Christopher has been paddling since 1994 in locations as far away as the UK, New Zealand, Iceland, Norway as well as countless places in North America. A graduate of Acadia University with a degree in Recreation Management, Chris is currently the owner and driving force behind Committed to the Core Sea Kayak Coaching. www.committed2tecore.com He holds certifications with the British Canoe Union and Paddle Canada, is a former Outward Bound Instructor, and is KANAWA magazine’s “Ask a Pro” Columnist. P&H Pro sea kayak team member and Kokatat regional representative. He works as a GIS tech as a day job.
Christopher Lockyer - Co-Chair and Founder (Hilden, NS - Canada)
Kevin is the author of thirteen books, including the best selling The Happy Camper, the incredibly popular series of paddling guides, and Wilderness Pleasures: A Practical Guide to Camping Bliss. On a regular basis he presents across North America and has been a key speaker at all the major canoe events for over 25 years. Callan is also a frequent quest on radio and television. He has a syndicated CBC Radio column titled "The Happy Camper" that is heard across Canada and appears on CTV Canada AM and Breakfast TV on a regualar basis. Callan is also a field editor for Explore Magazine, has a column in CanoeRoots and writes and takes photographes for Canadian Geographic and various other periodicals. He is a winner of four National Magazine Awards and three film awards. He's filmed with and consulted for BBC and Ray Mears "Northern Wilderness" and various other shows. His latest project is an on-line show titled "The Happy Camper" (www.kevinc allan.com ). This year he was chosen to be the host for Ontario Tourism's Classic Canadian Adventure. For the last 21 years he has taught part-time Environmental Issues and Sciences at Sir Sandford Fleming College.
Kevin Callan - (Peterborough, ON - Canada) Canoe Coach
Rob has been paddling for most his life, and teaching for most of adult life. He holds IT certifications in Sea Kayak, Canoe Tripping, Lake, and White Water Canoe and is an active River Kayak Instructor. Rob serves on the Paddle Canada Program Development Committees for River Kayak and Canoeing. Rob teaches water rescue courses for Rescue Canada. He is currently an instructor at the New Brunswick Community College in St. Andrews with the Adventure Leadership program.
Rob Lemmon - (St. Andrews, NB - Canada) White Water Canoe and Kayak
Corey is passionate about all aspects of paddling! He has been canoeing and kayaking for 15 years, and is the owner/operator of Escape Watersports http://www.escapewatersports.ca (Canoe Coaching and Tours). He is the regional director for Newfoundland and Labrador on the Paddle Canada Board and served on the Program Development Committee for Canoeing during the development of the new canoe program. He is a Paddle Canada Advanced Lake Tandem/Solo Instructor and Canoe Tripping Instructor. An enthusiast of canoe tripping, Corey has travelled extensively on the lakes and rivers of the province. He is an active canoeing instructor and is enthusiastic about teaching students new and efficient canoeing skills and practices.
Corey Locke - Co-Chair 2011 (St. John’s, NL - Canada) Canoe Coach
Blair has been paddling in the Maritimes since he was introduced to a canoe in 1985. With Paddle Canada he is an advanced Lake Tandem and Solo Lake Canoe Instructor, Sea Kayak Level 2 Instructor and a River Kayak Level 1 Instructor. Through teaching wilderness medical courses and being involved in Search and Rescue since 1988 he has become a strong supporter of certification and training. He is currently the President of Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia and President of Paddle Canada.
Blair Doyle - (Dartmouth, NS - Canada) Paddle Canada President
Kevin has been "messing with canoes", in one form or another, for over 40 years. He currently holds Paddle Canada instructor tickets in Moving Water, Lake Water as well as Instructor Trainer certification in canoe poling. A retired teacher, he continues to guide and lead trips in New Brunswick, Quebec and Labrador. He is also involved in two canoe-related mapping projects for Canoe Kayak New Brunswick.
Kevin Silliker - (NB - Canada) Canoe Poling Coach
Richard is a former President of Paddle Canada. He holds Level 4 instructor and Level 3 Instructor Trainer designations in the sea kayaking program, Advanced tandem and Solo Canoe in the Lake Program and Instructor Trainer Status in the Coastal Canoeing Program. He is a graduate of the College of the North Atlantic’s Outdoor Recreation program. In 2002 he successfully completed an expedition up the west coast of Greenland, finishing 400 nautical miles north of the Arctic Circle. As the owner and course director of the Newfoundland Kayak Company, he has taken great pleasure in introducing hundreds of people to the joy of sea kayaking.
Richard Alexander - (St. John’s, NL - Canada) Sea Kayak Coach
Grahams love of canoeing and kayaking stretches back beyond his 16 years of sea kayak teaching and guiding. At the Muskoka, Ontario cottage he learned to solo canoe at 7 yrs old, then in his teens went on long canoe trips in northern Canada. In 1993, Graham apprenticed with Nahanni River Adventures and spent a few seasons guiding on the mighty Nahanni. Since 1994, Graham has worked as Manager of White Squall, Georgian Bay, until recently relocating to Kingston, Ontario in 2010 and taking over the helm as Executive Director for Paddle Canada. He has taught courses in the Arctic and Newfoundland and on most of the Great Lakes. He is a Paddle Canada Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor-Trainer.
