We were very excited about our 2009 instructors as they represented some of the best sea kayak instructors and paddlers in Eastern Canada. Look for our list of 2010 presenters closer to the event.
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Tim Dyer
Tim is the founder and owner of White Squall Paddling Centre and is a leader in Sea Kayak Instruction and Guiding both Ontario and Canada.
Tim is a Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Senior Instructor and Trainer, an AECSKO full guide, and is trained in Wilderness 1st Aid and Swift Water Rescue. In winter, he teaches skiing at the local ski club with the Jackrabbit program and loves backcountry skiing with friends. In summer, well you know where to find him, however occasionally he escapes for a canoe or kayak getaway with family and friends, never tiring of spending time in his backyard of beautiful Georgian Bay. |
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Liz Burnside
Bio coming soon. |
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Siobhan Callaghan
Siobhan is tremendously fond of and connected to the great lakes, having grown up on the north shore of Lake Erie. She played in small boats, canoes, and sailboats from an early age while watching the lights of freighters on the horizon making their way through the great lakes to ports beyond. She was introduced to Georgian Bay at 17 while hiking with her Dad on the Bruce trail from Tobermory to Lion's Head.
Siobhan is a Paddle Canada Level 1 Instructor, an AECSKO guide, and trained in Advanced Wilderness 1st Aid.
Kayaking is Siobhan's passion but, when not out on the water, she dabbles in things like running, skiing (downhill and nordic), playing guitar, and painting t-shirts. Mostly she likes to hang out with her sweetie and the best dog on the planet: Rickards. |
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Jack Elliott
Jack Elliott, or "Captain Jack" as some of us call him, is one of the more colourful staff at White Squall. Lucky to have been born into a "camping family", Jack has been going on outdoor trips and messing around in boats as long as he can remember.
Jack has paddled on the west coast (Queen Charlottes), east coasts (Newfoundland), and many of the lakes in Ontario including Superior, Nipigon, Nipissing, and Lake Huron. He has many a tale to tell about some of these trips. In winter you’ll find Jack way back on the frozen hills & swamps of northern Ontario or in the mountains of the Yukon bush, skiing with a polk and prospector tent. |
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Marlene Hume
Marlene is a teacher on and off the water and has been playing in and out of boats for over 20 years. She is a Paddle Canada Flatwater Instructor Trainer and Level II Instructor, an AECSKO guide, Wilderness First Responder, Red Cross and Life Saving Society Instructor, and NLS Lifeguard.
She has been a guide with White Squall for 20 years and an instructor with Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, Maine in the sailing and sea kayaking program for over 16 years. Presently she is a high school Geography teacher in Oakville, Ontario. Marlene has a Masters in Science and Bachelor of Education in Outdoor and Experiential Education.
The most important things to know about Marlene are, that she loves kayaking, and has a deep respect for the Earth and the power of water.
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David Johnston
David is a Paddle Canada Instructor who has been puttering around in a kayak for the past 15 years. He maintains the instructor resource website, paddlinginstructor.com. David also sits on the Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Program Development Committee.
When not in a boat, he can be found running around Toronto playing with his young family. Dream future jobs include being a professional waterslide tester or a professional wrestling referee.
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Greg Mason
By day Greg is the masked crusader leading the charge at the UNESCO designated Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve along with his trusty side kick Becky Pollock and their son Samuel. They have a great time hanging out on the Bay living in Parry Sound and working with great people to keep Georgian Bay beautiful. By night he's been known to paddle across the Sound with Tim D and friends in November gales. Greg loves to skim across rocks with his trusty Shadow (his other sidekick).
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Erik Ogaard
As the head instructor for Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre, Erik has over 13 years experience in kayak and canoe instruction. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality and Tourism, Business Management.
When not on the water, he is a professional tradesman for the past 19 years painting, plastering and carpentry.
If he was ever to take out a personal ad in the local paper, it would say, I'm most passionate about Sea Kayak Instruction and Instructor Training Development, Instructing to beginners, paddling with friends and awesome paddlers, Culinary Arts, "Foul-weather" paddling and long walks on the beach.
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Kenton Otterbein
From White Pines to White Squalls - The History of Georgian Bay
While the 30 000 islands may seem idyllic now, they've seen their share of war, political intrigue, financial empire building, shipwrecks, disasters and ecological change over the last 200 years. Kenton Otterbein - Head Naturalist at Killbear will share images and stories of this amazing area.
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Mark Scriver
Mark Scriver began his paddling career at summer camps in Ontario. He taught at Kandalore Outdoor centre and moved on to Black Feather Wilderness Adventures where he continues to guide a trip a year in the Canadian Arctic or Greenland. He has also worked in the paddlesport industry as a retail buyer, sales representative and canoe designer and currently represents many leading paddlesport brands. He has authored and co-authored several books including, Thrill of the Paddle, Canoe Tripping; an Essential Guide and the Black Feather Cookbook. He competed in whitewater freestyle for over a decade culminating in hosting the world championships and winning a gold medal. He enjoys all types of paddling craft and SUP is his latest interest. |
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Christine Utas
Bio coming soon. |
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Kevin Utas
Kevin Utas is a graduate of the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program at Laurentian University. He has been guiding and instructing with White Squall for the past two years. He is also certified in Wilderness First Responder and has his NLS lifeguarding. Other interests of his include canoe tripping and scuba diving. In the winter Kevin enjoys skiing and winter camping. Kevin is excited to be part of the Storm Gathering team. |
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David Wells
David is the founder and director of Naturally Superior Adventures and Rock Island Lodge located at the mouth of the mighty Michipicoten River on Lake Superior near Wawa. Check out our lake Superior webcam or company propaganda on Utube.
As a Paddle Canada Instructor and Trainer, David enjoys teaching at all levels and playing in the Lake Superior Surf |
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Rick Wise
Rick Wise is the owner and director of Horizons and has been paddling the North Shore of Lake Huron for 20 years. He is a Full Guide certified under the Association of Eastern Canadian Sea Kayak Outfitters (AECSKO) and a Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer for the Paddle Canada (formerly the CRCA). He has a University of Waterloo degree in Recreation and Environmental Studies
He has been involved with a number of Northern Ontario programs including part-time teaching at Laurentian University and Cambrian College. Rick is a Senior Instructor for Sirius Wilderness Medicine and is a First Aid and CPR instructor for the Canadian Red Cross. Rick happily lives in the metropolis of Whitefish, Ontario, near Sudbury where he lives with his wife, Cathy and his 12 year old daughter, Sarah and 6 year old, Katie.
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Siobhan Callaghan
Siobhan is tremendously fond of and connected to the great lakes, having grown up on the north shore of Lake Erie. She played in small boats, canoes, and sailboats from an early age while watching the lights of freighters on the horizon making their way through the great lakes to ports beyond. She was introduced to Georgian Bay at 17 while hiking with her Dad on the Bruce trail from Tobermory to Lion's Head.
Siobhan is a Paddle Canada Level 1 Instructor, an AECSKO guide, and trained in Advanced Wilderness 1st Aid.
Kayaking is Siobhan's passion but, when not out on the water, she dabbles in things like running, skiing (downhill and nordic), playing guitar, and painting t-shirts. Mostly she likes to hang out with her sweetie and the best dog on the planet: Rickards.
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