Surfing in Canada: Where to Surf, From Tofino to the Great Lakes

Updated October 2026. Surfing in Canada is real, and growing: Tofino on the Pacific, Nova Scotia on the Atlantic, river waves in Montreal and a big freshwater scene on the Great Lakes. Below is the story of how Surf the Greats started, written by co-founders Antonio Lennert and Lucas Murnaghan, followed by a guide to where to surf in Canada.

It all started as a hashtag. It was 2014 and we had just been introduced to Great Lake surfing. We were driving home from Georgian Bay and were posting some photos from the session. This was early days on Instagram and so we knew we needed a good hashtag to go with the photos. After a bit of brainstorming we came up with #surfthegreats and uploaded the images. We never could have known then where this would all lead and where we would find ourselves today.

The last thing we ever wanted to do was start a surf business and become part of the surf industry. As much as we loved surfing — the predominant culture wasn’t anything we wanted to join. We’ve walked into surf shops around the world and knew we never quite fit in. Perhaps we weren’t local enough, or cool enough, or straight enough. While the explanation for this sense of exclusion can be difficult to identify, the feeling is undeniable. Wanting to belong, but knowing that you don’t quite qualify. The more we experienced it and discussed with others, the more we realized that lots of people didn’t think surfing was for them.

Perhaps not surprisingly, surfing in Canada felt different. It turns out that surfing in Canada is different because Canadians are different. Diversity and inclusivity are central national tenets and this extends into the water. In the line up — whether it is lakes, rivers or oceans — the language you speak, the colour of your skin, the shape of your body, or your religious beliefs are unimportant. We honour those who are truly indigenous to this land and celebrate those who have just arrived. Whether you rip on a shortboard, glide on a longboard, or cruise on a SUP matters little so long as you are out there. Surfing in this country is a little harder than warmer climates, but as with many things, it’s the hard that makes it good.

Video by: Mirror Image Media & Beechwood Productions
Additional footage by: David Kalinauskas, Jake Brenner, Keenan Bush, Luke Morsta & Tristan Lafontaine
Voiceover: Linzee Barclay

Quand nous pensons au surf, le Canada n’est probablement pas le premier pays qui nous vient en tête. Alors que nos eaux sont froides et nos hivers sont difficiles, nos cœurs sont chaleureux et notre wax est molle. Dans ce grand pays, on est chanceux d’être entouré de 3 océans — mais au Canada vous trouverez autant de surfeurs sur le bord de l’océan qu’au beau milieu du pays. Nos surfeurs sont des voyageurs des temps modernes, explorant constamment, ils savent que nos meilleures vagues restent à être découvert. Que ce soit par nos planches que nous surfons, par nos rivières infinies, lacs et océans, nous sommes tous différents. Ici, au Canada, on chérit nos différences dans l’eau comme à l’extérieur — parce que lorsque nous avons nos wetsuits à capuches, nous sommes tous les mêmes.

They say that the more you travel, the more you appreciate your own country. While many people have their first surfing experience abroad, more and more are catching their first wave on our home waters. Canadian surfers are demonstrating that surfing not only exists but is thriving in individual communities across the country. No longer relegated to coastal fishing towns and villages, Canadians are finding waves in every province and territory.

We’ve come a long way since that original hashtag. The events of this past year have provided many Canadians with the opportunity to better appreciate their immediate surroundings. As a country, we know that our best waves are yet to be found. We have an opportunity to shift the conversation within an industry that is increasingly receptive to change. While there is much work to be done, today we choose to celebrate how far we have come.

Antonio Lennert & Lucas Murnaghan
Co-founders, Surf the Greats

Where to surf in Canada

Guide added October 2026 by the Surf the Greats team.

Canada has surf on three oceans, the Great Lakes and even its rivers. Here's where to look:

British Columbia

Tofino and Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island are Canada's best-known surf towns, with Pacific swell year-round. Chesterman Beach and Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park are popular with beginners.

Nova Scotia and the East Coast

Nova Scotia gets Atlantic swell, especially in fall and winter. Lawrencetown Beach and Martinique Beach near Halifax are the main hubs. Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick have smaller, more remote scenes.

The Great Lakes

Ontario has one of the most active surf communities in the country, all on fresh water:

Lake Ontario: Toronto, Hamilton and Burlington. The lake rarely freezes, so it gets surf all winter. Read our Lake Ontario and Toronto surf guide.
Lake Huron and Georgian Bay: Kincardine, Sauble Beach, Goderich and Grand Bend. See our Lake Huron surf guide.
Lake Erie: the north shore, especially around Port Colborne and the Niagara region. See our Lake Erie surf guide.
Lake Superior: the remote north shore around Thunder Bay and Terrace Bay. Read what it takes to surf Lake Superior.

River surfing in Quebec

Montreal is famous for standing waves on the St. Lawrence River, like Habitat 67, which can be surfed all summer.

When to surf in Canada

On the oceans, fall and winter bring the most swell. On the Great Lakes, the season runs from about September to April or May, with the best storms in fall. Summer is the warmest but flattest time on the lakes. Whatever coast you surf, plan on a thick wetsuit for most of the year. See our cold water wetsuit guide and Great Lakes water temperatures by month.

Surfing in Canada FAQ

Can you surf in Canada?

Yes. Canada has surf on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, all five Great Lakes and several rivers. Tofino, Nova Scotia and Toronto are the biggest scenes.

Can you surf in Ontario?

Yes. Ontario borders four of the five Great Lakes, and all of them get surfable waves. Toronto, Kincardine and Sauble Beach are the best-known spots. More in our Great Lakes Surfing FAQ.

Shop by lake

Lake Ontario · Lake Huron · Lake Erie · Lake Superior