Indoor Archery Ranges and University Archery Clubs in Toronto

There aren't a lot of options for indoor archery ranges in Toronto. Most people usually just use the outdoor range, the Toronto Archery Range, located at E. T. Seton Park.

1. Archers Arena: Located at 1140 Sheppard Ave W, North York, Archers Arena offers indoor archery tag and related activities.

2. Battle Sports: With multiple locations in Toronto, Battle Sports provides archery tag and other indoor archery experiences.

3. The Archery Game: Situated at 770 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough, The Archery Game offers indoor archery tag experiences. 

   Plus universities, but those aren't open to randomly people showing up.
   

4. University of Toronto Archery Club: This club operates at Hart House at the University of Toronto and offers archery opportunities for students and staff interested in the sport.

5. Toronto Metropolitan University Archery Club (formerly known as Ryerson): TMU has an archery club providing opportunities for students to engage in archery activities.

6. York University Archery Club: York University has an archery club that offers archery programs and activities to its students.

Archery Manufacturers in Atlantic Canada

Archery Manufacturers based in New Brunswick, Canada:

1. Acadian Woods Bows: Acadian Woods Bows is a company located in New Brunswick, known for crafting traditional wooden longbows and recurves.

 

We couldn't find any archery manufacturers based in PEI, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland / Labrador. If you know of any please post their name and location in the comments.

Archery Manufacturers and Stores in Ontario and Quebec

Archery Manufacturers/Stores based in Ontario, Canada:

1. Bearpaw Products Canada: This company, based in Toronto, Ontario, offers a range of archery equipment, including bows and accessories.

2. Predator Traditional Archery: Located in London, Ontario, Predator Traditional Archery specializes in crafting custom traditional bows.

3. Staghorn Archery: Based in Milton, Ontario, Staghorn Archery is known for manufacturing traditional longbows and recurve bows.

4. Pine Ridge Archery: This company, based in Dundas, Ontario, is involved in producing archery accessories, including arrow vanes and nocks.

5. Canada Archery Online: Located in Ontario, this company provides a variety of archery equipment and accessories.

Archery Manufacturers/Stores based in Quebec, Canada:

1. Black Widow Bows: Based in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Black Widow Bows is known for crafting high-quality custom recurve bows.

2. Custom Archery Centre: This company is located in Gatineau, Quebec, and provided archery equipment and services.

3. BleuBulb: Located in Quebec, BleuBulb is involved in manufacturing archery accessories, including bowstrings and stabilizers.

Archery Manufacturers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Archery Manufacturers based in Saskatchewan, Canada:

1. Northern Broadhead Company: Based in Martensville, Saskatchewan, this company is known for manufacturing broadheads and other archery accessories.

2. Mystic Precision Archery: Located in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Mystic Precision Archery specializes in crafting custom arrows and archery supplies.

3. Wapiti Archery POC: This company is based in Saskatchewan and is involved in producing traditional archery equipment, including bows and accessories.

Archery Manufacturers based in Manitoba, Canada:

1. Winnipeg Archery: Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, this company is known for providing archery equipment and services, including bows, arrows, and accessories.

2. Sun Optics Canada: This Winnipeg-based company manufactures archery accessories, including archery sights and scopes.

Archery Manufacturers in British Columbia and Alberta

 BC

1. Custom Traditional Archery: Based in Aldergrove, British Columbia, this company specialized in crafting custom traditional archery equipment, including longbows and recurve bows.

2. Big Stick Archery: Located in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Big Stick Archery was known for manufacturing traditional longbows and custom arrows.

3. Moore's Longbows: This British Columbia-based company crafted traditional longbows, specializing in unique designs and custom-made bows.

4. Whitetail Woodcrafters: Located in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Whitetail Woodcrafters was known for producing handmade traditional bows, including recurves and longbows.
   

 Alberta

1. Bushmen Bows: Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Bushmen Bows was known for manufacturing custom traditional longbows and recurve bows.

2. Drifter Traditional Archery: Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Drifter Traditional Archery specialized in crafting custom-made traditional bows.

