cook

senior mechanic

mechanic

retail sales associate

department manager

Algonquin Outfitters

I loved my time at Canoe Lake! I worked as a server and it was the best summer job I have ever had. I have worked as a server at 2 other restaurants and this was by far the best work environment. We all live on site in a staff house and it’s like it’s own little family. Lots of great staff perks and lots of things to do when you are not working. Although I am not going back this season it was an amazing time I will never forget. I will definitely visit everyone this summer and it will always be an unforgettable experience!!!!

Now although I am happy to share my great experience. The real reason I am writing this is unfortunately because of a negative experience that still bugs me and I feel like I have to say something in hopes maybe it doesn’t happen again.

I will try and keep it short but it’s unique situation that requires some explanation. A few of us on a day off were at one of the other Algonquin Outfitters locations outside the park. At this particular location they have a coffee truck there so we went up to it to get some drinks. The person working in the truck was very friendly and we were having just general conversation. We had told her we worked at the Canoe Lake store in the restaurant and as soon as that happened everything changed. She immediately started saying negative things about the restaurant and was asking us weird questions trying to get us to give her details about things that were simply untrue. She was trying to get us to agree with her. She very clearly had issues with the restaurant and wanted to try and dig up dirt on it for whatever reason. It was a very uncomfortable conversation and it was just very weird and unprofessional. We left and went back home to Canoe Lake. I told one of my managers about what had happened just let them know what was said and we then found out she is part of the Algonquin Outfitters owners family. As soon as we heard that we knew exactly what was going on.

It is known that some members of the owners family do not like the management at Canoe Lake. What this person was doing was trying to come up with information that would make them look bad. My managers said they would look into what was said and we moved on. 

Later on we found out that this person at the other location was confronted and completely denied everything that we said. This then of course came back on us and made it seem like we made up a fake story. This was incredibly frustrating and really brought the overall morale down with the servers. This person was making up a false narrative that was completely untrue, and then lied by denying they did anything that they did say. At the time I was quite frustrated with my managers for not fully believing us but I do understand that they were stuck in a difficult position. But that’s the issue, they shouldn’t have been put in that situation!! Just because the owners family has a problem with the managers does not warrant making up stories to try and make them look bad. The managers at Canoe Lake are honestly everything you could ask for.

This whole thing really rubbed me the wrong way as well as many others. It created a couple weeks of serious frustration, especially when it’s the owners because you can’t do anything about it. They get to act childish and immature and nobody can hold them accountable. That is why I am writing this review in hopes that they see it and recognize that what they did was wrong. There are staff that are not going back because this situation upset them so much. It may sound extreme but I understand why they wouldn’t want to work for a family that creates this kind of drama. 

Please note that the Algonquin Outfitters Canoe Lake store was an amazing place to work. If this situation didn’t happen it would have been pretty much perfect. Living situation is a little dated but is expected in this type of area. I really hope this gets back to the owners and they can understand the effect this had on one of their stores. 



A very fast paced work environment in the summer and holidays. If you love helping people follow their dreams then this will be a good job for you. There is a lot of opportunity to do many different things with this company and many different locations.  

Pros:  You get to play with lots of fun toys!  They have lots of free training sessions and they provide food.   The staff parties are epic!  Staff discounts can be pretty great.  Opportunities to go paddling, biking, skiing..... after work with co-workers.   Free downhill skiing.  If you want to learn a ton about outdoor gear and sports you will be in heaven.  The big boss is a kind and generous guy.

Cons:   Working on weekend and holidays.   Minimum wage for most staff with little chance of a raise.   Each location has a different feeling to it, but overall the culture is not for everyone.   The staff that are attracted to and stay with this position are often thrill seekers or type A high achievers....or both.   Political correctness is not always at a high level and there is often a lack of empathy for others with an attitude that they can do and say whatever they want.  Sometimes this results in epic fun, and other times it can make co-workers feel alienated and uncomfortable.  

Overall: If you are easy going, like to party and don't get offended easily it can be one of the most memorable jobs you will ever have.

I've worked for Algonquin Outfitters for over a decade.  Working from canoe trip guide to retail sales/customer service person to buyer and eventually management.   It has been one of the best experiences of my life and is really a dream job.  We have a saying, once AO always AO, meaning that many people that work here are like family, even those who leave to seek other jobs have a tendency to come back. It's a great company to work for. 

