Our lil'Badger Gift Shop celebrates the 12 Days of Christmas!

Just this past week, we launched a new online Gift Shop and we couldn't be more excited about it! Looking for a way to share our joy, our friend Preston of portageur.ca suggested that we do a "Twelve Days Of Christmas" promotion. We were really diggin' his idea so we started right away!

On the first day of Christmas my true love proved to me (that)

"GIRLS PORTAGE BETTER" with a decal for all to see.

For the first day of our "Twelve Days Of Christmas" promotion, we celebrated all the Portage Queens out there by offering our GIRLS PORTAGE BETTER decal for a special one-day-only price of $4.50 CAD. (Note: The GIRLS PORTAGE BETTER decals are still on sale but will be marked back up to the $5.00 CAD sale price by the end of today, regular price is $6.00.)

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me

A lil'snake paddle that's as cute as cute can be! ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬

For the second day of our "Twelve Days Of Christmas" promotion, we introduced a hand painted cartoon "WaterSnake" Cub paddle for a special holiday price of only $65.00 CAD (regular price $85.00) Note that is particular paddle is a one-of-a-kind, not another one will be made like it!

On the third day of Christmas my true love surprised me,

With Mrs. Callan's chopping board beneath my tree.

For the third day of our "Twelve Days Of Christmas" promotion, we are featuring a unique solid cherry cutting board that depicts an engraved copy of Fiona's "Trip List" sketch for a special holiday price of only $120.00 CAD (a 250 mL tin of our Badger Wood Oil is also included!), regular price $125.00 CAD. Note: We gifted a smaller, similar version of this cutting board to The Happy Camper's lovely wife, Alana, last year and she was diggin' it so much that we decided to make a second available for those who may wish to have the matching board to Mrs. Callan's in their own cabin or kitchen. ;o)

On the fourth day of Christmas, I found under my tree

The perfect paddle to be built - JUST FOR ME!! ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬

Our "Fourth Day of Christmas Featured Item" is our Badger Gift Certificate/Receipt. It's a gift so nice, they will celebrate twice!

With our personalized, printable, official Badger® gift note/gift receipt, you can purchase a paddle for your favourite canoeist and surprise them for the holidays. They will then be excited to make the final decision on their paddle preferences as we offer them personal guidance in paddle style and length to be delivered in time for next season. So they get to celebrate once again when they receive their paddle in the Spring!

Special Holiday Limited Time Offer: FREE HAND PAINTED NAME/PERSONALIZATION on all Christmas Badger Gift Certificate purchases! That is a $30.00 CAD value for FREE!!!

Shop from the comfort of your cabin or canoe: http://badgergiftshop.ca/shop/paddle-gift-receipt/

On the fifth day of Christmas, I gave my paddle a glance

And I knew I needed some Wood Oil for maintenance! 

Yes... Maintenance. We all need to take care of our oiled paddles so our "Fifth Day of Christmas Featured Item" is our all natural, Badger Wood Oil. Made from 100% all natural hemp seed oil, our Badger Wood Oil is food safe which means you can use it for more than just your paddles!

You can apply it to your kitchen chopping boards, wooden spoons, and butcher blocks, as well as wooden axe, knife, and garden tool handles, your floors, decks, and even leather too.

Badger Wood Oil... For those who dig the earth!

Special Holiday Limited Time Price (FOR 2 DAYS ONLY!!): Buy a 250 mL tin of our Badger Wood Oil for only $10.00 CAD (Regular $12.95). Taxes and shipping extra.

Shop from the comfort of your cabin or canoe: http://badgergiftshop.ca/shop/badger-wood-oil-250-ml-tin/

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

A really big BADGER® Paddles "T"!!! ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬

We now have only 3 of these Profits Of Paddling T-shirts left, one XL and two XXL. As the "Sixth Day of Christmas Featured Item", these T-shirts are now being offered at a special holiday price for a limited time only. Based on our popular "Profits of Paddling" image, paddlers really dig this T-shirt design!

Shop from the comfort of your cabin or canoe:  http://badgergiftshop.ca/shop/badger-profits-of-paddling-t-shirts/

On the seventh day of Christmas, a raven came to me

And together, across the water, we shall flee! ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬

Hand painted by Fiona, this original design titled “Raven at Sunset” on a cherry BadgerTail paddle will be sure to add beauty to any canoe, campsite, or cabin wall. The beaming colours of the sky contrast beautifully against the black moody silhouette of the raven and trees, making it a truly striking piece. Fiona has painted a series of “Raven at Sunset” paddles, each one a little different, making this a truly unique gift for the paddler on your list. A Badger Paddle Sock is included with the purchase of this paddle.