3. Crows Head Traditional Archery: This company was based in Lethbridge, Alberta, and focused on producing traditional longbows and recurves.

4. Trident Archery: Located in Lacombe, Alberta, Trident Archery offered a range of archery equipment, including bows, arrows, and accessories.

5. Wapiti Archery POC: Based in Alberta, Wapiti Archery POC manufactured traditional archery equipment, including bows and accessories.

 

Inuit Archery: A Time-Honored Tradition of Arctic Survival

Inuit Archery holds a significant place in the history and culture of the Indigenous Inuit people of the Arctic regions, including present-day Alaska, Canada (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Nunavik), Greenland, and Siberia. For thousands of years, archery has been an essential skill for Inuit hunters, providing them with a means of sustenance and survival in the harsh Arctic environment.

Inuit archery traces its roots back over 4,000 years when the first Inuit cultures began to emerge in the Arctic. Early Inuit hunters developed innovative techniques to craft bows and arrows using the limited resources available in their environment.

Bow-Making Process:

Traditionally, Inuit bows are made from a single piece of wood obtained from the surrounding landscape, typically driftwood, which is lightweight and durable. The most commonly used wood species for Inuit bows include yew, willow, or spruce, chosen for their flexibility and resilience. The bow-making process involves several steps:

1. Wood Selection: Inuit bowyers carefully select a suitable piece of driftwood, considering its shape, size, and flexibility. The wood must have minimal knots or defects to ensure the integrity of the bow.

2. Seasoning the Wood: Before shaping the bow, the wood is often seasoned by drying it for an extended period, sometimes up to several years. This process prevents the bow from warping or cracking over time.

3. Shaping the Bow: Using traditional hand tools like bone knives and stone scrapers, the bowyer skillfully carves the bow into its distinctive shape. The bow is usually reflexed or reflex-deflexed, meaning that it curves slightly forward or backward, respectively.

4. Tillering: The tillering process involves carefully bending the bow and testing its flexibility to ensure an even distribution of tension along the length of the bow. Bowyers remove material from specific areas to achieve the desired draw weight and curve.

Arrow-Making Process:

Inuit arrows are meticulously crafted to ensure accuracy and lethality. The process of making Inuit arrows involves the following steps:

1. Shaft Selection: The arrow shafts are crafted from various materials, such as river reeds, bird bones, or driftwood. Like the bow, the arrow shaft must be straight and free from imperfections.

2. Fletching: Inuit arrows are usually fletched with three feathers, which can come from various bird species, including ptarmigans, ducks, or seagulls. The feathers are carefully attached to the shaft to provide stability and accuracy during flight.

3. Arrowhead: The arrowhead is crucial for hunting success. Inuit hunters traditionally fashioned arrowheads from bone, antler, or stone. The arrowhead is meticulously shaped to create a sharp point, ensuring efficient hunting.

4. Binding: The arrowhead is securely fastened to the shaft using sinew, a strong and flexible material made from animal tendons. Sinew binding provides durability and allows for easy repair or replacement of arrowheads.

Cultural Significance and Continuation:

Inuit archery is more than just a practical skill; it holds deep cultural significance among the Inuit communities. Archery has been passed down through generations, with elders teaching younger members of the community the art of bow-making, arrow crafting, and hunting techniques.

Despite the availability of modern hunting tools, many Inuit hunters still practice traditional archery to preserve their cultural heritage and maintain a connection with their ancestors. Inuit archery competitions and festivals celebrate the skills and prowess of the archers, showcasing the rich cultural traditions that have stood the test of time.

Inuit archery is a time-honored tradition deeply rooted in the Arctic regions. Through the centuries, Inuit bowyers have skillfully crafted bows and arrows using materials readily available in their environment, enabling Inuit hunters to thrive in one of the most challenging environments on Earth. The continuation of Inuit archery serves as a testament to the resilience and enduring cultural heritage of the Inuit people.

Canadian Archery Manufacturers

MADE IN CANADA products for Canadians:

1. Buck Trail Archery: A Canadian company that produces traditional archery equipment, including recurve bows, longbows, and accessories.

