SLHS students launch own canoe

Oct 13, 2011

Photo: Ryan Michie, Geoffrey Murray, Justine Olmont, and students at SLHS launch their recently completed canoe

This year’s grade 11 students in Geoff Murray’s construction class have just finished building a canoe. The project was begun this past June by Murray and Outdoor Education teacher Ryan Michie, and the students and staff celebrated its completion with an official launch at Oso beach on October 11.

Prior to the launch the students had put the finishing touches on the canoe, sanding out its rough interior and weaving the nylon seats in the canoe’s stern and bow. The boat, as visually appealing as it is water worthy, was made from local pine and boasts cherry gunnels. It is similar in style to a second boat that the students began this year and are halfway through completing in this year’s construction course. Murray said that the skills they learned finishing off this boat will serve them well when it comes to completing their second one. Justine Wilmont, a student teacher from Queen’s University who joined the group at the official launch, has been shadowing Murray’s construction class and has plans to continue the canoe theme. She will be assisting students in the class with individual canoe paddle projects that will take place later this year. 

The students were thrilled with both the look and performance of the boat as Mr. Michie and Ms. Olmont got into it, paddled it out onto the lake and landed it shortly after at the government dock. Grade 11 student, Norman Harris, who worked on the canoe, said the project has inspired him to consider building his own boat this year. ”I went to Camp IAWAH this summer and did a three-day canoe trip there, which I loved, so the idea of building my own boat would definitely be something I would consider as a fun and worthwhile project,” he said. All of the students seemed thrilled to see how their handiwork stood the ultimate water test.