Like any job there's challenging days and fun days, but living and working in Muskoka far out way the fun days.  There's a lot that's expected of each and every employee but if you're in for living the dream and working hard it can be very rewarding.  

The owner is very generous with supporting staff, there are great discounts so you can buy top-notch brand products to fuel your adventure and although there may not be a lot of time off in the busy summer there's always a couple of days off and shoulder seasons to get out there and really experience life. 

Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

Working at Algonquin Outfitters has been a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am ecstatic to continue being a part of. The beautiful, eye-catching, and quiet scenery coupled with the fast-paced, busy, and laid back work environment is unmatched, and cannot be found anywhere else. 

In a typical day, I have the opportunity to interact with people from all around the world, whether they are from a different province or territory, the United States, or even Europe or Asia. In no other place do you see just how impactful tourism can be in your life and others.

I have been working in Algonquin Park at Canoe Lake for 3 years. Seeing the change in ownership was exciting, bringing new opportunity, more connections, and some great, friendly faces. I have learned so much, and every day, I am learning more. I cannot recommend working at Algonquin Outfitters enough, and heavily encourage everyone to apply. 

Sad to see the way this company has changed the culture at Canoe Lake. The staff have wifi and this generation of young people are addicted to their phones, so the social culture no longer exists! 

I was hired on as rentals manager from my previous experience when it was the original Portage Store. It was a very discouraging transition in the systems and procedures, with little to no urge on upper management/the company side to train, communicate or provide the resources to succeed in this position. There is relaxed and then there is too relaxed in terms of procedure and health and safety and the way this place is run.

There is no good communication between the other stores within park, making it hard to coordinate things on a daily basis. 

I had a really difficult experience at this company. Typically, the days were slow even when busy. The toughest thing was the culture, where I witnessed a lot of drama. There was a lot of gossip, but of course all of this is dependent on the location. I did not feel comfortable or safe bringing concerns to management, and there was a lot of talk behind people's backs. Management did not help at all, especially after trying to voice concerns. 

If you are looking for a casual summer job and are incredibly easy going, and can overlook things, it is a fun job! At the very least you get free camping equipment rentals and live on a lake. The day to day is fun unless you get unlucky.  

Incredible experience every day. You work with people every day all day in an amazing surrounding. Customers are from all over the world and a lot of Canadians... and who doesn't love Canadians eh?
I look forward to every day at work because I'm a people person. If you love people...this is the place to work.
You work 5 days a week 8+ hrs a day in Algonquin Park. What could be better? The staff and managers are awesome. They really care how you get along and fit in with others. The pay is comparable to a starting job elsewhere. Perks are good!  Staff house is awesome! All meals are prepared for you. You don't even need a car. Hardest part is leaving in the fall :-(

I started working for the company last year, and let me say that this experience is definitely one to try! Being young I never moved out, so moving up here was definitely nerve-wracking, but from the moment I stepped through those doors I felt very welcome. 
Management helped me through every step of the way. My concerns were always acknowledged and dealt with in a very timely manner. And from that my anxiety was calmed and I met some of the best people through this work.  
I would always recommend this company if you are wanting an outstanding experience that gives you independence with a professional work environment.

You do not come to fit in. The people here will choose weather you enjoy the space or not. 
I hope that the store can get itself together by the end of the year so everything isn't so unorganized for next time.
Work is generally easy. 
No one really does anything but text each other all day at the cash. Not a ton to do, but makes keeping up on tidying pretty simple. 
Don't get caught up in the drama. Try and enjoy the scenery and remember these other employees have been there for years, so don't let the people in the space ruin your experience like they did mine.

A typical day at work was quite relaxed but not for those who like to always be busy as it's often steady in the summer but not physically or mentally demanding. 
Good for those who don't work well under pressure.
Must be good around other people and good at creating peer and customer connections.
The manager is a really laid-back guy but gets the job done. 
All the people there are very friendly and down to party.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Cook 3 salaries reported	$22.28 per hour
Senior mechanic 12 salaries reported	$20.17 per hour
Mechanic 5 salaries reported	$22.60 per hour
Retail sales associate 3 salaries reported	$17.97 per hour
Department manager 6 salaries reported	$52,500 per year

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