OUR BOND WITH WATER
A deep connection with the water we grew up on moves us to consider carefully what we design, the role our products play in such a pristine environment, and even the people we partner with.
While our land stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic — with rivers, lakes and beaches throughout — water does more than connect us. It rejuvenates and inspires us. We love our lakes and beaches enough to name our products after them.
OUR DESIGN IS INSPIRED BY NATURE
Nature is our starting point. Sit with us on a rock at Beau Lake and you’ll see a spectrum of colors and shapes evolve and transform all around you. And instead of motors, you’ll hear the ducks and the geese. Nature is the catalyst for and the essence of everything we design.
We take the utmost care in design, quality and craftsmanship. All of our products blend vintage aesthetics with high performance for a timeless elegance designed to enhance your waterside experience.
MEET OUR CREW
PAUL LAVOIE
Co-Founder, CEO
Entrepreneur, advertising executive, designer, film director, and lover of lakes. Throughout his career Paul has helped launch brands like BMW MINI, TELUS, NIKE and McDonald’s. Now his focus is building the Beau Lake brand into a global reference. His toes were dipped in a fresh Canadian lake before he was a month old, and this is still where he finds his senses, his compass, his energy, his inspiration, his joy and, most importantly, his family. That’s why Paul is drawn to Beau Lake, and why he wants to share this experience with the world.
BRAD ARISS
Managing Director
Seasoned marketing professional, natural leader, and valued member of the Beau Lake team since 2020, Brad Ariss takes the reins as Managing Director. A graduate of Economics and Communications, Brad has used his storytelling skills to grow brands across diverse categories and media. A world traveller and committed environmentalist, Brad brings valued perspective to Beau Lake’s mission to support water charities at home and around the globe.
JANE HOPE
Design Director
Renowned brand designer, Jane’s portfolio expands across graphics, experience, interiors, and products, and in 2018 earned her the Advertising & Design Club of Canada’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A passionate conservationist, the Hope Bridge was christened in 2019 in recognition of her efforts in Morin Heights, Quebec. An avid swimmer, Jane’s favourite place in the world is in the lake, her second favourite is on the lake on Beau Lake water craft. Jane sits on the boards of The Montreal General Hospital Foundation, La Maison Simon’s, and Ruisseau Jackson Natural Protected Area.
STEVE KILLING
Boat Designer
With over 40 years in the boating design industry, Steve’s early training at C&C Yachts Design Group in Canada fuelled his design work on numerous water vessels including sailboats, power and electric boats, small craft and artistic sculptures. Featured in America’s Cup and the World Cup, Steve applies his elegant problem-solving skills with continuous research and implementation of new technology to the design of our very own Beau Lake Pedal Boat.
BEAU LAKE ADVISORY BOARD
TODD SAUNDERS
Architect
Todd Saunders is a Canadian Architect based in Bergen, Norway. His architecture is described as simple, innovative, and honest. Saunders teaches architecture in the US and Europe, has been published globally in major design magazines and dallies. Todd’s contribution to a limited edition hybrid collaboration piece of architecture for Beau Lake reflects his lifestyle related to water; be it fly fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, ocean kayaking on the west coast of Norway, or his new passion for skinny-dipping all year round in the cold Norwegian fjords.
JOE MIMRAN
Fashion Pioneer
Joe Mimran is a retail, fashion and business pioneer who has helped build some of Canada’s most recognized apparel and lifestyle brands including Joe Fresh, Club Monaco, Pink Tartan, Alfred Sung, and Caban. He is Chairman of Gibraltar & Company and is on the board of Canopy Rivers and LXR. Through his consulting firms, JM+A and NYBS, Joe provides design and consulting services to major retailers in the US such as Kroger and Staples. Joe was recently inducted into Canada's Marketing Legends Hall of Fame and has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and The Globe and Mail.
PAUL ROWAN
Co-Founder of Umbra
As head of design at Umbra, Paul has created innumerable successful designs, while managing diverse internal and external design teams. Umbra produced a prolific flow of new product under Paul’s visionary leadership. Paul now devotes most of his time to the design community speaking regularly to both students and teachers of design. His engaging style and knowledge of today’s international design market and technologies give him insights that educational institutions appreciate. Paul spends his free time at his farm on Georgian Bay, which is a compelling reason for him to join the advisory board at Beau Lake.
KARYN BARSA
Former consumer products CEO
Karyn has led vibrant, premium-brand consumer products companies with a focus on melding business and mission. Several of these companies (Patagonia, Smith & Hawken, Coyuchi) forged new efforts to reduce environmental impact and improve the living conditions of all stakeholders, while Karyn’s leadership at non-profit Investors’ Circle introduced accredited investors to social entrepreneurs around the globe. Because access to clean, responsibly sourced water was key to each of these endeavors, Karyn is delighted to support the business and mission of Beau Lake.
JEAN BELANGER
Investor Advisor
After graduating from the London School of Economics, Jean became an entrepreneur, inventor, mentor, and technology leader. His love for the water started when he was thrown into the first lake he ever saw — Blue Sea Lake. Jean grew up spending his summers on the lake, becoming an avid swimmer and water polo player. His evenings were spent watching the sun sink into the horizon. Now with Beau Lake, Jean hopes to share the joys of lakeside living with the rest of the world.
JOHN GERHARDT
Creative Director
John has spent the last thirty-five years shaping and directing luxury brands in North America, Europe and Asia.
Gerhardt was recognized by Time Magazine as part of the“The Design 100 – The People and Ideas Behind Today’s Most Influential Design”.
Currently, John is located in Paris and is at the helm of Global Creative for Moet Hennessy advising the CEO on how to leverage branding and creative to increase the value of the twenty-seven Maison portfolio. His passion and experience will be much appreciated and with that we give him his first task:
Create the Official Beau Lake Cocktail
DAVID McAUSLAND
Lawyer
David is a partner in the firm of McCarthy Tétrault. He advises companies, shareholders and entrepreneurs on a very wide variety of business transactions, strategic challenges and governance matters, whether domestic or international. A graduate of McGill University, David is a highly respected member of the Canadian business and legal communities, with a successful track record as Executive Vice-President of one of Canada’s largest companies, and director of a number of leading corporations. Throughout his career, David has pushed conventional boundaries and been at the centre of numerous innovative transactions and strategies.
LEE KLINE
Co-Founder, Advisor
Entrepreneur, award-winning designer, materials explorer, and sailor, Lee spent his youth sailing the waters of Southern Ontario, learning on mid-century wooden dinghies, eventually graduating to larger sloops. Lee has worked on projects for The Four Seasons and Starwood Hotel Group, Lee now brings his design talent and vast knowledge of materials and manufacturing, to the world of boating where it all began.