White Squall’s downtown store at 19 James Street calls itself a friendly little store for the big outdoors, and after more than three decades it has earned the description. Open year round, the shop is packed with quality outdoor clothing and gear from brands like The North Face, Marmot, Smartwool, Royal Robbins and Outdoor Research, alongside hiking footwear, camping equipment, maps and plenty of gift ideas.
What sets the store apart is the staff. These are people who paddle, hike and camp themselves, and they use the gear they sell. Whether you need a jacket that will genuinely keep you dry on Georgian Bay or advice on footwear for the trails around Parry Sound, you will get an honest answer from someone who has been out there.
White Squall began in 1985 as a paddling centre built on a simple idea: sharing a love of the outdoors and paddling with others. For years the company also ran a paddling shop in Nobel selling and renting kayaks, canoes and paddleboards, but that location closed in October 2026. The downtown Parry Sound store carries on, open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 5:30 and Sundays from 11 to 4.
It is worth a stop even if you are not buying anything major. The map selection alone makes it useful for trip planning, and the staff happily point visitors toward local paddling routes and hiking trails. For cottagers stocking up for a week on the water, it is one of the most useful shops in town.