The Battle between Ontario and British Columbia Canada
Canada Takes the Record of World's Largest Paddle Twice.
The World's Largest Paddle is an interesting topic because 2 Canadian towns have swapped hands for the title in recent years. Originally, Parson, British Columbia, Canada was home to the official "World's largest oar/paddle" record, but has since been outdone by someone in Ontario! The name of the attraction in B.C is "The World's Largest Paddle", whereas the current record-holding oversized paddle's name is The Big Dipper. Learn more about these 2 interesting pieces of handy work below.
The Worlds Largest Paddle in BC Canada
The World's Largest Paddle, as it is named, is located in Parson, British Columbia, just 20 minutes south of Golden on Highway 95 in the Columbia River Valley. Therefore, this fun family-friendly oversized roadside attraction is easily accessible, on private property, with a fairly large parking lot available right beside the paddle. It can be easy to miss along the highway if you're just passing by due to the beautiful Larch trees that line the property. A gorgeous view in the fall when the trees turn from green to yellow. Just an added extra to visiting during the shoulder season in October.
Making the World's Largest Paddle in British Columbia Canada
To construct this gigantic paddle in 2013, they required one hand-selected 60+ foot tall Western Red Cedar log, as well as one 4' x 44' LVL slab. What's more, was this project coming to a whopping 5300lbs of materials by the time they were done! It became a 200-hour labour of love between owner Mark Teasdale and the master woodworker Dave Stonehouse. As a result, what a great idea to add such a unique attraction to the community.
Guinness Book of World Record Largest Paddle History
Importantly, in the early months of 2014, a few months after construction was completed in 2013, The Guinness Book of World Records did the paperwork making this officially the World's Largest Paddle! This small British Columbia community hung onto that title for a while, until 2021 when someone outdid them with a 110.5 ft long paddle! Named The Big Dipper, this awesome monster of a paddle can also be found in Canada! So while the title left B.C., and headed east to Ontario, Canada, it can still hold claim to this fun record.
Comparing The Big Dipper vs The World's Largest Paddle (W.L.P)
The Big Dipper is 110.5 ft long
The W.L.P. is 60.9 ft long
The Big Dipper is made from an Eastern White Ceadar log
The W.L.P. is made from a Western Red Cedar log
The Big Dipper weighs 22,000lbs
The W.L.P. weighs 5300lbs
The Big Dipper is located Killarney, Ontario
The W.L.P. is located in Parson, B.C
Visiting The World's Largest Paddle in Canada
Furthermore, did you know June 26th is National Canoe Day in Canada? Canada even has a canoe museum in Peterborough, Ontario! So finally, whether you're out west on a road trip in the Columbia River Valley region of British Columbia, Canada, or traveling in the east nearby Killarney Provincial Park on the northern shores of Georgian Bay in Ontario, you can visit one of these oversized Paddles as Canadian claims to fame!