Shop from the comfort of your cabin or canoe: http://badgergiftshop.ca/shop/custom-paddle-red-raven/

On the eighth day of Christmas, I've only paddlin' in my head,

But the frozen water says to wear my hat instead! ♪♫♬ 

What better way to keep warm and have paddling on your mind all winter long but with our BADGER® Paddle toques! Our special Holiday Price will last for a limited time only.

Shop from the comfort of your cabin or canoe: http://badgergiftshop.ca/shop/badger-hattouque-black/

On the ninth day of Christmas, I went and stole a peek,

And saw my gift'll be truly unique! 

Our "Ninth Day Of Christmas" featured item is our laser engraving. Use your Badger Gift Certificate/Receipt to create the most unique gift of all - one that you help to create yourself! Our laser engraving capabilities include larger images and phrases, so let your imagination fly - as fast as canoe going down river with the wind on your back - and make your paddle truly your own.

Shop from the comfort of your cabin or canoe: http://badgergiftshop.ca/shop/paddle-gift-receipt/

On the tenth day of Christmas, my paddle was nicked when knocked,

So my love gave me a Badger Paddle Sock! ♪♫♬♪

Our one size fits most, (new) Badger Paddle Sock is not only compact and lightweight but it will protect your paddle in transport or storage. Makes for a perfect stocking stuffer or Xmas stocking! Made in Canada.

Shop from the comfort of your cabin or canoe: http://badgergiftshop.ca/product-category/paddle-sock/

On the eleventh day of Xmas, here is something you might like.

A "special Paddle Builder's deal from Mike! ♪♫♬

We have one prototype of our new (yet to be named!) river paddle that just so happens to have a hand painted Canada Flag design on it AND a brown leather wrap... All for a LIMITED TIME special HOLIDAY PRICE of only $135.00 CAD (Valued at $190.00!!)

Shop from the comfort of your cabin here: http://badgergiftshop.ca/?p=994

On the twelfth (and final) day of Xmas, we added something new

Some stickers and "Portageur" wear too!

You know them, you love them, and now you can wear them (well not really wear them, but you can wear a t-shirt or sport a decal with their iconic and much adored silhouette logo of a portaging man (Preston) and with his loveable dog (Nancy). Can you dig it?! Find all the fun Portageur.ca SWAG here: http://badgergiftshop.ca/product-category/portageur-ca/ and our newly added BADGER® Paddles decals here: http://badgergiftshop.ca/shop/badger-paddles-decal/

And so now our lil'Christmas Feature is all done.

So take advantage of the sales and have some fun!

To purchase any of the items seen here visit badgergiftshop.ca but please be forewarned that many of the items listed are one-offs and are the only one of its kind in stock, therefore once the item is sold, it will no longer be available.

Twelve Days Of Christmas Badger Specials

Merry Xmas & Happy caNEW Year!

A Distinctive Badger: Our Muskoka Women Of Distinction 2014 Nominee

It has been, as Fiona might say, many moons since our last blog post. It was a busy summer spent catching up on paddle orders, getting our new equipment up and fully running, and fine-tuning the design of our new river paddle. Which by the way, does not have an official name as of yet - and we were kind of hoping you all could help us with that. Right now Fiona is referring to it as the XXXXXR or something. She says there are 5 X's with each X symbolizing one year for each year we have been in business. The R stands for RIVER because I designed this paddle to be a river paddle. I'm not a big fan of the temporary name but more about that coming soon. Right now, the reason for this posting is to celebrate the work of a certain "Badger" in our sett!

This past October, local business and boat repair genius John Gall (of Johnny's Boat Shop in Huntsville) and I took it upon ourselves to nominate Fiona for a YWCA Muskoka Women Of Distinction Award in the Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship category. She really deserves this recognition.

