course people.
We are here to facilitate your freedom on the water and explore this space. We believe in experiences over things, building community and respecting our natural world. By participating in our experiences, you are helping us in our mission to make this world a better place. Read on below...
We're lucky that our primary launch area at Algonquin Bridge has access to calm water in the inner lagoons with great views of the city. Lake Ontario is a huge and majestic wilderness and as a system, the Great Lakes are the largest reservoir of fresh water in the world. The island acts much the same as a reef would by attracting many important species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects and of course people.
We are here to facilitate your freedom on the water and explore this space. We believe in experiences over things, building community and respecting our natural world. By participating in our experiences, you are helping us in our mission to make this world a better place. Read on below...
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Our promo video showcasing our fine paddlers on the lagoons of the island. By Know Hau Media.
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The 2021 promo video showcases our new equipment and upgraded space. By @adamphilipphotography.
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When was the last time you took some time to unplug and just breathe? Give yourself a chance to reconnect with nature on a SUP Lesson, Rental or a specialty excursion like SUP Yoga, SUP Eco-Tour or Night SUP Adventure.
#TISUP #IsleLove
We have built a culture of respect for our community and nature and believe strongly that to make this world a better place, it takes small everyday actions from everyone. When we set up for the day we keep our shorelines clean by picking up trash. Not only do we pick it up daily, but we encourage our guests to as well while they're out paddling. Of course it doesn't stop there. We can pick up trash all day long but if we don't go to the source, little will change. We record trash using the Clean Swell app to help inform researchers and policy makers on steps to reduce the amount of trash ending up in our waterways. Are you interested in learning more? We enjoy educating our guests about the natural world on the steps of downtown Toronto in our Eco-Tours and other events. We've created a community water testing program with Swim Drink Fish to monitor water quality where we paddle . Results can be viewed on the Swim Guide app.
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750 LBS + Pulled from the water
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We use an electric vehicle to transport our pop-up shop and leave the area better than we found it, our marketing collateral is made from 100% recycled materials, we strive to go as paperless as possible in our business practices and we're always looking for creative ways to be the change and inspire others to do so as well. Every season, every day we move towards bettering ourselves and our world. The Leave No Trace principles are a pillar of our programming. Whether visiting for 2 hours or 2 days, we take only pictures (and trash), and leave only bubbles.
In 2020 we built a floating dock to assist launching and returning paddlers. It was made from scratch from salvaged spruce and pine logs salvaged from local tree removal sources. They were set for woodchipping but have found a new life as our launch pad into the natural world! When possible, materials are salvaged from local building projects to upcycle it into our projects.
The more we enjoy our natural world and see it as integrated with our society, the more we respect and protect it and each other.
In 2020 we built a floating dock to assist launching and returning paddlers. It was made from scratch from salvaged spruce and pine logs salvaged from local tree removal sources. They were set for woodchipping but have found a new life as our launch pad into the natural world! When possible, materials are salvaged from local building projects to upcycle it into our projects.
The more we enjoy our natural world and see it as integrated with our society, the more we respect and protect it and each other.
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Get more ideas on what to do in Toronto with the KAYAK Travel guide --->
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