Come to hear some of the amazing travel stories from one of the most popular TV adventure travel hosts of all time. Flying in from London, England just for our show, Ian Wright shares some of his most memorable and humorous adventures over the course of his career as host of the popular Lonely Planet/Pilot Guides, and Globe Trekker series.

On January 14, 1993, Sunniva Sorby made history as one of four members of the American Women’s Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole. This team of four skied for 67 days and 700 miles, hauling 200-pound sleds into headwinds of up to 80 miles per hour, to become the first women’s team to reach the South Pole on foot. In this presentation, Sunniva will share what the planning, preparation, and inspiration around this expedition entailed, including the team’s dream of going to Antarctica, the trip details, how they dealt with success and failure, and the leadership lessons they learned along the way.

Finding Life is a non-profit organization that combines adventure, education, technology and charitable initiatives to inspire youth to create positive change. From summiting the world’s tallest peaks (five Everest Expeditions), to building classrooms in Kenya for disadvantaged communities, Finding Life transports students on interactive journeys all across the world. In this eye-catching multi-media presentation, Elia shares his innovative use of technology in remote and often inhospitable environments to move, affect, enable, and inspire tangible change in youth and in communities across the world.

When Canadian businessman Shawn Dawson set out to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents he felt that it would be more meaningful if his quest was part of a larger goal. Shawn founded Dream Mountains Foundation to raise funds for seven charities focused on education, opportunity, and compassion. Join Shawn as he shares his incredible experiences of climbing to the highest places on earth, and his plans to return to several of these peaks over the next few years with his “dream team” to raise more funds for charity.

The sport of triathlon can be an intimidating one, at least on the surface, but it need not be. Rick Hellard, one of Canada’s top triathlon coaches, race director, long-time triathlete, and author of iRun magazine’s “The Oops Factor,” will present his down-to-earth understanding of what it takes to swim, bike, and run your way to the finish line of a triathlon. You’ll be surprised at how easy it really is. Rick promises to entertain, enlighten and dispel some of the myths of the sport. He may even convince you to give it a try!

 

Experience the world at handlebar level --the perfect means to explore remote villages a world away from the highways. Discover the most incredible cycling routes in Europe and the back roads of Asia. Enjoy a bike and barge holiday in France or Holland, sip some wine along the Tuscan trails, or get off the beaten paths in Central America, Vietnam, China, India, and even the Himalayas!
SUNDAY MARCH 18, 2:00 PM
 

Discover how you can experience the big and the exciting, the holy grails of trekking: from Nepal’s icons in the Everest region and around the Annapurna to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. Moving on, we head to another travel beacon, the majestic Inca Trail in Peru, and then south to the immeasurably beautiful Torres del Paine National Park in the heart of Patagonia.

 

Mark Sutcliffe, founder of iRun magazine, the author of Why I Run, and the host of iRun’s weekly radio show and podcast, will share some of his own adventures in running, plus amazing stories of some of the inspiring runners he’s met, and helpful tips on how to make running part of your lifestyle.

 

Join us for and exciting and fun filled presentation, by Sylvie D’Aoust and company from the CycleFit Chicks women-only cycling club in Ottawa/Gatineau. Learn how choosing a starter bike and gear, finding the right club to meet your needs, and meeting other like-minded women to cycle with can spark a lifelong passion for cycling and fitness. Members of the club will share their cycling experiences, describe how “the bike” changed their lives, and how friendships were created in the process of improving cycling skills.

 

On April 30, 2011, eight friends left Ottawa on a cross-Canada 7,000-kilometre canoe trip that took them all the way to the icy shores of Inuvik, their final destination, in October. Come meet the team behind this endeavour and listen to their stories of hardship and happiness as they recall the challenges of their expedition and the lessons they learned.

Riding a wave of success from a recent European paddling tour, Becky Mason is back home promoting her new movie, Advanced Classic Solo Canoeing. This presentation gives the inside story on the movie with clips, outtakes, and stories from the DVD that just won Best Instructional Film at the Reel Paddling Film Festival. She also highlights her remarkable life growing up in and around canoes.

Kevin Callan, one of North America’s top canoeing and outdoors experts and author of The Happy Camper, shows how you can be a happy camper no matter where you are or what the weather is like. You don’t have to be a survival expert to enjoy a wilderness experience! Come and see the latest gear designed to make your life outdoors easier, and learn how to get the most from your camping experience.

Most people are somewhat disappointed with the results of their outdoor picture-taking efforts. This fun, 45-minute workshop will give you six tips that will make your photographs come alive – guaranteed! Your photos will positively zing with colour and pizzazz. It’s a lot easier than you might think. You’ll learn simple, fun techniques to create stunning photographs – even with an inexpensive camera. 

Scott Ewart, owner of 1000 Islands Kayaking in Gananoque, has been paddling and training in the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal for decades. In this seminar Scott will teach you about paddling trail itineraries, access points, equipment rentals, shuttle services, camping at luxury lodges, and things to look for in upcoming smartphone applications. Our rivers are closer than you think and this seminar will help get you on the water in style. 
 

Search and Rescue (SAR) incidents involve all types of outdoor enthusiasts each year, from hikers and skiers to backcountry travellers and boaters. Come and learn how to prepare for your outdoor activity and how to “survive outside,” with Ron Vader, member of Search and Rescue Global 1 (Ottawa). Ron outlines three easy steps that will significantly improve your chances of surviving outdoors, should you become hurt or lost.
 

“Has anyone seen my sleeping-bag? We didn’t leave it at the last portage did we?!” Are you tired of going on wet camping trips where you eat soggy hot dogs and pretend that you are having fun? It’s time you heard these 10 camping tips, brimming with wisdom and mirth, and gleaned from decades of camping, hiking, cycling, and hiking trips all over Canada. We’ll discuss real-life outdoor adventures and ways to guarantee that your next trip brings outstanding memories. Don’t miss this workshop!

At five million acres, Wabakimi Wilderness Park north of Thunder Bay is one of the largest but also one of the least known of Ontario’s provincial parks. It is also an important unspoiled ecological reserve for boreal ecosystems, including the threatened woodland caribou. Drawing upon more that 30 years’ experience of living and working in this area, Bruce Hyer, an ecologist and wildlife biologist, who was the driving force behind the creation of Wabakimi, will share his insights into the history, ecology, wildlife, and paddling opportunities in this fabulous wilderness.