Our story
About us
And so it came to past that in the year of grace 2022, upon the autumn equinox, the great tale of PilgriNAV began. It was then, as the Sun was crossing the equator, that Rémi Côté, a soul driven by the mysteries of the heavens, did set forth upon his noble endeavour. In those early days, PilgriNAV devoted itself with singular purpose to the crafting of bespoke instruments of navigation, wrought by hand from wood. These instruments, noble and true, harkened back to a time long past, when men sailed the seas by the stars alone. As the seasons turned and the years unfolded, many a wondrous instrument, of varied design and from many ages, were offered unto the folk. And in the fullness of time, those most beloved by the people, the finest, were preserved in the humble shop that now stands before you. Though it were niche, a seed had indeed been sown, and its roots grew deep. Thus, as one moon passed and another rose, mankind's timeless curiosity of the heavens called forth an ever-growing number of people who sought wisdom in the ancient navigation ways. With joy in his heart and a willing hand, Rémi, ever eager to share his passion, set forth a course program. These were courses light of spirit and simple of means, yet rich in knowledge, that sought to complement those already available in the field. Focusing on ancient navigation techniques, the mechanisms of the celestial dance presented to us by the stars, and our relationship with it. Last but not least, the "citizen research project" emerged. Primarily focused on Arctic navigation, the aim of this undertaking was nothing less than to refine the tools and navigation methods of old, so that the way through these northern wilds might be made safer, more reliable, and more precise in an age where the frailty of the GPS is ever more apparent, and the lust for the Arctic's treasures grows ever fiercer.
Our mission
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PilgriNAV's primary objective is to make celestial navigation accessible to all and to foster the development of the next generation of navigators in both sailing and astronomy.
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Secondly, the company has recently embarked on an initiative to develop Arctic navigation in order to address the difficulties and challenges associated with GPS in this region, with the aim of supporting it.
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Finally, the workshop is also involved in public events, advocating for the sharing of knowledge and mutual support among different organizations, so that the public can make the most of the activities offered and discover new things.
Who is Mr. Pilgri?
Having always been an explorer and traveler of the world, I have often felt more at home abroad than in my apartment. Passionate about adventure and land navigation since the early days of adolescence, my first experience was crossing Canada from Quebec to the Pacific in 2008 with my family, and it was in those western lands that I encountered my first glacier in Alberta (which was the first of a long series). Also an amateur astronomer since childhood, I have always found it difficult to take my eyes off the celestial vault when night falls. The odyssey that is PilgriNAV to my eyes began in the heart of a winter night, on a snowmobile, on a coastal ice floe near Kangiqsujuaq in March 2018, when I noticed the strange coincidence between my heading and the Orion constellation. I then wondered if it was possible to use the stars in the sky as beacons to guide my journeys. That is how I discovered celestial navigation. Several glaciers and ice floes later, my quest for the horizon was abruptly halted by the arrival of the pandemic. Being of a handy nature, I then began making navigation instruments to occupy myself while learning their concepts and mechanisms. It was then, as the pandemic finally began to recede, that I took up sailing in May 2022, and my pilgrimage toward unknown horizons then continued with the creation of this workshop shortly thereafter
