First thing you will need to do is to consider which type of construction you are interested in. Modern cedarstrip canoes will be more like a fiberglass canoe than a traditionally built wood canoe. They can look very nice, but I've also seen some awful ones. They require maintenance in that they need deep scratches repaired so water doesn't get into the wood layer, and you need to maintain the varnish as epoxy degrades with exposure to UV.
Wood canvas canoes are very attractive, and very functional. They will withstand a fair amount of abuse, are usually easy to repair and restore, and can usually be field-repaired if needed to continue a trip. They will require periodic painting and varnish, depending on how often and hard you use the canoe. A typical 17' tripping canoe may weight 70-75 pounds, but there are ways to save weight if that is an importanct consideration. One big advantage over other all-wood types is that they won't require a "soaking up" time after periods on inactivity. Traditionally, most of these (some 75% or so) were painted dark green. However, just about any color or combination has been used, so make the color yours. Avoid canoes where fiberglass has been used in place of canvas.
All-wood canoes (e.g. Peterborough-style cedar strip and lapstrake) are usually varnished inside and out. They are the least able to take abuse of the various construction styles. They may require a "soaking up" time after periods of dis-use, during which time they can leak. Cedar strip canoes tend to be heavy (further, no one is making them commercially, so you'd have to look on the vintage market for one). Lapstrake canoes are typically built as solo double-paddle canoes, though tandem canoes for single-bladed paddles are a possibility.
Once you've decided on a construction method, you can start to consider what design, length, etc. and look for a builder. This would also be the time to make suggestions about wood types, options, etc. One good way to choose a canoe is to attend the WCHA Assembly mid-summer and test paddle a variety of the WCHA Member/Builders craft.
