There’s a new cidery coming to town. Flying Canoe Hard Cider is setting up shop in Spencerville.
Owner Pete Rainville says the goal is to have things up and running by February 1. Flying Canoe is currently operating in Ottawa, where it was established in 2016. Rainville, his wife Melissa and their two kids moved to Spencerville earlier this year with plans to relocate the business as well.
Work has begun on the MacKintosh Cider House. Rainville says the name comes from Dr. Pember MacKintosh who built the house his family now calls home. He explained MacKintosh was the grandson of John McIntosh, who discovered the original McIntosh Apple tree in 1811.
Rainville says Flying Canoe intends to honour the local history in its new venture. He noted about 50% of the apples used to make the cider are McIntosh. Rainville explained that according to lore, the original McIntosh sapling was moved to the house in Spencerville.
The goal is to grow Flying Canoe, which is currently sold in about 50 LCBO stores and numerous businesses in the Ottawa area – including most places in Spencerville. Rainville says the plan is to get the product across the province and potentially add a second facility at some point down the road.
He noted Flying Canoe wants to give back to the community. Rainville explained instead of opening up potential investments in the company to just anyone, he wants to put out the option to local people, families and businesses first in exchange for share ownership in Flying Canoe.
Rainville says he plans on hiring two people within the first six months. For more information about Flying Canoe, click here.
