Here is a list of this year's speakers and topics!

1) For the Love of the Canoe

Discover how one person's love of canoeing turned into a job that shares that passion with others. Learn about the Canadian Canoe Museum and some of the more interesting aspects of it that you might not have known.

Bio: Evan Holt has always enjoyed being outdoors and shares that passion through his website Traversing.ca. With a background in IT and a love of canoeing, he has combined the two with his role as Creative Projects Manager at the Canadian Canoe Museum. Evan tackles the problem of bringing Canada’s history to the digital age to show people that there is more to our past than some dead trees that are pointed on each end.

2) Women on Water

Since breaking out of her corporate office, Kate has witnessed and been beneficiary to the bounty of time spent in nature and on the water. In her talk she'll explore the benefits of all-women's outdoor adventure travel, sharing anecdotes and memories along the way.

Bio: Kate Ming-Sun learned how to paddle a canoe on her 35th birthday and hasn't looked back. Her personal trips have taken her from Woodland Caribou Provincial Park to the Adirondacks. She now guides with Wild Women Expeditions, an all-women's outdoor adventure travel company, and loves watching the transformation women undergo after a few days on the water. When she isn't canoeing - and sometimes even when she is - you can find her behind a camera or jotting thoughts down in her Write-In-The-Rain.

3) Canoe-To-Do List

Gary Johnston will share with you some of the many interesting sights to be found in the local Grand River Watershed. These “small creek paddles” can be challenging but are definitely worth the effort. And you may not have to travel far to have an unforgettable experience.

The Canoe-To-Do List, like a Bucket List, is a Goal Setting method to motivate you to go paddling. Once you are on the water, the adventure begins. You never know what will be around the next corner.

Bio: Gary Johnston has probably paddled more rivers, lakes and streams in the Grand River Watershed than anyone. Living in Waterloo puts him within an hour’s drive of 75% of the watershed. His “50 km Diet” of paddling allows him to have a canoeing adventure after work and still get home before dark (or at least midnight). Gary enjoys leading “small creek paddles” for the Waterloo Wellington Canoe and Kayak Club. Expect the unexpected, as Gary shares his local adventures with you in such a manner as to inspire you to jump into your canoe and go paddling.

4) Schrodinger's Paddler: Alone and in a Crowd

You never really know someone until you've done a few canoe trips with them. This is never truer than when you talk about solo canoe trips. Ian Hanna has been solo canoe tripping for nearly four decades, longer if you count being tied to the cottage dock on a short rope with big ideas and a kapok life perserver -- but it's the thought that counts -- and there's lots of time to think when you paddle alone. It's sometimes difficult to share the richness of solo canoeing. It resembles travelling in groups, or in pairs, the gear is nearly the same, the technique virtually identical, but the experience is unique. It is relativly easy to communicate the techical details, swap stories, and talk gear, but to really capture the spirit, well you have to be there. And you can't, unless you're there alone. Schrodinger's Paddler perhaps...you never really know until you know.... But in this talk, we'll try.

Bio: Ian Hanna has a day job that has nothing to do with paddling, it's technical, but it pays the bills. In his spare time, he paddles, he writes, he explores, and he performs what he finds here and there, and he wonders...

5) The Wolves of Algonquin Park

Humans have a long history with wolves, and sadly wolves have not been treated kindly by us. Early research in Algonquin Park provided valuable insights into the ecology of wolves, but perhaps more importantly, gave us an opportunity to appreciate wolves allowing for their conservation. Through a unique opportunity to connect with wolves, Algonquin has promoted conservation through appreciation for over 50 years.

Bio: David LeGros is the Natural Heritage Education Specialist for Algonquin Park, in charge of leading a team of talented naturalists who deliver educational programs. An avid naturalist, he spends as much time as possible exploring nature in Algonquin and elsewhere in Ontario. His interests began with reptiles and amphibians, but is fascinated with all wildlife from insects to moose. David has led a number of wolf howls for groups in Algonquin Park, and has observed their behavior in the wild. In 2012, David completed his MSc. in amphibian conservation at Laurentian University, and has published several peer-reviewed articles. He lives in Huntsville ON.

6) Off the Beaten Path

Join Brad and Leah as they take you on a fascinating journey to regions seldom paddled. Their talk will highlight the challenges and rewards of venturing off the known path and exploring the vast unknown backcountry. From Nastawgan to old MNR routes and straight-up bushwhacking adventures, they'll give you the low down on some of Ontario's best kept paddling secrets.

Bio: Brad Jennings has been paddling since the age of 3. An avid paddler and adventure racer, he has translated his passion for the outdoors into the pursuit of studying his masters in environmental science and biogeochemistry at Trent University.

Bio: Leah Schmidt has been paddling for ten years, but her most adventurous tripping experiences have been within the last three. Leah enjoys exploratory canoeing and rediscovering long forgotten canoe routes, often not identified on maps or seldom traveled. She's known for saying “I don’t mind portaging.” The late Bill Mason may have something to say about that....

As always, we are indebted to our long time sponsor:

Handcrafted Canoes, Kitchener

www.handcraftedcanoes.com

and our brand new sponsor....

See Sawyer Run : Gear for Dogs. Outdoor. Lifestyle

www.seesawyerrun.com