Searching for an Archery Range Near You? Discover the New Interactive Directory

In this episode, Manisha of the Archery Parent Podcast, shares a revolutionary new resource for the Canadian Archery community: Archery Ranges Canada.

Manisha sits down with the site's creator, Josh Kennedy, to discuss how this comprehensive directory is filling a massive information gap and making the sport more accessible for everyone: from competitive athletes to recreational "backyard heroes".

Mapping the Future of Canadian Archery

The "Lightbulb Moment" & the Mission

The episode begins with Manisha highlighting a common struggle for Archery families: the frustration of trying to find a reliable place to get in some arrows, especially when travelling. 

Josh Kennedy’s journey to creating Archery Ranges Canada began with this exact frustration. As an Archer who enjoys "range-hopping" rather than staying at a single club, Josh found that researching local ranges was an exhausting process. He often spent over an hour searching for information, only to find that many directories were non-interactive or listed clubs that were either closed or member-only with no public access.

The "lightbulb moment" occurred about a year after these initial frustrations when Josh saw a YouTube video about the power of digital directories. He realized that the massive hole in Canadian Archery infrastructure, where provincial websites often featured static, incomplete lists, needed a modern, interactive solution.

After confirming through Reddit and Facebook groups that he wasn't the only one struggling, he spent two and a half months of intensive work building the platform alongside his full-time job and responsibilities as a father of three.

Breaking Down the Platform

Launched in January 2026, the website is designed for maximum accessibility. Josh utilized various AI and web application tools to gather a comprehensive set of data, ensuring the directory includes not just registered clubs, but also pro shops and unaffiliated "backyard style" ranges.

Key features of the website include:

• Geo-Locator Search: The Homepage features a search bar and a geo-locator that senses a user's location to provide immediate nearby results.
• Subcategories: Users can filter for specific needs, such as "kid-friendly" locations, ranges that host birthday parties, or those focused on women.
• Detailed Range Pages: Clicking a range provides a full description, contact details (name, email, phone), amenities, accepted bow types, pricing (depending on listing tier), and a map with integrated directions.
• Interactive Map: A visual map allows users to click dots representing different cities to find local listings.

Community Growth and Global Reach

Since its launch, the site has received "raving reviews" from a supportive Archery community. In just the first six weeks, the platform saw over 3,000 visits and more than 600 new users, despite only having data for three provinces (Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta) at the time of recording*. 

(*At the time of publishing, ArcheryRangesCanada.ca has been updated to include all of Canada.)

Interestingly, the site is already attracting international attention. Josh noted that about a third of the traffic currently comes from the United States, with additional searches appearing from as far away as Singapore. This global interest highlights the site's value for international Archers looking to explore or compete within Canada.

The Three-Tier Listing System

To maintain the site and offer more value to range owners, Josh developed a tiered listing system:

• Bronze (Free): Includes a basic description (up to 150 words) and one photo. It is non-interactive.
• Silver: Makes contact information (phone/email/website) clickable and interactive. It allows for three photos, pricing details, an FAQ section, and the ability to respond to user reviews.
• Gold: The "Lamborghini" of listings. It features unlimited photos, full YouTube video integration, and a 500-word description. Gold listings are "featured" on the Homepage for anyone within 50 kilometers and include a calendar of events.

Hidden Gems and Future Outlook

Josh shared several "hidden gems" he discovered during his research, including Forest City Archers in Ontario with its 64-acre 3D course, the scenic Salt Spring Archery Society in BC, and the immersive indigenous cultural experience at Painted Warriors in Alberta.

Looking ahead, Josh plans to implement a five-star review system to allow the community to share their experiences at different ranges.

His ultimate goal is to visit every range listed in the directory. As Manisha noted, the impact of this project is significant, filling a vital information gap and investing in the future growth of Canadian archery by making it easier for new archers to get started.

The episode concludes with a powerful sentiment from Josh: Archery is a way to bring a divided world together through a shared love of the sport.

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References and Resources

Archery Ranges Canada

• • Website: www.archeryrangescanada.ca
  • Contact Email: ArcheryRangesCanada@gmail.com
  • Feature Focus: Interactive directory and map for Canadian Archery ranges, pro shops, and independent shooting locations.

Ranges Mentioned

• York County Bowmen (Ontario)
• Forest City Archers (Thorndale, Ontario)
• Features: 64 acres, 40-target outdoor 3D course, open all season.
• Salt Spring Archery Society at Jade Farm (Salt Spring Island, British Columbia)
• Features: Located on a real farm with 3D courses right by the ocean.
• Painted Warriors (Mountain View County, Alberta)
• Features: Immersive indigenous cultural experience with traditional shooting and hyper-realistic 3D courses.

Social Media & Community Groups

• York County Bowmen Facebook Page (Where the connection was first made)
• Contact Page: Contact Archery Ranges Canada: Report a missing archery range • Update listing information • Claim your facility listing • Premium listing inquiries • Partnership opportunities • Technical support

For more tips on supporting your archer, visit us at the Archery Parent Podcast, where we grow the sport one arrow at a time.

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SHOW NOTES:

Archery Ranges Canada: Josh Kennedy’s New National Directory for Finding Ranges, Clubs, and Pro Shops

Manisha of the Archery Parent Podcast interviews Josh Kennedy, creator of ArcheryRangesCanada.ca, a new national directory to help people find Archery ranges across Canada. Josh experienced the time-consuming method of looking up ranges, but realized how unreliable range searches could be.

Josh explains why he includes registered clubs, pro shops, and unaffiliated/backyard-style ranges to maximize accessibility for hunters, tournament, and recreational Archers.

The site offers search by name or location, geolocation, category filters, interactive maps, and detailed listings with contact info, amenities, bow types allowed, pricing (for certain listings), and directions, with owners/directors able to claim and edit listings.

Josh outlines the various levels of listing: Bronze (free), Silver (analytics, clickable contacts, more photos and text, pricing, FAQs, review replies), and Gold (featured placement, ads, unlimited photos, video, events calendar).

During our interview, Josh shares early traffic stats for Archery Ranges Canada, notes 244 listings across Ontario, BC, and Alberta*, and previews upcoming features.

(*At the time of publishing, ArcheryRangesCanada.ca has been updated to include all of Canada.)

00:00 Welcome to Josh of Archery Ranges Canada

00:40 Why a Directory of Archery Ranges?

03:34 The Community Response

04:34 Inclusive Listings

06:14 Search and Filters

07:26 Range Details and Updates

08:31 Claiming a Listing

09:43 Premium Packages

12:17 Building the Map

13:08 Traffic and Reach

14:23 Hidden Gems

16:06 What’s Next?

17:40 Bronze, Silver & Gold Recap

20:02 Growth

20:56 Why Archery Ranges Canada is For Everyone

22:19 What Does Josh Never Leave the House Without?

22:51 Shout Outs to Mentioned Ranges

23:43 The Bigger Mission of Archery Ranges Canada

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