Opening of a canoe and kayak rental along the Thames

A new London company wants to make it easier for people to enjoy the Thames by offering canoes and kayaks for hire from an easily accessible boat ramp.

The Riverside Social Club is the brainchild of Mat Rivest and Anis Omar, who are launching the riverside project on Saturday.

“We have a major river that runs right through this town and it’s underused,” Rivest said. “We wanted to open something that would benefit the community and give people a chance to get out and experience nature,” Rivest said. “Here you can experience nature, not far from your front door.”

The space, located near the southeast intersection of Riverside Drive and Wonderland Road, is the first canoe and kayak rental facility along the Thames.

“If you want to kayak in the community, you basically have to own a kayak or know a friend who will lend you their kayak,” Omar said. “We wanted to fill that gap.”

Improving river accessibility

Previously, Londoners could only hire boats from the Fanshawe Conservation Area and were only allowed to stay in that reservoir. Those with their own boats could bring them to one of the city’s moorings on the Thames, which are currently being upgraded as part of the city’s Paddling Plan.

“(Riverside Social Club) is an exciting development and something we definitely anticipated throughout this process,” said Linda McDougal, a landscape architect working on the Paddling Plan. “Having canoes and kayaks available for rent on the river will give those who choose active mobility or transit more options.”

The seven-person team at Riverside comes from a variety of backgrounds. Omar has no business background and says this project is a new adventure for everyone involved.

He tried paddling for the first time two years ago and said he “fell in love” with the activity.

“There’s nothing better than floating down the river, relaxing, seeing deer and fish jumping out and watching people use the bike paths,” Omar said. “It’s such a great feeling that many people have never experienced, so we encourage everyone to get out there and paddle.”

Boats can be booked for up to three hours through the company’s website. Upon arrival, paddlers bring their rented boats to Riverside’s designated dock, where staff can assist them in launching the canoes and kayaks into the river.

The company offers sit-on-top kayaks, which Rivest says are beginner-friendly because they are less likely to capsize. They also provide life jackets with whistles, and all boats have a location tracker.

If paddlers do not return at the end of their time slot, staff will check the boat’s location before heading out in the kayak to make sure paddlers are safe, Omar said. If staff find a boat without a person on board, they will immediately notify London police.

A multifunctional venue

The peak season for canoeing and kayaking is May to mid-October, Rivest says, but the Riverside Social Club team has plans to keep their venue open the rest of the year as well.

“Everyone has anniversaries and birthdays here, and we have a great venue on the river – the view is practically unmatched,” Omar said.

The staff is currently renovating their building with the goal of being able to host birthday parties and bridal showers this winter.

Omar said that as the company grows, he wants to partner with organizations in the city and plan events such as outdoor cleanups.

“We just want people to get out, build that human connection and do an outdoor activity away from screens,” he said.

The Riverside Social Club celebrates its grand opening on Saturday from 10 a.m.