A few of Fiona's keepsakes from the Women Of Distinction Awards Gala

Below text taken from YWCA information as seen on headshot/card in photo above:

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Fiona Westner-Ramsay

Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Nominators: Mike Ramsay and John Gall

Fiona, co-founder of Badger Paddles, has grown her business in just five years applying her design sense, energy and ingenuity to build a strong brand recognized across North America and throughout the outdoor recreation communities. Through partnerships, effective social media and creative awareness raising campaigns, she has spearheaded initiatives including "Girls Portage Too" Posters, and the "Paddle In The Park Contest" which started with a few hidden paddles in Algonquin Park water trails and shares all the reasons why we need to spend time in nature every day. In addition to her business, Fiona also has created a valuable service for parents of children with Autism with her website www.autismzeitgeist.com sharing her own family's experience with their son. She is celebrated and cherished for her spirit and courage, her advocacy and commitment to socially [and environmentally] responsible business practices and inspiring a better life.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Fiona described the evening of the Gala as "perfect" and while Fiona was not the recipient of an actual award itself, she was one of twenty-six amazing women who were honoured and celebrated by their families, friends, and peers during a very magical evening in Bracebridge. This event not only celebrates the distinguished work of select women and girls living and working in Muskoka, but also raises funds for the YWCA (and the many programs they offer to women, girls, and their families which help to enrich and change the lives of many). Not enough can be said about the great work that they do.

Fiona on stage, accepting her certificate while being honoured
for her work for Badger Paddles as well as her autism advocacy.
Photo credit: Chloe Ward

Badger Paddles was a donor for the fund raising event with a hand-painted "Raven" paddle and a Cub paddle too. Interestingly enough, I hear there was another Badger paddle there as well! A WaterColours™canoe paddle was also generously donated by Algonquin Outfitters as part of a canoe/kayak rental package. Apparently, as Fiona tells it, the items and services up for auction were fabulous. I would have been rather partial to the Marché portion of the evening, myself....

But I'm not much of a blogger. That's more Fiona's forte, so I really should let her tell it. Especially considering I stayed home that night with Makobe so Fiona could have a fun-filled and stress-free evening. (She really deserves stuff like this more often.) Congratulations Fiona! I hope you know that no one "digs" you more than us. So here is her story about her special night.............
~Mike Ramsay

#WODMuskoka 2014 in Fiona's words:

It was an exciting evening full of jubilant celebration as I was joined by my loving family and two special friends, Chloe Ward (a young university student whose intelligence and passion is already proving to be an incredible gift to the world) and Andrea Wilson (who you may know as the Queen of the Dreaded Portage and also the first ever official female Paddle In The Park Contest paddle-hider, as well as owner and host - along with her husband Hap - of Cabin Falls Eco-Lodge in Temagami).

We all came away with something pretty, including a beautiful pair of hand made earrings from Jibe Jewellery for Beth (who later gifted them to me - just because she is a really nice mother-in-law like that), and some hand made soaps along with a delicious smelling candle for the lovely Andrea. There was even a gorgeous earring and necklace set for the young and gorgeous Chloe.

Beth and Alan Ramsay happily pose with their
daughter-in-law, Fiona, during the Marché-style event.
Photo credit: Chloe Ward

There were just so many incredible items to bid on and fun surprise bags too!  From handcrafted pottery, jewellery and metal work to a lunch with local MP Tony Clement. There were items to bid on like a week at a youth camp or a weekend stay at a lodge, plus handcrafted kid's clothes, art, furniture and more... The list goes on and on. And then there was the food, wine, and spirits!

The community support for this fundraising gala was a true testament to the importance of the YWCA and the work that they do for women, girls and their families.  And while the bidding was generous, there is no doubt that many of the items were a great bargain for the winning bidders.

But it was more than great winnings and fabulous food.... By the end of the evening, besides our mementos and keepsakes, we also came away with something else; a renewed sense of energy, an inspired sense of self, and a reminder that while we may stand alone in this world, we are still one universal forest deeply connected by our shared roots as well as our branches that intertwine as we grow, individually and together.

My view of the audience (from the stage) as a WOD nominee.
(Taken during the live auction portion of the event)

We learned about the lives and deeds of the distinguished nominees like the work of a very young lady who started a teddy bear drive before she was ten years old; an award winning psychologist who works with people who have brain injuries; doctors and nurses who excel at their field, and who are strong advocates for breastfeeding and other women's issues; an addiction specialist who is helping to change people's lives;  the revered counsellors for those in need of aid due to sexual assault or support due to domestic violence or abuse; a freestyle skier, and Olympic gold medal winner, who started a "Women Into Sports" fund; the artists, actors and musicians who mentor and inspire our community; a farmer who puts real food on the tables of many families throughout Muskoka and beyond; another special and beautiful woman who manages the local foodbank and soup kitichen; a young and thoughtful clothing business shop owner who started a clothing drive for those in need; and an amazing woman who made it her life's mission to create a better quality of life for those living with various disabilities (after surviving and recovering from extensive injuries that resulted from a tragic vehicle accident, herself).

