e are excited to announce that, as of June 2022, Nova Craft Canoe has acquired AJK, our supplier of wooden canoe parts, from its previous owner and operator Andy Keniston. Andy started AJK in 1997 and ran the business in the GTA for 25 years after beginning his carpentry career building cabinetry and custom outdoor furniture. Andy got into the canoe industry when selling outdoor furniture at the Toronto Boat Show in the mid 90s. While at the show, he convinced the canoe manufacturers there that he could make their parts with better product and better customer service than their current supplier. For more than two decades Andy did exactly that, and built his client list to include Nova Craft Canoe, Paluski Boats, Holy Cow Canoe Company and Souris River Canoes. AJK was responsible for supplying all of the finished wooden parts in our canoes: seats, yokes, thwarts and carry handles. We’re excited to say that these parts will now be made in house.
Andy is looking forward to seeing the next stage of growth that he expects the business will experience under the ownership of Chris Rath and Nova Sports Equipment. In the meantime, Andy is taking an active role in setting up a new woodshop location at Nova Craft Canoe’s Page St warehouse and is training a team of staff on building his parts. The new woodshop is now in operation under the leadership of Howard Henderson. Once the transition of AJK to Nova Sports Equipment is complete, Andy will be retiring and Nova Craft will take over supplying parts to Andy’s clients. Andy’s looking forward to retired life. His plans include working on his golf game and spending lots of quality time with his children and grandchildren. Congratulations on your retirement, Andy!