Graham Ketcheson- Paddle Canada Executive Director
(Kingston, ON - Canada) Sea Kayak Coach
For a list of coaches from the 2010 event click here
David is a Paddle Canada Instructor who has been teaching people how to putter around in a kayak for the past 10 years. He maintains the instructor resource website, www.paddlinginstructor.com and sits on the Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Program Development Committee.
When not in a boat, he can be found running around Toronto trying to keep up with his young family. Dream future jobs include being an official water slide tester or a professional wrestling referee
David Johnston - (Toronto, ON - Canada) Sea Kayak Coach
The 2011 Atlantic Paddle Symposium is pleased to introduce you to the coaches and presenters for this years instalment. The skill set covered by these people is incredible and we hope you all enjoy taking a little knowledge from each and every one.
Ever since I was a young whipper snapper, I had a keen sense of adventure. Brenna is a member of the Canadian white water freestyle team. She works most days on the mighty Ottawa river. Brenna is a full time instructor with Algonquin College outdoor adventure students. We are pleased to have Brenna on the coaching staff for the 2011 symposium
Brenna Kelly- (Smith Falls, ON - Canada) White Water Kayak Coach
Alan has been an avid sea kayaker, an experienced wooden kayak builder, and an active Paddle Canada instructor for over a decade on Prince Edward Island. He is a certified Level 3 paddler, a level 1 instructor, and is currently completing his mentorship for his Level 2 Instructor's certification.
Alan has paddled extensively throughout the Atlantic provinces. He was the PEI representative and the treasurer of Paddle Canada from 2008 to 2010.
Alan Stanley- (Charlottetown, PEI - Canada) Sea Kayak Coach
Mark Scriver - (Ottawa, ON - Canada) White Water Canoe Coach
Mark began his paddling career at summer camps in Ontario. He taught at Kandalore Outdoor centre and moved on to Black Feather Wilderness Adventures in the mid 80's where he continues to guide a trip a year in the Canadian Arctic or Greenland. He has also worked in the paddle sport industry as a retail buyer, sales representative and canoe designer and currently represents many leading paddle sport brands. He has authored and co-authored several books including, Thrill of the Paddle, Canoe
Tripping; an Essential Guide and the Black Feather Camp Cookbook. He competed in white water freestyle for over a decade culminating in hosting the world championships and winning a gold medal. Though best know as a white water canoeist, he enjoys paddling all crafts and SUP is his latest interest.
Maligiaq Johnsen Padilla - (Greenland) Sea Kayak Coach
Rick has been paddling the North Shore of Lake Huron for over 20 years and Lake Superior for over 10 years. He is a Full Guide certified under the Association of Eastern Canadian Sea Kayak Outfitters (AECSKO) and a Level 4 paddler and Level 3 Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer for Paddle Canada. He has a University of Waterloo degree in Recreation and Environmental Studies. Rick now leads expeditions for Horizons Adventures and teaches many of the courses. He is also the Ontario representative on the Paddle Canada Board of Directors.
Monica is a bundle of energy wrapped up in a warm blanket of enthusiasm. Monica has been devoted to the challenging and restorative benefits of yoga for 11 years and has been sharing her knowledge as a teacher for the past four years. Monica continues to study, train and practice with amazing local Teachers and Master Teachers whenever possible. She finds much joy in sharing the power of yoga with others and finds particular satisfaction teaching yoga classes to teens who have addictions and mental health issues. Monica, a Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultant, believes in treating the body as a whole, paying attention to what you consume, how you exercise and how you feed your soul. She runs city streets and rugged trails, kayaks whitewater and spends as much time outdoors as possible
Monica Lynns- Yoga Session Leader (Halifax, NS - Canada)
Jim has been owner and operator of Eastern Edge Outfitters Limited for the past 22 years. He has retired from his day job with the Newfoundland Government where he worked as a Forester and Resource Planner for 30 years. This gives him more time to teach Sea and Whitewater kayak courses, guide trips and help develop the sport of kayaking in the Province. He holds a Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer Level 3, Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Level 2 and past Senior Instructor Trainer in Whitewater Canoeing certification from Paddle Canada. He also has received Level 2 Kayak Instructors Certificate from the Alberta Whitewater Association, Four Star Sea Kayak certification from the British Canoe Union and is a Senior Swiftwater Rescue Technician. He has canoed or kayaked most of the major rivers in the province and has paddled much of the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador as well as running numerous rivers in the US, Mexico and Costa Rica including kayaking and rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. His latest hobby is Paragliding
Jim Price - (Paradise, NL - Canada) Sea and White Water Kayak Coach
Kevin Redmond is an educator with a long-time interest in outdoor activities and photography. As a freelance writer and award-winning photographer, he is widely published primarily throughout North America in tourism promotion, adventure gear manufacturer’s product promotion and outdoor-oriented media such as magazines, calendars, and books. Books to his credit include: Canyons Coves and Coastal Waters: Choice Canoe and Kayak Routes of Newfoundland and Labrador (1996); A Guide to Sea Kayaking Newfoundland and Labrador (2003); Landscapes and Legacies: Parks, Natural Areas and Historic Sites of Newfoundland and Labrador (2004); Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education (2010). Kevin is a Master Canoe Instructor in the Paddle Canada Program. resides in Portugal Cove with his wife Sophia and three children: Thomas, Susan and Jacquelyn.
