Karen Graham
You’ve probably seen the occasional elegant canoe sitting out front of Voyageur Canoe in downtown Millbrook. Established in 1969 by Glenn Fallis, it is a testament to his love of the paddling and a desire to create high quality canoes through a combination of traditional techniques using modern materials. Applying his engineering training, Glenn relies on conventional wood-type rib construction to build strong and lightweight canoes. These techniques have entrenched the firm’s reputation for their unique laminate designs which result in one of the most durable and impact-resistant canoe hull constructions available. The canoes are flexible enough to absorb shocks, but rigid enough to cut through water with a minimum of hull movement, and best of all, the hulls remain buoyant when capsized! The craft can be produced using fibreglass, composite, Kevlar or the traditional cedar plank covered with canvas. Canoe customers include summer camps, cottagers and clubs, and paddling clubs, and styles include traditional, dragon boat and customized products. The firm also provides expert repair service for individuals and insurance companies for fibreglass and traditional craft.
Photo: Karen Graham.
Glenn Fallis with a traditional canvas covered canoe in progress.
Despite its quaint product line and its unassuming facade, Canoe production and repair is just the tip of the iceberg for this booming business. Over 80% of the firm’s business currently comes from its industrial products. Applying his engineering skills to industrial production problems, Glenn has established a reputation for designing and producing customized industrial parts for large manufacturing companies. One of his first industrial projects was designing a funnel through which pass those tiny creamer cups for the former Purity Packaging in Peterborough. With his problem solving gift and manufacturing expertise, Glenn created a custom funnel using molded fibreglass. Other unusual projects the firm has completed include the design of the head form for a gas mask tester, and a roof frame for an antique Rolls Royce vehicle.
The bulk of the work performed these days at Voyageur Canoe is highly specialized for major international construction companies including Aecon and Armtec, builders of huge infrastructure projects including tunnels for pipelines, sewers and subways. Describing his contribution to these projects as miniscule, the parts are none the less critical to the efficient function of the entire project. Using an elaborate Computerized Numeric Cutting Machine, staff can cut through materials such as composites, medium density fibreboard, wood and aluminum to within 3/1000’s of an inch. The items are often custom gaskets that fit between the concrete tunnel segments to ensure an effective seal. These parts must not only fit perfectly, but they must also absorb the pressure applied by the 10’ long concrete sections.
So how did Voyageur Canoe get into the custom engineering business? They have established a reputation for understanding the complexities of construction and the customers find them through word of mouth. Like Glenn himself, even the industrial section of the firm’s website is understated, but explains that the firm can produce custom composite products made of reinforced plastic. Recognizing the transformation in his business, Glenn acknowledges that perhaps a new company name is in order, and even an overhaul of the website. May we suggest Engineering Solutions?
