Who We Are

Who We Are

Grand Experiences Canoe and Kayak Outfitter

In 1997 Jamie & Lisa Kent bought a 130 year old Heritage Building on the Grand River in Downtown Paris & opened “Grand Experiences”, a canoe & kayak outfitting company. A jeep and a few canoes is how it all started.

The company is located in Paris, Ontario. It is a town close to various urban centers, yet it has retained its early Canadian small town feel. Old world European influences are evident in the cobblestone architecture unique to the area. Paris is nestled in a steep valley traversed by two rivers. An old iron railway bridge spans the valley, overlooking numerous shops below a turn-of-the-century milldam. When you aren’t paddling, Paris itself is worth the visit.

We are surrounded by the Carolinian Forest of the Grand River Valley. It is a lush, beautiful wilderness of the type normally found in the Carolinas. Over 300 km of Southern Ontario best paddling runs through it, known as the Grand River. We also do expeditions on the Grand tributary the Nith River & on Big Creek, plus Long Point Bay on Lake Erie.  Anything from 2.5 leisure paddles to 7-day adventures.

We have experience hosting numerous types and sizes of groups: from 150 person corporate team-building initiatives to romantic getaways for 2.  We offer many forms of adventure. One can travel through the Grand Valley by canoe, kayak, bike, hike, raft or 12-person Voyageur canoes.  We regularly run special trips, such as our moonlight paddles and yearly voyaeur trips to the biggest pow wow in Canada.

Grand Experiences is also one of the leading canoe & kayak training centres in Southern Ontario.  We work with schools, scouts & guides, corporate groups & individuals to provide canoe, river kayak & sea kayak training.

We are fully insured on the road and the water. We have staff certified in first aid/CPR and The Ontario Recreational Canoeing & Kayaking Association (ORCKA) certifies our wilderness guides and instructors. We have risk management plans in place to accommodate school and corporate groups. Our safety record is stellar.

At Grand Experiences customer service is our specialty! And it shows. Check out our impressive line up of awards. We have five Shining Star Awards for our tireless efforts to make you, our guests, feel safe and comfortable while providing your with some great memories. These awards in customer service, marketing and great front line staff prove that we're the best in the business! Our environmental efforts have earned us the prestigious Canadian Tire National Community Environmental Award. This national award is given to businesses that show initiative in the quest for preserving the beauty of this country. Our proprietor, Jamie Kent, has won many awards for his entrepreneurial skills, and Grand Experiences has been recognized by municipal, provincial and federal governments for its fantastic track record in introducing satisfied tourists to the area. Come visit us and you won't be disappointed! We are the largest & oldest running outfitter in the area for a reason.