1971
Les Voyageurs was founded in 1971 under the name Les Canot des Amis. The crews consisted of eight boys and the founder, Fred Rupp. The trips were fifteen days and took place in Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park. In these early years there were up to four crews per summer.
1973
The trip locations began to change from the Quetico to remote areas of central Manitoba and Ontario.
1977
The length of the trips was changed to one month.
1981
Was a pivotal year in our history:
- The name was changed to Les Voyageurs.
- The program was incorporated as a non-profit, tax exempt (501c.3) organization.
- The first girls crews were added to the program.
- For the first time crews were guided by past participants.
- Six crews hit the trail.
1987
The inaugural Far North trip saw a crew travel the Hayes River to end at York Factory on Hudson Bay. The years that followed have found crews on the Seal River, Middle Track Route, Kazan River, Thelon River, and Coppermine River.
1998
The first women’s Far North expedition, on the Seal River.
2004
Les Voyageurs moved into its new home on the Mississippi River. Les Voyageurs Base Camp is a spacious building on Pine Point in Sartell. It contains meeting, work, and storage spaces along easy access to the Mississippi River.
2008
The first Les Voyageurs crew paddles to the Arctic Ocean via the Coppermine River.