2. Border Bows: Based in British Columbia, Border Bows manufactures high-quality custom recurve bows.

3. Big Jim's Bow Company: A Canadian manufacturer specializing in traditional bows, including longbows and takedown recurves.

4. Stalker Stickbows: Located in Alberta, Stalker Stickbows crafts custom takedown recurve bows.

5. Wapiti Archery POC: A manufacturer of traditional archery equipment, offering a variety of bows and accessories.

6. Great Northern Bowhunting Company: Produces traditional archery equipment, including custom-made longbows and recurve bows.

7. Dryad Bows: A Canadian company focused on crafting traditional bows, including hybrid longbows and reflex-deflex longbows.

8. Acadian Woods Bows: Located in New Brunswick, this company handcrafts traditional wooden longbows and recurves.

9. Galaxy Archery: A Canadian manufacturer that produces recurve bows for archers of all levels.

Battle Sports expands to Montreal, opens Sports de Combat

When Battle Sports first appeared in Toronto back in 2015 they set out to become the best location in Toronto to do Archery Tag (or Dodge Archery, Battle Archery, Combat Archery, whatever you want to call it).

At the time there was quite a few competitors also appearing, saturating the Toronto market with archery tag / battle archery locations.

However by offering the best deals, the best archery equipment and the best value for dollar, Battle Sports quickly beat out its competitors.

So it should come as no surprise that they are now expanding to Montreal and have opened a new location called Sports de Combat.

Sports de Combat
5335 Avenue Casgrain, Montreal
(SW of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park / Parc Sir Wilfrid Laurier)

Sports de Combat Offers the following...

Montreal's Largest Indoor Archery Range - $15 / hour if you have your own archery equipment. (If you don't have your own equipment, you can rent it for $10 per hour.)

Montreal Archery Lessons - $40 for a 90 minute group lesson.

Montreal Combat Archery - 30 minute beginner practice + 60 minutes of Battle Archery.

And for Francophones, archery lessons / combat archery are also available in French.

Honestly, we are impressed they managed to create the largest indoor archery range. That alone is a feat.

There are also rumours (unsubstantiated, but whatever - the key word is rumours) that Battle Sports is planning to open a 2nd location in Scarborough, expanding their operations in the GTA. Given their previous track record for business savvy, we would not be surprised if this happened.

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ABOUT ARCHERY TAG

"Archery Tag" was invented in the United States by John Jackson in the summer of 2011.

Each player wears a mask protecting his face. Bows and arrows with foam tips specially designed for bow-fighting sport are used. In the generic game, there are two 5-point targets.

The sport is played both indoors or outdoors. The game area is decorated with different inflatable elements allowing players to hide themselves.

Archery Tag is a sporting activity similar to paintball, except with players being equipped with bow and arrow (with the foam end) instead of paintball guns.

Two teams compete to be the first to touch all the centers of the target of 5 spots of the opponent. While trying to hit other players with the arrows, the game ends in three different ways: all the members of an opposing team have been hit, the 5 spots of the target of one of the teams have been eliminated or the time allotted to one round has elapsed.

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L'archery tag a été inventé aux États-Unis par John Jackson à l'été 2011.

Chaque joueur porte un masque protégeant son visage. Des arcs et des flèches avec des embouts en mousse spécialement conçus pour le sport de combat d'arc sont utilisés. Il y a deux cibles à 5 points.

Le sport se pratique en salle ou à l’extérieur. La zone de jeu est agrémentée de différents éléments gonflables permettant aux joueurs de se camoufler.

L'Archery tag est une activité sportive similaire au paintball, les joueurs étant équipés d'arc et de flèches (avec l’extrémité en mousse).

Deux équipes s'affrontent pour être la première à toucher tous les centres de la cible de 5 spots de l'adversaire. Tout en essayant de toucher d'autres joueurs avec les flèches, le jeu se termine de trois façons différentes : tous les membres d'une équipe adverse ont été touchés, les 5 spots de la cible de l’une des équipes ont été éliminés ou le temps imparti s'est écoulé.