I was born and raised in Flin Flon, MB. My wife, Sara Lynne, and I live on the waters edge at Shist Lake. I have always loved the water, rocks and wild of the area. My very first canoe trip was when I was in grade 6 when a local teacher took us to Phantom Lake. Funny enough, it was a horrible experience, but I didn’t let that stop me from experiencing the rocks, water and wild from the seat of a canoe. 

 

My older brother was a trapper and woodsman and I always followed him around. In his teens he worked for Churchill River Canoe Outfitters and began taking longer canoe trips and he would take me on these trips during my summer holidays. He was who got me more involved with the longer, more extreme canoeing trips. 

 

My love for the north carried over into my adult life. After high school, I got into geophysical exploration with my brother who also ran his own exploration company. I worked for Hudson Bay Company which is one of the most successful mining exploration companies in the world. Where I’m from - the rocks, the forest, the mine - all play an important role in every aspect of our life. The north, combined with the art of discovery, entices you to want to explore more, not only just for minerals, but to experience the beauty and the land.  People always ask why I work and holiday in the bush, but for me there is no other place I’d rather be. 

 

Another part of living and working in the north is being able to work alongside the indigenous people. I have gathered so much knowledge of their background and when you are working with them on their land you get a whole different perspective of what’s going on and what’s important. I think a big part of this trip is telling that story. I believe connection and sharing stories is the part that we are missing between Ottawa and the people.