12/12/2024
These last few weeks, there have been a lot of tears. If you know me, you know the tears aren’t new but the sheer volume would be. Some happy tears, and a lot of sad tears. Tears of impending changes and transitions.
Larry Brash, the man behind 800+ paddles that have been made, painted, sold & gifted, passed away recently. Larry, who we’ve been fortunate to work with for the last 8 and a half years, was an exceptional woodworker who took rightful pride in the quality of his work.
Apart from the very first few paddles painted in our early days, Larry was our only paddle maker, and with good reason. From day 1, I never had to question his work, and if there was anyone who understood the value of creating functional artwork, it was him. When I approached him to be the paddle-builder behind Tipsy, he’d already been supplying fishing camps and guides on the Grande & surrounding rivers with canoe paddles for years. He was up for the challenge when within our first year of business, we grew from 2 sizes of paddles offered, to 8 different models. Thanks to Larry, we share work that hangs in the halls of one of the largest medical centres in the western US, at a Microsoft headquarters, in the Eaton Centre, in bars and homes and businesses across North America. They were sold at the Christmas markets in Paris, and inspired skis with Elan. Thanks to Larry, we share work that lives a new life in countless canoes, banged up and bruised, telling their own stories.
When I started TCD, my goal was to create functional artwork inspired by the people and places of the Gaspesie. To create a physical representation of everything that I loved about the family and friends that I was raised by. To create artwork that would tell a story, my story, our stories- and to live beyond me.
It’s imperative to understand that the foundation of Tipsy Canoe Designs is built on the legs he gave us to stand on, or rather a canvas to paint on. I feel like it’s poetic justice to recognize that this chapter of our story started and will ultimately end with Larry.
It’s important to note that TCD won’t be slamming our doors closed just yet, but rather letting them slowly creak shut. We will be selling our remaining stock over the next few months, and the future of the clothing and axe portion of our business has yet to be decided. I’m taking my time with this one and protecting the piece of my heart that Tipsy has so wholly kept for the past 8 years.
This isn’t the last you’ll be hearing from me… and we hope to see Larry’s name, and Tipsy Canoes, live on for a long time. Keep your eyes and ears open for what that’s going to look like, and how you can be involved.
In the meantime, Christmas shop hours will be in full swing over the next two weekends. Come see us and chat about what’s coming next for us!
✨Sunday, December 15th from 10-12
✨Saturday, December 21st from 1-3
