In the spring of 1981, Ingrid Baxter was just finishing a master’s degree in adaptive physical education at UBC.
She was happily looking ahead to finding a job suited to her skills, preferably one that might involve being out on the water.
At the same time, her partner Merv Ovesen read in the local paper that Watson Boat Rentals in Deep Cove was for sale. However, Ovesen was committed to going to Mexico with the Blind Sports and Wheelchair Sports teams. While Ovesen was away, Baxter contacted the Watsons for a meeting regarding their business. That meeting resulted in Baxter buying the business,which had an inventory of 19 canoes, three combo rowboats, five paddle boats and a one-year lease from the District of North Vancouver. The boats were housed in the old bath house on the waterfront at the foot of Rockcliff.
Baxter came to the business with a background in teaching swimming and soon completed her certifications in Red Cross boating safety and canoeing. Her position of being the adaptive aquatics specialist for the Vancouver Park Board put her in charge of all of the adaptive aquatic programs in Vancouver including the new Stan Strong Therapeutic Pool at the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre at Pearson Hospital.
It was mid-April in 1981 when Baxter and Ovesen first opened the doors of Deep Cove Canoe, and they were surprised when people began giving them money to use the canoes. Baxter hired local people and soon the business began to grow. Kayaks were added to the fleet.
In 1989 they moved into new larger facilities in the same location allowing them to expand further. Teaching boating safety has always been the goal of the business, so more instructors were added as well as more local beach staff to help out.
In 1983, Ovesen, along with three friends and a dog braved the icy waters in front of the original building on New Year’s Day, launching what would become the annual Penguin Plunge.
The Plunge moved to Panorama Beach a couple of years later and now thousands head out to the event, dash in and then out of the cold water, swim, just watch, celebrate with live music and welcome in a New Year.
Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak became the largest employer in Deep Cove in the late 1980s and ’90s. After Ovesen passed on in 1997, Baxter took on two partners, her daughter Erian Baxter and Bob Putnam who had managed the business for quite some time. With all of that new talent and hard work the business continued growing.
Now it is kayaks, stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) and surfskis that are the most popular rentals. A series of classes for the various watercraft take place outside of the Kayak Centre. The classes, packed with attentive students of all ages, run throughout the summer. The classes teach safety, procedures for the particular water craft and water etiquette.
Many of the participants of these sports are in team competitions such as Dragon Boat races. As well, Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak have a Monday Night stand-up paddleboard social for a couple of hours; Tuesday night racing for kayaks, SUPs, surfski or any paddle craft; Thursdays are Women on Water, a social kayak paddle, and Friday is Cheap Date Night that offers reduced rental rates. The Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak building has become a hive of activity, and although Baxter still has an active interest in the business, she says it is her co-owners (Putnam and her daughter) who have made it grow substantially in recent years. What was a summer activity when they began has grown to be year-round. Her daughter and Putnam also established Deep Cove Outdoors for those wanting to purchase paddle craft, winter gear and equipment.
Plans are in the works to get all past employees and volunteers together for a 35th anniversary celebration. If you are in this gang, please send an email to [email protected]. For information about activities and classes go to deepcovekayak.com, a live webcam of the Cove, information about tides and more.