We learned that there are some absolutely incredible women in this community who help to make Muskoka an even more beautiful place than it is already known to be. Yet we also came away with the knowledge that there is more work to be done.

All the 2014 Muskoka Women Of Distinction Nominees
Photo credit: MuskokaRegion.com

I cannot say enough what an amazing honour this has been for me... To be counted amongst the incredible women who are not only the roots that help to ground our community, but who are also the hopeful winds of change rustling the branches and leaves of Muskoka; there truly are no words to describe how grateful and spiritually exalted I feel to have been included as a part of it.

In all honesty, I am humbled by the extraordinary pursuits and successes of the other twenty six beautiful and passionate nominees. Their dedication to helping others, changing our society for the better, and the strength of character I witnessed on that stage and all around the theatre that night, created such a strong exuberant energy that the total effect transcended the evening and the event itself. I am truly inspired, by all of my Muskoka sisters, to do more and to do better.

Congratulations to all the ladies who were nominated, as well as a heartfelt congratulations to all the award recipients. I will never forget the evening we shared together and I will never forget any of you. Thank you for all that you do.

Andrea, Fiona, and Chloe at WOD Muskoka 2014

I would also like to thank the two gentlemen who nominated me, my husband Mike and John Gall, including all those who supported me with your kind words, your comments and messages. Please know that your love and friendship have meant the world to me and I will never forget any of you for it.

Thanks also to my family, the wonderfully supportive Beth and Allan, for making the long trip to Muskoka to be there to celebrate, as well as the beautiful Chloe who also travelled quite the distance to be by my side and share this special evening with me. Plus thanks to Andrea, the one with the lovely dark chocolate hair, for taking time out of her extremely busy work and family schedule to be my date! It really meant everything to me to share this special night with you all.

I am also very grateful to Sherry of SP Creates who helped design my outfit after being given a very sudden and last minute request to help create an original little black dress. She even made me a "scrunchie"hair accessory to match! Sherry is truly a talented artist and designer and I am in awe of her creativity. Thank you, Sherry, for making me feel so pretty!!

I would also like to thank the YWCA for hosting such an inspirational event that celebrates the passionate work and spirit of Muskoka women. Our community is a much better place because the YWCA exists within it, and I am truly grateful for all the women (and men) who dedicate their time and wonderful talents to ensuring the important programs and advocacy work continues.

But now, it is time for me to go and roll up my own sleeves... Because, as we all know, there is more work to do.

~Fiona Westner-Ramsay

BADGER® Celebrates 5 Years!

2014 is a big year for Badger® Paddles. It is a year of celebration and a year of change.

Not only are we celebrating 5 years of putting high quality solid wood canoe paddles in your paws, but we are also marking our 5th year in business with some very exciting modifications to our whole line up of Badger® paddles and gear.

Watch for lots of big Badger® news to come this season, starting with our new Badger® Paddle Socks, and THANK YOU for 5 amazingly wonderful years! You gotta know we absolutely dig each and everyone of you!

Coming for the 2014 paddling season:
NEW Badger® Paddle shape designed for river paddlers,
NEWLY DESIGNED Badger® Paddle Sock,
and a whole NEW LINE-UP of Badger®  Canoe Paddles!

GIRLS PORTAGE TOO Posters Available NOW!

It all started with a photoshopped MEME that Fiona created for some fun but now it's for real... and it's for keeps!

GIRLS PORTAGE TOO posters are now available for sale via our online BADGER® Gift Shop!

Description: 11 x 17 inches - printed on Thin Glossy Digital Coated Stock (100 lb Text Paper)

Perfect for framing, pinning to a dorm room wall or taping to a locker!

And for a limited time only, we are offering a very special deal for all the paddlin' and portage diggin' ladies of the world. So for those of you who really want a GIRLS PORTAGE TOO sign of your own - but would love to gift one to a wild woman (or two) in your life as well - take note of our introductory offer. When you purchase the first poster at full price via our online BADGER® Gift Shop, each additional poster you buy after that is only $5.00 each! See our website for all the details and be one of the first to own a lady portage sign and surprise your friends....