Kevin Redmond - (Portugal Cove, NL - Canada) Canoe Coach
Birgit started her paddling career from the bow of a whitewater canoe. Sea kayaking has become her passion where she has taken on sea kayak instruction, guiding, and recently achieved her PC level 3 skills on beautiful Lake Superior surf. Although most of her kayaking is done on the Great Lakes, she has tripped as far south as Belize and Florida and assist guided as far east as Newfoundland. She is best known as the social convener and official photographer on trips. Being from Sudbury she quickly developed a love of Newfoundland and is looking forward to spending some time on the Rock again.
Birgit Kuhle- (Sudbury, ON) Sea Kayak Coach
Susan enjoys sea kayaking for the love of the kayak. She has discovered a natural talent on the water, and her skills have progressed from flat water to surfing – with a heavy dose of Greenland-style thrown in for good measure. In her adopted hometown of Sudbury, she shares her enthusiasm for paddling through instruction at the local kayak/canoe club; she is recently completed her PC level 3 skills in some amazing surf on Lake Superior. Her kayaking travels have taken her from the Great Lakes to Belize, Australia, Florida and (of course!) home to Newfoundland. Susan is more than happy to return to the Rock any time to share her skills in, on or under the kayak!
Susan Vokey- (Sudbury, ON - Canada) Sea Kayak Coach
Rick Wise - (Whitefish, ON - Canada) Sea Kayak Coach
Collage of the North Atlantic Volunteers- we are happy to have these three students helping us out this year at the event.
Melissa Hickey - Adventure Tourism / Outdoor recreation
Steve Noel -Adventure Tourism / Outdoor recreation
David Saunders -Adventure Tourism / Outdoor recreation
Amanda Harrington- UNB Recreation Student
Melissa
David
Steve
Tim has paddled canoes on the ocean in Nova Scotia until he discovered a way to avoid having his canoe filled with seawater - he went kayaking instead. Tim is a Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2 Instructor and has coached paddlers and guided sea kayaking trips in Atlantic Canada, northern British Columbia and Baja, Mexico since 1996. He has been a coach at kayak symposia and paddlefests from Newfoundland to Seattle, sits on Paddle Canada's Instruction and Safety Committee and is one of the owners of Rising Tide Expeditions in Gabarus, Cape Breton Island.
Tim White- (Gabarus, NS - Canada) Sea Kayak Coach
Matt met Shawna and Leon at Body Boat Blade in 2004 and within a year began coaching for Body Boat Blade, progressing as a coach and paddler, fuelled by the passion for blending knowledge of the marine environment with the enthusiasm for a very physical, and engaging way to interact with the water. Since then, he has delved into whitewater, surf kayaking, rock gardening and expeditions. In 2008, he and his wife Djuna circumnavigated the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, while raising funds for an environmental non-profit. Matt appeared in Bryan Smith’s “Pacific Horizons”, and has been involved with other kayaking films focusing on technique. Matt is a coach level 3 and holds the five-star award for sea kayak. Matt is also a P&H team paddler, and teaches at symposiums in North America. Matt is featured in Pacific Horizons and in This is the Sea film series.
Matt Nelson - (Orca’s Island, Washington State - USA) Sea Kayak coach
Mike Smith- (Ottawa, ON - Canada) White Water Kayak Coach
Amanda
Known to most simply as Smitty, Mike Smith first encountered kayaking in 1996 as a young traveling rafting guide in Nepal looking for a better life. After being told to “do yourself a favour and learn how to kayak” by river legend David Allardice, Smitty learned to how to kayak while videoing raft trips on the Ottawa River that very next summer. After 10 years of trial and error in paddling, education, odd jobs and questionable lifestyle choices, he hoped that he could save others a few steps by sharing the whitewater mistakes he had made by becoming an instructor at the Madawaska Kanu Centre. 47 Tuesday nights at the Wilno Tavern later he actually holds down a number of media related legitimate jobs in the Greater Toronto Area while somehow still sharing often told tales and correct swimming directions to many a friend new and old, and delivering CKC’s. whitewater instructor programs
