We're Scott Fawcett & Lana Cole, the dynamic duo behind this adventure-packed business.

What started as one paddleboard in our 1-bedroom apartment has grown into something we never could have mapped out on paper. Ottawa Valley Air Paddle began as a passion project and became a full-blown outdoor gear shop, serving paddlers, skiers, snowboarders, and everyone in between who just wants to get outside and have fun. We're a small team based in Arnprior, Ontario, and we care deeply about helping people find the right gear for the adventures waiting in their backyard.

In April 2024, we opened the doors to our first retail shop in Arnprior, ON — and everything changed. Physical retail came with its own steep learning curve, but it also brought something we hadn't fully anticipated: a real sense of community. The shop quickly became a gathering place for outdoor enthusiasts, a spot where you can touch and test the gear before committing, and a home base for the adventures we love to talk about.

As of 2026, four days a week — our Demo Centre at McLean Beach in Arnprior gives you the chance to try before you buy on the Ottawa River. We know how hard it is to commit to a kayak or paddleboard based on a spec sheet in a store, so we built an experience that lets the water do the talking. Book a demo and you'll get time with a kayak fitter, honest product guidance, and up to 45 minutes on the water trying as many kayaks and SUPs as you like. Semi-private and fully private sessions are available if you want dedicated one-on-one time without the wait.

Every summer, our Kaleidoscope Kayaking event has become one of the most unique nights out in the Ottawa Valley — a guided, glow-lit paddle down the historic Rideau Canal in Oru Inlet folding kayaks, timed to the breathtaking Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy fireworks show. It sells out every year, and for good reason.

Kaleidoscope was such a hit that our guests kept telling us they'd come back even without the fireworks. So we listened — and Light at Night was born. A 2.5-hour, 5.5km paddle along the Rideau Canal at dusk, starting at Patterson Creek and winding past some of Ottawa's most iconic landmarks: the Château Laurier, Parliament's Peace Tower, the National Arts Centre, and the historic Pretoria Bridge. Your Oru folding kayak glows with LED lights the whole way, casting colour across the water as the sun sets around you. It's become one of the most magical ways to experience downtown Ottawa — and one of the best date nights in the city.

Opening a storefront also meant keeping the lights on year-round. With Mount Pakenham and Calabogie Peaks just 30 minutes down the road, bringing in winter gear was an easy call. In October 2024 we launched our full ski and snowboard lineup, added a tuning and servicing program, and in 2025 introduced our custom boot fitting service — trained by expert fitters from the AB/BC ski scene. Winter at OVAP is now every bit as exciting as summer.

We're still growing, still learning, and still as fired up about this as we were with that first paddleboard. If you want to keep up with what we're up to — new gear, local paddling spots, events, and more — sign up for our monthly newsletter below. We'd love to have you along for the ride.