*Note: This limited time offer is also open to the men (and anyone else for that matter, including all badgers and other forest creatures) who admire the paddlin' and portage diggin' ladies of the world too.

The Chew says we're framing this one. I agree. Can't wait for the matching stickers. @BadgerPaddles #GirlsPortageToo pic.twitter.com/18RFsz3Q1c
— GeekinGirl (@geekingirl) March 20, 2014

A special thanks to @GeekinGirl (via Twitter) who was the first (but not the last) to request that these lady portage signs be made available. Thanks for your support! I truly hope our paths meet along a water trail in the near future and I promise those stickers will be ready soon! ;o) ~Fiona

A Very BADGER® Christmas - What We Couldn't Tell You Until Now

First off, we want to say that we hope you had a wonderful holiday season with your friends and families. It was certainly a festive Yule for us here in the Badger® sett. A busy one too. In fact, Fiona and Mike were dealing with one last minute paddle order while the Christmas turkey was cooking in the oven for our festive family dinner!

A Very BADGER® Christmas

While we would not usually choose to work during such an important family holiday, we didn't feel there was any other choice when the folks who reached out to us had to postpone their own Christmas celebrations due to the big ice storm in Toronto. They had lost power (for days) after starting the process of purchasing a very special paddle as a gift for their loved one and could not complete the gift receipt purchase. Their lives turned upside down by the storm, they contacted us as soon as they had power again (which happened to be the day of our own family celebrations) to finalize the transaction.

Needless to say, our hearts went out to them. So while Poppa Badger carved the turkey, the gift note was completed and sent. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when, just as we were about to sit down to for our festive celebrations, Fiona told us (with teary eyes) about the personalized message the family had requested be included as part of the personalized gift note card. Part of it read:

"Nanny wanted to give you a special gift to remember her by, something that you would be able to keep for life.  We chose a canoe paddle because you are part Canadian, and every Canadian should have their own paddle. This paddle was chosen because it is hand made especially for you.  Nanny said, you better take care of it!   :) When you hold this special paddle in your hands, remember how special she thought you are."

So while this gift note was meant to be a very special present for a very special grandson in memory of a very special matriarch, in the end, the message was also a very special gift to our family... To bear witness to such a beautiful testament of love and remembrance. We were all deeply touched by the words and the story of the people behind them as well. It will be a true honour for us to work with this family to create a such a valued and important family heirloom. We will be sure to tell them, as well, how much their story truly touched our family this holiday season and helped to make our Yule one that we will never forget!

This year we offered a personalized gift note/receipt option
for those who wanted to gift a paddle in time for Christmas
using our online gift store: http://badgergiftshop.ca

But really, the Christmas stories started weeks before the turkey dinner was in the oven. However we couldn't tell you about any of them until the gifts were given and the paddles unwrapped. Now, (finally!) here are a few of the standout projects we worked on to put under a few of your trees this year:

Each of these young ladies woke up to a colourful Cub WaterColour under their tree on Christmas morning...

This hand painted paddle by Fiona depicts a sitting Raven silhouetted against a winter sky...

This special paddle names the lake at their family cottage and was a surprise for somebody under the tree this year...

This laser engraved rustic edge BADGER® cutting board was a personal gift and surprise for our friends Preston and Nancy (of Portageur.ca) this Christmas...

A photocopy of a picture of a tattoo became a hand painted canoe paddle for Caleb this year. We can't help but really dig this tattoo and hoped that Caleb would really dig his paddle!

Thanks to everyone who contacted us this holiday season to create something special for your friends and loved ones for the holidays and in the New Year. We were really excited to create all of the wonderful personalized messages for your gift cards and are eager to work with everyone on their paddle preferences in time for Spring. Thanks as well to all customers past and present, to our friends, family, and the paddling community at large.... We are truly grateful to be a part of your lives. Thanks for letting us into your homes and into your canoes. We hope you had a great Yule. We also wish you all good health and many wonderful outside adventures in the new year. Hopefully we will see you on the water.... or the portage trail in 2014. Safe travels everyone!

And the verdict is.... Hey Mikey, he likes it!

Wanna thank bobbo at @Swift_Canoe and @BadgerPaddles for this awesome xmas present! #newbadger #thanksbobbo pic.twitter.com/3S8z9niQFh
— Caleb Cameron (@calebcameron10) December 25, 2013