Eberhard Fass ("Eb") was born in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. In August of 1954 at the age of 23 he immigrated to Canada and made Saskatoon his home. He was a journey man cabinet maker and with his wood working skills found employment at Tubby & Son Construction. Eb worked in this profession for the next 20 years. During this time he traveled around Saskatchewan and Canada in either a Volkswagon Beetle or VW Van that he personally converted with cabinets and a bed. He often spoke of travelling throughout this province and country he now called home.
Eb loved to sail and cross country ski, and finding it difficult in Saskatchewan to get equipment for these sports that he loved, he built his own store from the ground up. On December 1, 1973, Eberhard Fass opened up Eb's Boat and Ski Shop to the general public.
The first years were tough and the store almost failed a number of times. Eb sold the house he had built himself to finance the store. He ate weiners and beans and lived on the second floor of the shop. That's why we have a closet in the office, (which used to be his bedroom) and a bathtub in our washroom.
"I was dumb enough that I said I was going to go into business and that would be my job for the rest of my life... If I'd known what I was getting into I probably wouldn't have gone into business." - Eb Fass
As the store found success many people were looking for places to sail and cross country ski. Eb created a network of trails in the Nisbet forest north of Duck Lake. Many Sundays and holidays in the fall or winter would see Eb and others going into this area flagging and cutting trails. In the end this network of trails has over 40km of XC ski trails and everyone knows them as “Eb's Trails”.
Sailing was no different. Eb built his first sailboat - a small 2-person Cygnet. He taught himself how to sail and was soon taking others out to experience this fun sport. Eb was instrumental in getting the Lake Deifenbaker Yacht Club and Blackstrap Sailing Club started.
Back when the business was smaller there was room in the store to have a couch upstairs, where many a lively discussion was had about who was the greatest Nordic skier of all time, what kinds of boats were superior to others, and who had the most exciting trip of the summer.
Great staff was always the backbone of the store and Eb fostered us all with a crusty - yet endearing - patriarchal mentorship. While Eb was busily involved in the sailing and cross country skiing communities in Saskatchewan, his Siamese cat Max was busy networking in the store.
Max lived upstairs and would come down to mingle with customers when the whim caught him. For 19 years that old cat roamed the store, tail held high, cracking his rusty "meowr" when he either approved or disapproved of something you were doing.
James Briens worked for Eb since the store was in it's first few years of existence and eventually took over the store when Eb retired. Soon he partnered with Kevin Robinson and they continued to run the store as a team before James retired. Despite lean economic years and increasing competition, they stayed true to Eb's original mission: to promote a passion for outdoor sport and to provide the best customer service possible.
Eb passed away in July, 2020 and Kevin passed in February 2023. They are both missed by those whose lives they touched.
Today, owner Alison Meinert still operates under the same philosophy that Eb did. She only sells products for the activities she and her staff are personally involved in. Eb's is still the place people meet to talk trails and conditions, waxes or hull shapes. Stories are shared and adventures planned.
Welcome!
