Special Guests 2025

Adam Shoalts is a professional adventurer and Westaway Explorer-in-Residence at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and Outward Bound’s ambassador. His expeditions range from mapping rivers to archaeological projects, but Shoalts is best known for his long solo journeys, including crossing alone nearly 4,000 km of Canada’s Arctic. Named one of the “greatest living explorers” by CBC and even declared “Canada’s Indiana Jones” by the Toronto Star, Shoalts’s latest adventure was a 3,400 km solo journey from Lake Erie to the Arctic, the subject of his new national bestselling book Where the Falcon Flies. His other books include Alone Against the North, A History of Canada in 10 Maps, and Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada's Arctic, and The Whisper on the Night Wind, all of them national bestsellers. He has a PhD from McMaster University in history, and in his free time, enjoys long walks in the woods.

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adamshoalts.com

Tori Baird is reshaping perceptions of women canoeists with her company, Paddle Like A Girl. Established in 2020, these workshops empower women to embrace canoeing and the wilderness, transforming stereotypes and fostering confidence. Set against the serene backdrop of her property on the Magnetawan River, Tori aims to inspire women of diverse shapes, ages, and backgrounds to connect with nature's tranquility and beauty.

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Tori is an accomplished canoeist and recently starred in National Geographic's "Home in the Wild."

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paddlelikeagirl.com

Careena is an avid outdoorswoman who has created a life around sharing her outdoor adventures and skills on her YouTube channel in the hopes to inspire others to grow their skills, knowledge and overall physical and mental health.

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She has recently started a new business "Wylie Excursions" offering guided ATV excursions in the Ottawa Valley.

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careenaalexis.ca

​Kevin (aka The Happy Camper) is the author of 19 books; his latest being Another Bend in the River: The Happy Camper’s Memoir. He is an award winning writer and a keynote speaker at outdoor events across North America. Kevin is also a regular guest on several television morning shows and CBC Radio. He has won several film awards, writes a column for Paddling Magazine and Explore Magazine. Kevin was listed one of the top 100 modern day explorers by the Canadian Geographical Society. He was also made Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada.

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kevincallan.com

Jesse is Métis-Cree, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and an assistant professor in Humanities at York University in Toronto. He is the author of the memoir From the Ashes, the #1 Canadian bestselling and award-winning memoir about overcoming trauma, prejudice, and addiction.

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As a PhD candidate in the History program at York where he is working on theories of intergenerational and historic trauma of the Métis people. Jesse will be speaking on Canadian and Indigenous history at the Hamilton Adventure Expo.

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Jesse lives in Hamilton with his wife, Lucie and daughter, Rose. He is currently at work on multiple projects, including his next book.

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jessethistle.com

-Current Canadian female record holder in the 12 hour Desert Solstice run with 135.072 km

-Broke two national records, a 100-mile record (14hrs 45min) and a 12-hour distance record (134km), while finishing first at the Survivorfest 24-hour Canadian championships in Alberta

-24 hour national record holder of 248.985km at the Dam Hill in London Ontario in September 2023

-Backyard ultra national record holder of 57 hours achieved at Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra World Championships October 2023

-Her 33 hrs at Persistence Ultra earned her a spot on the Canadian roster for the World Team Backyard Championship where she became the last female standing with a total of 55 hours / 368.83 km

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When she is not running she is a full time mom, run coach and dairy farmer living in the outskirts of Woodstock, Ontario.