London's Paddle Shop 2016 Guest Speakers
Here's the lineup of 2016 guest speakers at London's Paddle Shop...
SAVING WABAKIMI CANOE ROUTES
JANUARY 28 @ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Now entering its thirteenth consecutive year of operation, The Wabakimi Project is a volunteer conservancy initiative dedicated to rehabilitating and mapping canoe routes in the Wabakimi Area. With 4,600km completed to date, 1,400km still remain to be explored Attend this presentation to learn how you can help preserve North Americaʼs largest contiguous wilderness canoeing area.
‘Uncle’ Phil Cotton, a canoe route historian and environmentalist, manages The Wabakimi Project which he founded in 2004. During the winter months, he researches and plans the routes for the next summer’s reconnaisance expeditions, mounts an extensive annual speaking tour to recruit volunteers and is actively engaged in forest management planning exercises that impact Crown land canoe routes in the Wabakimi Area.
Call 519-455-6252 to register. No charge for admission. Donations of non-perishable food items for the London Food Bank are welcome.
BIG CREEK & THE LONG POINT WORLD BIOSPHERE RESERVE
FEBRUARY 11 @ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Big Creek, winding through Norfolk County, is one of very few rivers in Canada well buffered with conservation lands. Gently flowing through Carolinian forest, the river and riparian areas provide habitat for numerous fish, bird, and tree species. Big Creek is an important natural area of the Long Point World Biosphere, which received its designation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1986. This presentation will profile the natural beauty of Big Creek – its flora and fauna – and discuss the many conservation programs that are being implemented in the Long Point Biosphere to ensure the continued health of Big Creek now and for future generations.
Brian Craig recently retired from Environment Canada and Parks Canada as a senior science advisor and restoration ecologist. Brian and his sweetie Paula are actively restoring 50 acres bordered by Big Creek to Carolinian forest and tall grass prairie. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Carolinian Canada Coalition and the Long Point World Biosphere Foundation.
Please call 519-455-6252 to register. No charge for admission. Donations of non-perishable food items for the London Food Bank are welcome.
ALONE AGAINST THE NORTH: AN EVENING WITH EXPLORER ADAM SHOALTS
MARCH 3 @ 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Called “Canada’s Indiana Jones” by the Toronto Star and named one of the greatest living explorers by Canadian Geographic, Adam Shoalts is a professional explorer, adventurer, and best-selling author of Alone Against the North. His solo journeys into the last truly unexplored places on the planet have taken him everywhere from the jungles of the Amazon to the frozen tundra of the High Arctic. Shoalts will talk about his new book, Alone Against the North and his most recent Arctic canoeing adventures.
Registration NOT required. No charge for admission. Tickets at the door of the Wolf Performance Hall.
CANOEING GEORGIAN BAY
APRIL 4 @ 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Presenting Kevin Callan and Andy Baxter’s Magical Mystery Tour! Andy planned their latest canoe trip – 8 days along the eastern shore of Ontario’s Georgian Bay. Why this route? Because Kevin took him on a dreaded canoe trip around Algonquin, which consisted of 93 portages! Georgian Bay has none. You’ll enjoy this relaxing canoe trip down one of Ontario’s most scenic places to paddle.
Kevin Callan is the author of fifteen books, including the best selling “The Happy Camper”, and the incredibly popular series of paddling guides. On a regular basis, he presents across North America and the U.K. and has been a key speaker at all the major outdoor events for over 25 years. Callan is also a frequent guest on radio and television and a regular contributor and columnist for Explore and CanoeRoots Magazine. He is a winner of several National Magazine Awards and film awards and was just listed as one of the top 100 modern day explorers by the Canadian Geographical Society. He was also made Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada.
Registration NOT required. No charge for admission. Tickets at the door of the Wolf Performance Hall.
